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Rh go and hang yerself,' says she, ' fur his riv'rince'll niver forgive ye killin' that bird,' says she, half-frightened out of her wits.

"'Faix, I don't care,' says I. 'What business had he peckin' the peaytees, thin?' says I, all of a trimble.

"'Oh,' says she, 'you'll know what; and, by the same token, here comes himself now; and you'd better dig a hole as quick as you can, and pitch the ould rousther in it,' says she.

"So I looks round, and sure enough, there was his riv'rince walkin' slowly towards us, in the trench, wid a pinch of snuff betune his finger and thumb, lookin' to the one side and the other. Well, begannies, it wasn't long I was diggin' a hole, and coverin' up the ould rousther in it, and scatterin' the peaytees over the place ; and thin I felt as guilty as if it was a man I murdered. By and by himself comes along; me heart was thumpin' away inside; ye could hear it a mile off, as one may say.

"His riv'rince talked about the weather, and the peaytees, and this and that, and there was his fut widin' a yard of the place.

"'Honey,' says he, 'you shouldn't lave the hens be after pecking the peaytees!' says he; 'they'll spoil more than they're worth,' says he.

"'Humph! 'tis meself can't keep 'em away,' says I.

"Oh, botheration! but you must drive 'em away,' says he.

"'Faix, they won't stay druv,' I says.

"'Why, then, Kitty,' says he, 'my honey,' says he, 'you must knock 'em down,' says he.

"'Oh, wisha, good-morrow to ye, Father Doyle,' says I.

"'Why so?' says he.

"'Is it knock 'em down?' says I.

"'Yes,' says he, 'it is.'

"'Humph!' says I; 'if I did that same, maybe yer riv'rince 'ud niver forgive me for doin' av it!' says I.

"'Yes, I would, honey; why not?' says he.

"'What, if I killed one of yer hens?' says I.

"'Did I say kill?' says he; 'I said, knock 'em down; that's all.'