substance of which was my future celebrity in the church. He has a claim
on the Bishop, which he stated to me will be exercised in my favor,
although there are several candidates for it in this parish, not one of
whom, however, is within forty-five degree's of being so well qualified
for college as myself. Father, is there not a jar--an _amphora_--as that
celebrated satirist Juvenile has it--an _amphora_--in the chimly-brace,
filled with liquor--get it, and let us _inter animosity_--I'll not be
long a member of the domestic circle with you--so, upon the basis of the
communication I have to make, let us, as I said, be--become sextons to
animosity and care. 'Dionysius,' said Father Finnerty, addressing me,
which shows, at all events, that I am not so unimportant as some of my
friends would suppose--'Dionysius,' said he '_inter nos_--between
you and me, I believe I have it in my power to send up a candidate to
Maynooth. 'Tis true, I never make a promise--_nunquam facio votum_,
except in certain cases, or, in other words, Dionysius, _exceptis
excipiendis_--in which is the essence, as it were, of a proper vow.' In
the meantime he proceeded--'With regard to your prospects in the church,
I can only say, in the first place, and I say it with much truth and
sincerity--that I'm badly off for a horse; that, however, is, as I said,
_inter nos--sub sigillo_. The old garran I have is fairly worn out--and,
not that I say it, your father has as pretty a colt as there is within
the bounds--_intra terminos parochii mei_, within the two ends of my
parish: _verbum sat_--which is, I'm sure you're a sensible and discreet
young man. Your father, Dionysius, is a parishioner whom I regard and
esteem to the highest degree of comparison, and you will be pleased to
report my eulogium to himself and to his dacent family--and proud may
they be of having so brilliant a youth among them as you are--ehem!'

"Now, you may all think that this was plain conversation; but I had read
too much for that. In fact, it was logic--complate, convincing logic,