do so, but ours. Instead, of being cruel to them it is to ourselves we
are cruel; for by peeing the aforeseed tithes we are peeing away our
heart's blood, an' you know that if we are the fools to pee that way,
small bleeme to them if they take it in the shape of good passable cash.
They--meening sich men as Purcel--are only the instruments with which
the parsons work."

"Ay," replied the stern voice, "but, in case we had the country to
ourselves, do you think now, Buck darlin', that when we'd settle off
the jidges, an' lawyers, an' sheriffs, an' bailiffs, that we'd allow the
jails or the gibbets to stan', or the hangmen to live. No, by japers,
we'd make a clane sweep of it; and when sich a man as Purcel becomes
a tool in the parsons' hands to grind the people, I don't see that we
ought to make fish of one an' flesh of the other."

"Ah, Darby Hourigan, is that you?" exclaimed the Buck; "well, although
I don't exaggerate with your severity, yet I will shake hands with you.
How do you do Darby? Darby, I think you're a true petriot--but, so
far as Mr. Purcel is concirned, I wish you to understand that he is a
particular friend of mine, and so is every mimber of his family."

"Faith, an' Mr. Buck, it's more than you are with them, I can tell you."

"But perhaps you are a little misteeken there, Mr. Hourigan," replied
the Buck, with a swagger, whilst he raised his head and pulled up the
collar of his shirt at both sides, with a great deal of significant
self-consequence;--"perhaps you are--I see so, that's oll. Perhaps, I
repeat, there is some mimber of that family not presupposed against me,
Mr. Hourigan?"