“Well said, Mr. Burke,” replied Hycy; “I am like yourself, becoming exceedingly oracular of late—­but, Mr. Cavanagh, touching this exquisite union which is contemplated between Adonis and Juno the ox-eyed—­does it still hold good, that, provided always she cannot secure the corrupt clod-hopper, she will in that ease condescend upon Adonis?”

“Gerald,” said the father, “as there’s none here so handy at the nonsense as to understand him, the best way is to let him answer himself.”

“Begad, Jemmy,” said Cavanagh, “to tell you the truth, I haven’t nonsense enough to answer the last question at any rate; unless he takes to speakin’ common-sense I won’t undhertake to hould any further discourse wid him.”

“Why will you continue,” said his brother in a low voice, “to render yourself liable to these strong rebuffs from plain people?”

“Well said, most vituline—­Solomon secundus, well said.”

“Hycy,” said his mother, “you ought to remimber that every one didn’t get the edi cation you did—­an’ that ignorant people like your father and Gerald Kavanagh there can’t undhercomestand one-half o’ what you say.  Sure they know nothing o’ book-lamin’, and why do you give it them?”

“Simply to move their metaphysics, Mrs. Burke.  They are two of the most notorious metaphysicians from this to themselves; but they don’t possess your powers of ratiocination, madam?”

“No,” replied his father; “nayther are we sich judges of horseflesh, Hycy.”

Hycy made him a polite bow, and replied, “One would think that joke is pretty well worn by this time, Mr. Burke.  Couldn’t you strike out something original now?”

“All I can say is,” replied the father, “that the joke has betther bottom than the garran it was made upon.”

Edward now arose and left the parlor, evidently annoyed at the empty ribaldry of his brother, and in a few minutes Hycy mounted his horse and rode towards Ballymacan.

It is not our intention here to follow Gerald Cavanagh in the account, unconsciously one sided as it was, of the consent which he assured them Kathleen had given, on the night before, to marry their son Edward.  It is sufficient to say, that before they separated, the match was absolutely made by the two worthies, and everything arranged, with, the exception of the day of marriage, which they promised to determine on at their next meeting.

CHAPTER XXIV.—­Thoughts on Our Country and Our Countrymen

—­Dora and Her Lover.

The state of the country, at this period of our narrative, was full of gloom and depression.  Spring had now set in, and the numbers of our independent and most industrious countrymen that flocked towards our great seaports were reckoned by many thousands; and this had been the case for many a season previously.  That something was wrong, and that something is wrong in the country must, alas! be evident from the myriad’s