ture, now they've gone and put her two sons into
gaol. I wonder what the counthry 'll be the better for all them boys
being crammed into gaol. I wish they'd kept that Ussher down in the
north when he was there; he's fitter for that place than County
Leitrim, any how."

"What's that about Captain Ussher, Father Cullen?"

"Shure didn't you hear he put three more of the boys into gaol
Tuesday evening, and one of them off Drumleesh?"

"Heard it! of course I heard it; and more than I'll be hearing it
too. Oh, Father Cullen, wherever that Ussher came from, I wish they'd
kept him there."

Thady's earnestness in this surprised the young priest.

"Why, I thought you and he were so thick; but I'm glad it's not
so much so. Why would the like of you be making so free with a
Protestant like him? Did you break with him, then, Mr. Thady?"

Macdermot by no means desired to admit Father Cullen into the
conference about his sister; the strong expression of his dislike had
fallen from him as it were involuntarily: he therefore turned off the
question.

"Oh no; break with him! why would I break with him? But you can't
think I like to see him dhriving the boys into the gaol like sheep to
the shambles. What business had they sending Tim Reynolds into gaol?
There'll be noise enough in the counthry about that yet, Father
Cullen."

"There'll never be noise enough about that, and such like cruelties
till he and all of the sort is put down intirely in the counthry; and
that'll only be when the counthry rights herself as she should do,
and, by God's blessing, will still; and that you and I, Mr. Thady,
may live to see it--"

The further expression of Father Cullen's favourite political
opinions was here interrupted by Father John's quick, heavy step on
the little gravel walk.

"Well, boys," said he, sitting down and pulling off his dirty gaiters
and shoes before the fire, "waiting for the goose, eh? Egad, when I
found what time it was, I thought you'd be bribing Judy to divide it
between you. Cullen, you look awfully hungry; I'd better set you at
the ham first, or you'll make terrible work at the half bird--for a
half is all there is for the three of us. Well, Judy, let's have the
stew."

The dinner was now brought in, and Father John talked joyously, as
though nothing was on his mind; and yet we know the sad conversation
he had had with young Macdermot that very morning, and that Thady was
there chiefly to tell the upshot of his mi