“Something like it; but the d—­d landlord, Chevydale, is impracticable—­so my uncle says—­and doesn’t wish to disturb the M’Mahons, although he has been shown that it is his interest to do so—­but d—­n the fellow, neither he nor one of his family ever look to their interests—­d—­n the fellow, I say.”

“Don’t curse or swear, most moral.  Well, the lease of Ahadarra has dropped, and of Carriglass too;—­with Carriglass, however, we—­that is you—­have nothing at all to do.”

“Proceed?’

“Now, I have already told you my affection for your sister, and I have not been able to get either yes or no out of you.”

“No.”

“What do you mean?”

“That you have not been able to get yes or no out of me—­proceed, most accomplished.  Where do you get your brandy?  This is glorious.  Well!”

“Now, as you have a scruple against taking the farm in any but a decent way, if I undertake to manage matters so as that Bryan M’Mahon shall be obliged to give up his farm, will you support my suit with Miss Clinton?”

“How will you do it?”

“That is what you shall not know; but the means are amply within my power.  You know my circumstances, and that I shall inherit all my father’s property.”

“Come; I shall hold myself neuter—­will that satisfy you?  You shall have a clear stage and no favor, which, if you be a man of spirit, is enough.”

“Yes; but it is likely I may require your advocacy with Uncle; and, besides, I know the advantage of having an absent friend well and favorably spoken of, and all his good points brought out.”

“Crazy Jane and Tom Burton, to wit; proceed, most ingenuous!”

“Curse them both!  Will you promise this—­to support me so far?”

“Egad, Hycy, that’s a devilish pretty girl that attends us with the hot water, and that waited on us at dinner—­eh?”

“Come, come, Master Harry, ’ware spring-guns there; keep quiet.  You don’t answer?”

“But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you—­discard you—­give you to the winds?—­eh?”

“Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold myself bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M’Mahon out as a beggar.”

“What! as a beggar?”

“Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion.”

“Hum! as a beggar.  But the poor fellow never offended me.  Confound it, he never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know.  I don’t much relish that, Hycy.”

“It cannot be done though in any other way.”

“I say—­how do you call that girl?—­Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, or what?”

“I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry.  If not, I shall drop the subject altogether.”

“There now—­proceed, O Hyacinthus.”

“How can I proceed, when you won’t pay attention to me; or, what is more, to your own interests?”