"There should be somebody here competent to give away the bridegroom,"
said the minister, with an air of annoyance.
"Sure, and it's meself as'll do that same," said TEDDY, obeying a nod
from ANN.
"Away now with sich modeshty, youngster. Bear up and be a man. It'll
soon be over. And if ye make a fuss," he added in a whisper, "I'll knock
the head off ye. Do ye mind that?" Then, as if relating his experience
to a large and sympathetic audience: "'Twas just that way I felt meself
like, when the knot was tied. Wake in the knees sim'larly, and a faylin'
like I was a cold dish-cloth wrung out. But Lord, he'll hold up his head
agin, _I'll_ warrant ye."
"Oh, why can't you let me go?" begged ARCHIBALD, "I ain't done nothin'."
TEDDY smiled. 'Twas such a smile as a dentist gives, just before he
swoops upon his prey.
"Did you iver now?" said he, appealing to the minister. "What a man it
is. As bashful as a young gyrl, without a mammy to smooth it over.
Steady now. There you are, as nice as a cotton hat," he continued, as he
put ARCHIBALD'S arm within ANN'S. "Lean aginst me as hard as iver ye
like, man.
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