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 sermon that any and every young man ought to hear!" I thought I saw an opening here for gaining some information and jumped in.

"By Jove! you set me off wishing to marry! Tell me, is there any pretty girl in this neighbourhood that would suit a young man like me?"

"Oho! begor, there's girruls enough to shute any man."

"Aye, Andy—but pretty girls!"

"Well surr, that depinds. Now what might be yer 'anr's idea iv a purty girrul?"

"My dear Andy, there are so many different kinds of prettiness that it is hard to say."

"Faix, an' I'll tell ye if there's a girrul to shute in the counthry, for bedad I think I've seen thim all. But you must let me know what would shute ye best?"

"How can I well tell that, Andy, when I don't know myself? Show me the girl, and I'll very soon tell you."

"Unless I was to ax yer 'an'r questions!" this was said very slily.

"Go on, Andy! there is nothing like the Socratic method."

"Very well thin! I'll ax two kinds iv things, an' yer 'an'r will tell me which ye'd like likelike [sic] the best!"

"All right, go on."

"Long or short?"

"Tall; not short, certainly."

"Fat or lane?"