“When the dinner was over, you would think there was as much left as would sarve a regiment; and sure enough, a right hungry ragged regiment was there to take care of it—­though, to tell the truth, there was as much taken into Finigan’s as would be sure to give us all a rousing supper.  Why, there was such a troop of beggars—­men, women, and childher, sitting over on the sunny side of the ditch, as would make short work of the whole dinner, had they got it.  Along with Father Corrigan and me, was my father and mother, and Mary’s parents; my uncle, cousins, and nearest relations on both sides.  Oh, it’s Father Corrigan, God rest his sowl, he’s now in glory, and so he was then, also—­how he did crow and laugh!  ‘Well, Matthew Finigan,’ says-he, ’I can’t say but I’m happy that your Colleen Bawn here has lit upon a husband that’s no discredit to the family—­and it is herself didn’t drive her pigs to a bad market,’ says he.  ‘Why, in troth, Father avourneen,’ says my mother-in law, ’they’d be hard to plase that couldn’t be satisfied with them she got; not saying but she had her pick and choice of many a good offer, and might have got richer matches; but Shane Fadh M’Cawell although you’re sitting there beside my daughter, I’m prouder to see you on my own flure, the husband of my child, nor if she’d got a man with four times your substance.’

“‘Never heed the girls for knowing where to choose,’ says his Reverence, slyly enough:  ’but, upon my word, only she gave us all the slip, to tell the truth, I had another husband than Shane in my eye for her, and that was my own nevvy, Father James’s brother here.’

“‘And I’d be proud of the connection,’ says my father-in-law, ’but you see, these girls won’t look much to what you or I’ll say, in choosin’ a husband for themselves.  How-and-iver, not making little of your nevvy, Father Michael, I say he’s not to be compared with that same bouchal sitting beside Mary there.’

“‘No, nor by the powdhers-o-war, never will,’ says Billy M’Cormick the tailor, who had come over and slipped in on the other side betune Father Corrigan and the bride—­’by the powdhers-o’ war, he’ll never be fit to be compared with me, I tell you, till yesterday comes back again.’

“‘Why, Billy,’ says the priest, ‘you’re every place.’  ’But where I ought to be!’ says Billy; ’and that’s hard and fast tackled to Mary Bane, the bride here, instead of that steeple of a fellow she has got,’ says the little cock.

“‘Billy, I thought you were married,’ said Father Corrigan.

“‘Not I, your Reverence,’ says Billy;’ but I’ll soon do something, Father Michael—­I have been threatening this longtime, but I’ll do it at last’

“’He’s not exactly married, Sir, says my uncle ’but there’s a colleen present’ (looking at the bridesmaid) ’that will soon have his name upon her.’

“‘Very good, Billy,’ says the priest, ’I hope you will give us a rousing wedding-equal, at least, to Shane Fadh’s.’