as eager as her husband in asking after old friends, rent me with--

'I take shame for you, Sorr, coming down here--though the Saints know
you're as welkim as the daylight whin you DO come--an' upsettin'
Terence's head wid your nonsense about--about fwhat's much better
forgotten. He bein' a civilian now, an' you niver was aught else. Can
you not let the Arrmy rest? 'Tis not good for Terence.'

I took refuge by Mulvaney, for Dinah Shadd has a temper of her own.

'Let be--let be,' said Mulvaney. 'Tis only wanst in a way I can talk
about the ould days.' Then to me:--'Ye say Dhrumshticks is well, an'
his lady tu? I niver knew how I liked the gray garron till I was shut
av him an' Asia.'--'Dhrumshticks' was the nickname of the Colonel
commanding Mulvaney's old regiment.--'Will you be seein' him again?
You will. Thin tell him'--Mulvaney's eyes began to twinkle--'tell him
wid Privit--'

'MISTER, Terence,' interrupted Dinah Shadd.

'Now the Divil an' all his angils an' the Firmament av Hiven fly away
wid the "Mister," an' the sin av making me swear be on your confession,
Dinah Shadd! _Privit_, I tell ye. Wid _Privit_ Mulvaney's best
obedience, that but for me the last time-expired wud be still pullin'
hair on their way to the sea.'

He threw himself back in the chair, chuckled, and was silent.

'Mrs. Mulvaney,' I said, 'please take up the whiskey, and don't let
him have it until he has told the story.'