The Irish standard., 1886-09-25
wouldn't put upwith it half the time"

t.Ha. ha!' laughed the priest ''pu
up with it? You haven't much to pu
up with, I should think?"
ssNo matter for that; I have my own
feelings, and you know very well, Fathe
John" Here Mr.. Guirkie was inter
rupted by the entrance of Mrs. Motherly
sHumph! may Ibeg to know, ma'a1n,
said he, turning half round and looking
angrily at his respectable housekeeper
may beg to know why we are in
terrupted?"
.tIt's no offence, I hope, to come will
message" said Mrs Motherly, depre
catingly. 81 niver thought it was.
"Didn't you? It's no matter wha
you thought -
sDon't be unkind to the goo(
woman" said Father John, who under
stood Mr.. Guirkie we'll, and knew all hi
little weaknesses respecting Mrs
Motherly. "Don't be unkind to her
Mr.. Guirkie. She is very excellen
woman, is Mrs. Motherly.''
"Humph--good enough, if she only
knew her place. But protest agains
her inveterate habit Of interrupting mt
when I have company. [ shan't toler
ate it, sir, any longer.
.'Just listen to that, Father John
when he knows in his heart and soul it'f
his own story he's tellin''' -".e
my own story, woman?''
eyes, sir; jest yer own story. For ye
niver have company in the house but ye
thrate me this way. There's no livin
with ye, when there's anybody to the
fore.''
Sand how is it when he's alone?'
Hes as quiet as lamb, your reyer-
ence. -
''IS's false" said Mr.. Guirkie; II say
it's false"
False! O, the Lord pardon ye, sir,
the Lord pardon ye, for beliein yerself;
for I'd take it to my death, Father
Brennan, there's not a quieter nor a
kinder man Twin, when he's by himself y
"Indeed!'' said the priest, emphasiz-
ing the word. and looking significantly
at Mr.. Guirkie. ''Ho! ho! that's the
way Of it?'
"Pray what do you mean, Mr.. Bren-
nan?'' demanded Uncle Jerry.
so, nothing, nothing particular. I
was merely thinking of what Captain
Petersham says Of you and Mrs.
Motherly."
"Of me and Mrs. Motherly?'' repeated
Uncle jerry"
s'Uf me and Mr.. Guirkie?" echoed
Mrs. Motherly. 'What could he say Of
me, yer reverence? I defy him to say
anything of me but what's dacent.''
''Of course you do, Mrs. Motherly.
You have always been, since you came
to reside in my parish, an honest. re-
spectacle woman. Captain Petersham,
when he spoke of you and Mr.. Guirkie,
never pretended to insinuate---''
SO, I dar him to it, exclaimed the
good woman; Il dar hum to it; and he'll
be here face to face afore many minutes,
for the message I came with was from
his groom that he'd call here on his re-
turn from the barracks. I'll dar him to
say anything against my karacter. Och,
och, it'd be poor day with me to hear
my name now in the mouth Of the peo-
pie, after Twin fourteen long years a
widow, without man or mortal ever pre-
Stunning to throw dirt at my door.
Hierna! the Lord be about us-to spake
of Mr.. Guirkie and me in the same
breath!"
my good woman" said the priest,
rising from his chair and approaching
her, lyon take this quite too seriously. -
We'll, listen TO me, yer reverence for
a minute. -
''No, no, not now-some other time
it's all joke, you know
'sJoke! but I'll let neither man or
woman joke with my karacter, Father
Brennan. TIL not lie under it, sir. Mr..
Guirkie's good man, sir, and q dacent
man, and has the good will Of rich and
poor; but may never cross that floor
again, if he had the virtues of all the
saints in the collinder, aud all the gold
in the Bank of England to boot, il I'd
ever as much as think Of him, barrin as
I ought to do, and as it becomes my
place to do. I know he's kind to me,
sir, and very kind to me-
"Quit the room, ma'an," commanded
Uncle Jerry; "quit the room instantly
and snatching the spectacles from his
face. he motioned with them to the
door. ftKind to you, indeed! I COM
mand you to quit the ROOM"
'tAnd yer house too" replied Mrs.
Motherly, raising her apron to her eyes.
30, dear, O dear? isn't it poor thing
that an ould woman like me can't button