honour knows best.'

'Very well,' slipping it into his private purse. 'Now, what's your
business?'

'The LASES to sign--the rent's all paid up.'

'Leases! Why, woman, is the possession given up?'

'It was, PLASE your honour; and Mr. Dennis has the key of our little
place in his pocket.'

'Then I hope he'll keep it there. YOUR little place--it's no longer
yours; I've promised it to the surveyor. You don't think I'm such a fool
as to renew to you at this rent.'

'Mr. Dennis named the rent. But anything your honour PLASES--anything at
all that we can pay.'

'Oh, it's out of the question--put it out of your head. No rent you can
offer would do, for I've promised it to the surveyor.'

'Sir, Mr. Dennis knows my lord gave us his promise in writing of a
renewal, on the back of the OULD LASE.'

'Produce it.'

'Here's the LASE, but the promise is rubbed out.'

'Nonsense! coming to me with a promise that's rubbed out. Who'll listen
to that in a court of justice, do you think?'

'I don't know, plase your honour; but this I'm sure of, my lord and Miss
Nugent, though but a child at the time, God bless her! who was by when
my lord wrote it with his pencil, will remember it.'

'Miss Nugent! what can she know of business?--What has she to do with
the management of my Lord Clonbrony's estate, pray?'

'Management!--no, sir.'

'Do you wish to get Miss Nugent turned out of the house?'

'Oh, God forbid!--how could that be?'

'Very easily; if you set about to make her meddle and witness in what my
lord does not choose.'

'Well then, I'll never mention Miss Nugent's name in it at all, if it
was ever so with me. But be PLASED, sir, to write over to my lord, and
ask him; I'm sure he'll remember it.'

'Write to my lord about such a trifle--trouble him about such nonsense!'

'I'd be sorry to trouble him. Then take it on my word, and believe me,
sir; for I would not tell a lie, nor cheat rich or poor, if in my power,
for the whole estate, nor the whole world: for there's an eye above.'

'Cant! nonsense!--Take those leases off the table; I never will sign
them. Walk off; ye canting hag; it's an imposition--I will never sign
them.'

'You WILL then, sir,' cried Brian, growing red with indignation; 'for
the law shall make you, so it shall; and you'd as good have been civil
to my mother, whatever you did--for I'll stand by her while I've life;
and I know she has right, and shall have law. I saw the memorandum
written before