passage, uttering indignant ejaculations in a sort of snorting manner,
while her words of anger were returned by Murphy with expressions of
soothing and condolence as he followed her down-stairs.

The storm still continued above, and while there they shouted and swore
and complained, Murphy gave _his_ notion of the catastrophe to the
landlady below, inferring that the men were drunk and poured the water
over their own clothes. To repeat this idea to themselves he re-ascended,
but the men were incredulous. The little man he found buttoning on a pair
of black gaiters, the only serviceable decency he had at his command,
which only rendered his denuded state more ludicrous. To him Murphy
asserted his belief that the whole affair was enchantment, and ventured to
hope the small individual would have more faith in fairy machinations for
the future; to which the little abortion only returned his usual "Pho!
pho! nonsense!"

Through all this scene of uproar, as Murphy passed to and fro, whenever he
encountered the landlord, that worthy individual threw him a knowing look;
and the exclamation of, "Oh, Misther Murphy--by dad!" given in a low
chuckling tone, insinuated that the landlord not only smoked but enjoyed
the joke.

"You must lend me a pair of boots, Kelly!" said Murtough.

"To be sure, sir--ha! ha! ha!--but you are the quare man, Misther
Murphy--"

"Send down the road and get my gig out of the ditch."

"To be sure, sir. Poor devils! purty hands they got into," and off went