Strongly contrasted with the amusement of the parishioners in general, was the indignation felt by the three damsels and their friends.  The old housekeeper was perfectly furious; so much so, indeed, that the priest gave some dark hints at the necessity of sending for a strait waistcoat.  Her fellow-servants took the liberty of breaking some strong jests upon her, in return for which she took the liberty of breaking two strong churnstaves upon them.  Being a remarkably stout woman for her years, she put forth her strength to such purpose that few of them went to bed without sore bones.  The priest was seriously annoyed at it, for he found that his house was a scene of battle during the remainder of the day.

Sally Flattery’s uncle, in the absence of her father, indignantly espoused the cause of his niece.  He and Donovan each went among their friends to excite in them a proper resentment, and to form a faction for the purpose of chastising Phelim.  Their chagrin was bitter on finding that their most wrathful representations of the insult sustained by their families, were received with no other spirit than one of the most extravagant mirth.  In vain did they rage and fume, and swear; they could get no one to take a serious view of it.  Phelim O’Toole was the author of all, and from him it was precisely what they had expected.

Phelim himself, and the father, on hearing of the occurrence after mass, were as merry as any other two in the parish.  At first the father was disposed to lose his temper; but on Phelim telling him he would bear no “gosther” on the subject, he thought proper to take it in good humor.  About this time they had not more than a week’s provision in the house, and only three shillings of capital.  The joke of the three calls was too good a one to pass off as an ordinary affair; they had three shillings, and although it was their last, neither of them could permit the matter to escape as a dry joke.  They accordingly repaired to the little public-house of the village, where they laughed at the world, got drunk, hugged each other, despised all mankind, and staggered home, Fagged and merry, poor and hearty, their arms about each other’s necks, perfect models of filial duty and paternal affection.

The reader is aware that the history of Phelim’s abrupt engagement with the housekeeper, was conveyed by Fool Art to Sally Flattery.  Her thievish character rendered marriage as hopeless to her as length of days did to Bridget Doran.  No one knew the plan she had laid for Phelim, but this fool, and, in order to secure his silence, she had promised him a shirt on the Monday after the first call.  Now Art, as was evident by his endless habit of shrugging, felt the necessity of a shirt very strongly.

About ton o’clock on Monday he presented himself to Sally, and claimed his recompense.

“Art,” said Sally, “the shirt I intended for you is upon Squire Nugent’s hedge beside their garden.  You know the family’s goin’ up to Dublin on Thursday, Art, an’ they’re gettin’ their washin’ done in time to be off.  Go down, but don’t let any one see you; take the third shirt on the row, an’ bring it up to me till I smooth it for you.”