exist. If it does not exist, oughtn't it to be possible to put a curb on Sive's tongue? If what she is saying is all lies—if she has no claim upon Shiana by right of any promise,—she beats all the women I have ever seen, and Shiana beats all the men I have ever seen."
"How so?" said the priest.
"If Sive has no claim upon him," said John, "what is coming between him and marrying my daughter?"
"That is exactly the question," said the priest.
"It is, Father," said John, "and I have a mind to follow up that question until I succeed in solving it, sooner or later If you were in my case, Father," said he, "it wouldn't suit you very well to have Dermot's Sive making you ridiculous like this."
"Sive is making no one ridiculous but herself, John," said the priest. "But all the same you are right in saying that it would be a great pity not to teach some manners to the like of her if it were possible. And now I think of it, surely Dermot would not have gone up so boldly to Shiana's house to ask him 'what he meant to do next Tuesday,' if he had not had some right or title."
"And see for yourself, Father," said John, "what sort of answer Shiana gave him. 'I have no notion of marrying,' said he, 'nor will I have yet awhile;' just as if he meant to say, 'I am not ready yet to fulfil that promise.'"
"Really, John," said the priest, "I am inclined to think you are right. She has got a firm hold on him, and it is a great pity."
