oing after dinner, a
long-winded series of his magisterial exploits, reminded him that he had
expressed a wish to see him on very important business.

"I wouldn't care," he added, "but the truth is, Fitzy, I am pressed for
want of time, as I should have been at the bishop's court, where I
have cited several of these tithe rebels long before this. What is the
business, then?"

"It is a matter, my dear Mr. Purcel--"

"Why the devil do you Mr. Purcel me?" asked the proctor, warmly. "It was
formerly Mat and Fitzy between us, and I don't see why it should not be
so still."

"Hem--ahem--why it was, I grant, but then--not that I am at all a proud
man, Mr. Purcel--far from it, I trust--but you see--hem--the truth
is, that to a man as I am, a magistrate--trusted and--consulted by
government, and having, besides, to meet certain low prejudices against
me in the country, here, I don't think--I'm spaking of the magistrate
now, Purcel--not of the man--observe that, but the truth is--d--m the
word, for I don't think there's in the whole catalogue of names, so
vulgar a one as Fitzy--and be d--d to it."

The proctor laughed till the tears came from his eyes, at the dignified
distress with which the great little man resented this degrading
grievance.

"Ha! ha! ha! and so," said he, "I'm not to call you Fitzy; well, well,
so be it--but I have been so long in the habit of using it in our
conversation, that I shall, find it a difficult matter to change the
practice. But upon my conscience, Fitzy--I beg pardon, Mr. O'Driscol,
I must say--I think it great weakness in your worship, to let such a
trifle as that annoy you."

"It may be a weakness," said the other, "but before we go further, I
make it a personal request, that you won't use Fitzy to me, and above
all things, in the presence of strangers. I entrate and implore that you
won't."

"Very well, then--a bargain be it--but I must insist that you never call
me Mat, or anything but Mr. Purcel, again."

"Why, but you know you are not a magistrate, Mat."

"Never mind, Fitzy--hem--never mind, your worship, call me whatever you
like--unless a rogue--ha! ha! ha! well, but to business--what is this
you want with me?"

"A business that, if well managed, may be a beneficial one to you and me
both."

"Out with it, though--you know I'm in a hurry."

"Why now," proceeded the little man, relapsing unconsciously into a
sense of his violated dignity,--"curse me, if I'd for fifty--no, n