that little now was left to her management but the claims of such poor
as flocked for assistance to the house.

Mass having been concluded, and the benediction given in the chapel of
Red Ridge, Mr. Purcel and his family soon appeared among the crowd on
the green, preparing to return home. The car was driven up opposite the
chapel door, to the place where they were in the habit of waiting for
it. The two brothers came out along with their sisters, and signed to
the lads who had been holding their horses to bring them up. In the
meantime, Buck English, unabashed by the rebuff he had received,
once more approached, and just as the car had come up, tendered his
gallantry--as he called it--with his usual politeness.

"I trust, leedies, that as you were not kin-descending enough to let me
have the gallantry of helping you off, you will let me have the pleasure
of helping you on?"

"That lady behind you appears to have prior claims upon you, Mr.
English."

"Behind me!" he exclaimed, turning about. "Why, Miss Joolia, there's no
leddy behind me."

In the meantime she beckoned to her brother who, while the, proctor
was assisting his wife to take her seat, helped up both the girls, who
nodding to the Buck, said--

"Thank you, Mr. English: we feel much obliged for your gallant
intentions; quite as much, indeed, as if you had carried them into
effect."