“Why, thin, all sorts o’ fortune to you, Condy—­ha, ha, ha!—­but you’re the sarra’s pet, for there’s no escapin’ you.  What was that I hard atween you an’ Ellish?” said Peter, getting up.

“The sarra matther to you.  If you behave yourself, we may let you into the wrong side o’ the sacret afore you die.  Go an’ get us a pint of what you know,” replied Condy, as he and Peter entered the kitchen.

“Ellish,” said Peter, “I suppose we must give it to thim.  Give it—­give it, avourneen.  Now, Condy, whin ’ill you pay me for this?”

“Never fret yourself about that; you’ll be ped.  Honor bright, as the black said whin he stole the boots.”

“Now Pettier,” said the wife, “sure it’s no use axin’ me to give it, afther the promise I made last night.  Give it yourself; for me, I’ll have no hand in such things good or bad.  I hope we’ll soon get out of it altogether, for myselfs sick an’ sore of it, dear knows!”

Pettier accordingly furnished them with the liquor, and got a promise that Condy would certainly pay him at mass on the following Sunday, which was only three days distant.  The fun of the boys was exuberant at Condy’s success:  they drank, and laughed, and sang, until pint after pint followed in rapid succession.

Every additional inroad upon the keg brought a fresh groan from Ellish; and even Peter himself began to look blank as their potations deepened.  When the night was far advanced they departed, after having first overwhelmed Ellish with professions of the warmest friendship, promising that in future she exclusively should reap whatever benefit was to be derived from their patronage.

In the meantime, Condy forgot to perform his promise.  The next Sunday passed, but Peter was not paid, nor was his clever debtor seen at mass, or in the vicinity of the shebeen-house, for many a month afterwards—­an instance of ingratitude which mortified his creditor extremely.  The latter, who felt that it was a take in, resolved to cut short all hopes of obtaining credit from them in future.  In about a week after the foregoing hoax, he got up a board, presenting a more vigorous refusal of score than the former.  His friends, who were more in number than he could have possibly imagined, on this occasion, were altogether wiped out of the exception.  The notice ran to the following effect:—­

“Notice to the Public, and to Pether Connell’s friends in particular.—­Divil resave the morsel of credit will be got or given in this house, while there is stick or stone of it together, barrin’ them that axes it has the ready money.

     “Pettier X his mark Connell,
     “Ellish X her mark Connell.”

This regulation, considering everything, was a very proper one.  It occasioned much mirth among Peter’s customers; but Peter cared little about that, provided he made the money.