'
'Then you must not warm my heart with your kindness,' was the answer.
'No, no, never fear, when I'm not with any one who has seen
Ballymakilty, I can speak English so that I could not be known for a
Galway man. Not that I'm ashamed of my country,' he added; and the
next moment the door shut behind him.
'How could you scold him for his Irish?' exclaimed Albinia, as her
brother re-entered; 'it sounds so pretty and characteristic.'
'I fear Mr. Goldsmith may think it too characteristic!'
'I am sure Edmund might well call him prepossessing. I hope Mr.
Goldsmith is going to do something handsome for him!'
'Poor lad! Mr. Goldsmith considers that he has purchased him for a
permanent fixture on a high stool. It is a sad disappointment, for
he had been doing his utmost to prepare himself for college, and he
has so far distinguished himself at school, that I see that a very
little help would soon enable him to maintain himself at the
University. I could have found it in my heart to give it to him
myself; it would please Winifred.'
'Oh, let us help; I am sure Edmund would be glad.'
'No, no, this is better for all. Remember this is the Goldsmith's
only measure of conciliation towards their sister since her marriage,
and it ought not to be interfered with. Poor Ulick says he knows
this is the readiest chance of being of any use to his family, and
that his mother has often said she should be happy if she could but
see one of the six launched in a way to be independent! There are
those three eldest, little better than squireens, never doing a thing
but loafing about with their guns.
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