"They may have them to-morrow, for what I care," said Fanny, who
could not help feeling that Aby Mollett had at one time been not
altogether left without hope as her suitor.

"But you wouldn't like anything like that to happen in your father's
house," said Father Barney.

"Bringing throuble and disgrace on an honest name," said Mrs.
O'Dwyer.

"There'd be no disgrace as I knows of," said Fanny, stoutly. "Father
makes his money by the public, and in course he takes in any that
comes the way with money in their pockets to pay the shot."

"But these Molletts ain't got the money to pay the shot," said Mrs.
O'Dwyer, causticly. "You've about sucked 'em dhry, I'm thinking, and
they owes you more now than you're like to get from 'em."

"I suppose father'll have to take that bill up," said Fanny,
assenting. And so it was settled down there among them that the
Molletts were to have the cold shoulder, and that they should in
fact be turned out of the Kanturk Hotel as quickly as this could be
done. "Better a small loss at first, than a big one at last," said
Mrs. O'Dwyer, with much wisdom. "They'll come to mischief down here,
as sure as my name's M'Carthy," said the priest. "And I'd be sorry
your father should be mixed up in it."

And then by degrees the conversation was changed, but not till the
tea-things had been taken away, and a square small bottle of very