"I'll be making a little settlement for her, surely," says himself.
The next day he gave out through the country that Bride was to be married. What with the little handful of money, the fine farm of land and the looks of the girl, the suitors were coming in plenty. There were strong farmers, small farmers, tradesmen and dealers; a cow doctor, a blacksmith, and evenly a man that travelled in tea. Himself was disgusted with all; he put out the farmers and dealers very civil and stiff, but the tea man he stoned down the road for a couple of miles.
The next suitor to come was a beautiful young lad the name of Shan Alec. He was a tasty worker, and he had the best of good money was left him by his da. Now if you were to seek all Ireland ten times through, I'll go bail you wouldn't be finding a more suitable match nor Shan Alec and Bride. The girl and her mother were fair wild with delight, but they got an odious disappointment for didn't himself run the poor boy out of the house.
"I'm surprised at you," says the wife. "Why couldn't you have wit and give that decent lad an honourable reception?"
"Is it to give my daughter to yon country coley?" says he. "And I the warmest man in these parts."
"A better match for her like isn't walking this earth," says the wife.
"Hold your whisht, woman," says he. "I'd sooner let the devil have her than see her join the world with Shan Alec."
"What is on you at all to be speaking such foolishness?" asks herself.
"I'd have you to know," says he, "that I'll have a gentleman for my son-in-law and no common person at all."
"It is the raving of prosperity is on you," says she. "And that is the worst madness out."
"Speak easy," says he, "or maybe I'll correct you with the pot stick."
With that she allowed he be to be gone daft entirely, or he'd never have such an unseemly thought as to raise his hand to a woman.
"Hold your whisht," he answers. "Surely 'tis both hand and foot I'll be giving you unless you quit tongueing."
Not a long afterwards a splendid gentleman came to the house, and he riding on a horse.
"I have heard tell," says he to the farmer, "that you are seeking a suitable settlement for your daughter."
"If your honour wants a wife," says himself. "Let you be stepping in, for it's maybe in this house you'll find her."