And Biddy said that she would give him five pounds to help to
build the church and fifty pounds for her window, and, she added,
"If the best gilding and paint costs a little more I would be
sorry to see the church short."

"Well, you say, Biddy, you will give five pounds towards the
church. Now, let us think how much money I could get in this
parish."

He had a taste for gossip, and he liked to hear everyone's
domestic details. She began by telling him she had met Kate
Kavanagh on the road, and Kate had told her that there had been
great dancing last night.

"But there was no wedding," said the priest.

"I only know, your reverence, what Kate Kavanagh told me. There
had been great dancing last night. The supper was ordered at
Michael Dunne's, and the cars were ordered, and they went to
Enniskerry and back."

"But Michael Dunne would not dare to serve supper to people who
were not married," said the priest.

"The supper had been ordered, and they would have to pay for it
whether they ate it or not. There was a pig's head, and the cake
cost eighteen shillings, and it was iced."

"Never mind the food," said the priest, "tell me what happened."