illusthrate."

"How is that, Dinny? I can hear you sittin'."

"Lie down, you reptile, or I shall decline the narration altogether."

"Arra, lie down, Phadrick; sure he only wants to show you the rason o'
the thing."

"Well, well; I'm down. Now Dinny, don't let your feet be too larned, if
you plase."

"Silence!--_taceto!_ you reptile. Now, Phadrick, here, on this side o'
you, lies Barny Branagan's field; an' there, on that side, lies a field
of Parra Ghastha's; you're the ditch o' mud betuxt them."

"The ditch o' mud! Faix that's dacent!"

"Now here, on Barny Branagan's side, feeds Parra Ghastha's mare; an'
there, on Parra Ghastha's side, feed Barny Branagan's goats. Do you
comprehend? Do you insinuate?"

"I do--I do. Death alive! there's no use in punchin' my sides wid your
feet that way."

"Well, get up now an' set your ears."

"Now listen to him, Phadrick!"

"It was one night in winter, when all nature shone in the nocturnal