When their children were full-grown, the mother did not, as might have been supposed, prevent them from making a respectable appearance.  With excellent judgment, she tempered their dress, circumstances, and prospects so well together, that the family presented an admirable display of economy, and a decent sense of independence.  From the moment they were able to furnish solid proofs of their ability to give a comfortable dinner occasionally, the priest of the parish began to notice them; and this new intimacy, warmed by the honor conferred on one side, and by the good dinners on the other, ripened into a strong friendship.  For many a long year, neither Peter nor Ellish, God forgive them, ever troubled themselves about going to their duty.  They soon became, however, persons of too much importance to be damned without an effort made for their salvation.  The worthy gentleman accordingly addressed them on the subject, and as the matter was one of perfect indifference to both, they had not the slightest hesitation to go to confession—­in compliment to the priest.  We do not blame the priest for this; God forbid that we should quarrel with a man for loving a good dinner.  If we ourselves were a priest, it is very probable,—­nay, from the zest with which we approach a good dinner, it is quite certain—­that we would have cultivated honest Peter’s acquaintance, and drawn him out to the practice of that most social of virtues—­hospitality.  The salvation of such a man’s soul was worth looking after; and, indeed, we find a much warmer interest felt, in all churches, for those who are able to give good dinners, than for those poor miserable sinners who can scarcely get even a bad one.

But besides this, there was another reason for the Rev. Mr. Mulcahy’s anxiety to cultivate a friendship with Peter and his wife—­which reason consisted in a very laudable determination to bring about a match between his own niece, Miss Granua Mulcahy, and Peter’s eldest son, Dan.  This speculation he had not yet broached to the family, except by broken hints, and jocular allusions to the very flattering proposals that had been made by many substantial young men for Miss Granua.

In the mean time the wealth of the Connells had accumulated to thousands; their business in the linen and woollen drapery line was incredible.  There was scarcely a gentleman within many miles of them, who did not find it his interest to give them his custom.  In the hardware, flour, and baking concerns they were equally fortunate.  The report of their wealth had gone far and near, exaggerated, however, as everything of the kind is certain to be; but still there were ample grounds for estimating it at a very high amount.

Their stores were large, and well filled with many a valuable bale; their cellars well stocked with every description of spirits; and their shop, though not large in proportion to their transactions, was well filled, neat, and tastefully fitted up.  There was no show, however—­no empty glare to catch the eye; on the contrary, the whole concern was marked by an air of solid, warm comfort, that was much more indicative of wealth and independence than tawdry embellishment would have been.