“‘Yes!’ said I, ’and enable you to commit murder?  No, no, Murphy; I’m sorry it’s not in my power to put a final stop to such dangerous quarrels!’

“He then dashed off, and in the course of a short time I saw him and Kelly, both on horseback, hurrying into the town in all possible haste, armed with their cudgels.  The following day, I got my dog and gun, and sauntered about the hills, making a point to call upon Kelly.  I found him with his head tied up, and his arm in a sling.

“‘Well, Denis,’ said I, ’I find you have kept your promise of giving up quarrels!’

“And so I did, sir,’ said Denis; ’but, sure you wouldn’t have me for to go desart them, when the Caseys war three to one over them?  No; God be thanked, I’m not so mane as that, anyhow.  Besides, they welted both my brothers within an inch of their lives.’

“‘I think they didn’t miss yourself,’ said I.

“‘You may well say they did not, sir,’ he replied:  ’and, to tell God’s truth, they thrashed us right and left out of the town, although we rallied three times, and came in agin.  At any rate, it’s the first time for the last five years that they dare go up and down the street, calling out for the face of a Murphy, or a Kelly; for they’re as bitter now agin us as agin the Murphys themselves.’

“‘Well, I hope, Denis,’ I observed, ’that what occurred yesterday will prevent you from entering into their quarrels in future.  Indeed, I shall not give over, until I prevail on you to lead a quiet and peaceable life, as the father of a rising family ought to do.’

“‘Denis,’ said the wife, when I alluded to the children, looking at him with a reproachful and significant expression—­’Denis, do you hear that!—­the father of a family, Denis!  Oh, then, God look down on that family; but it’s—­Musha, God bless you and yours, sir,’ said she to me, dropping that part of the subject abruptly; ’it’s kind of you to trouble yourself about him, at all at all:  it’s what them that has a better right to do it, doesn’t do.’

“‘I hope,’ said I, ’that Denis’s own good sense will show him the folly and guilt of his conduct, and that he will not, under any circumstances, enter into their battles in future.  Come, Denis, will you promise me this?’

“‘If any man,’ replied Denis, ’could make me do it, it’s yourself, sir, or any one of your family; but if the priest of the parish was to go down on his knees before me, I wouldn’t give it up till we give them vagabone Caseys one glorious battherin,’ which, plase God, we’ll do, and are well able to do, before a month of Sundays goes over us.  Now, sir, you needn’t say another word,’ said he, seeing me about to speak; ’for by Him that made me we’ll do it!  If any man, I say, could persuade me agin it, you could; but, if we don’t pay them full interest for what we got, why my name’s not Denis Kelly—­ay, sweep them like varmint out of the town, body and sleeves!’

“I saw argument would be lost on him, so I only observed, that I feared it would eventually end badly.