On relating the occurrence at home, the father, as was his custom, only laughed at it.

“Pooh, Alick,” said he, “what does it signify?  Have we not been annoyed for years by these senseless broils and empty threats?  Don’t think of them.”

“I, father!” replied his son; “do you imagine that I ever bestow a second thought upon them?  Not I, I assure you.  However, there is one thing would most unquestionably gratify me, and that is, an opportunity of cudgelling Buck English; because, upon second consideration, horse-whipping would be much too gentlemanly a style of chastisement for such a vulgar and affected ruffian.”

“I regret very much, however,” said his sister Julia, “that I have been the cause of all this; but really, as Mary here knows, the absurdity of his language was perfectly irresistible.”

“Yes,” replied her sister; “but, in fact, he is constantly annoying and persecuting her, and very few would bear such nonsense and absurdity from him with so much good-humor as Julia does.  I grant that it is very difficult to be angry with so ridiculous a fool; but I do agree with Julia, that it is better to laugh at him, for two seasons:  the first is, because he is a fit object for ridicule; and the second, because it is utterly impossible to resist it.”

“I don’t think he will annoy Julia again, however,” said Alick.

“Not until the next opportunity,” observed his brother, “when, you may take my word for it, he will be as ridiculously polite and impudent as ever.”

“Not a doubt of it,” said the father; “the rascal’s incurable, and little did I imagine when I asked him once or twice to dine here that I was preparing such an infliction for poor Julia.  Julia didn’t he write to you?”

“I certainly had the honor of receiving a very elaborate love-letter from him,” replied Julia, laughing, “which I will show you some of these days; but, for my part, I think the fool is beneath resentment, and it is merely on that principle that I have treated him with good-humored contempt.”

“He is certainly as good as a farce,” said the father; “and if the rascal had kept from making love, I should have still been glad to have him here from time to time to amuse us.”

“How does he live at all?” asked Mrs. Purcel; “for, by all accounts, he has no fixed place of residence, nor any known means of support.”

“Faith, Nancy, that’s a subject upon which we are all aiqually ignorant,” replied her husband; “but that the fellow lives, and can live comfortably—­ay, and has plenty of money, there can be no earthly doubt.  At the same time, that there is much talk about him, and a great deal of mystery too, is a sure case on the other hand.  Well, never mind, Jack; I asked your old tutor, M’Carthy, to dine here to-day; he has come home to the country after having gained a scholarship, I believe they call it, in Trinity College.”

“I’m glad you did, father,” replied John, “and I’m much obliged to you.  Yes, he has gained first place, and I knew he would.”