nd when Pat got violent
and inclined to be impertinent on the subject, he told him that he
would knock him down with the alpine in his hand if he said another
word about it.

On Sunday, Thady went to mass, and afterwards took a walk with his
friend the priest, who said everything he could to raise his spirits,
and to a certain degree he did so. On the next morning, as he was
going to his work, a messenger brought a letter from Keegan to his
father. This was a legal notice on Flannelly's part, that on some day
in November, which was named, he--Flannelly--would require not only
the payment of the interest money which would then be due, but also
the principal; and in this notice was set forth the exact sum to be
paid for principal, for interest, for costs; and it further stated
that if the sum was not paid on or before that day, writs would be
issued for his body--that is the body of poor Larry Macdermot--and
latitats, and sheriff's warrants, and Heaven knows what besides, for
selling the property at Ballycloran; and that the mortgage would be
immediately foreclosed, and the property itself disposed of for the
final settlement of the debt.

This agreeable document was very legibly addressed to Lawrence
Macdermot, Esq., &c. &c. &c., Ballycloran; and its unusual dimensions
and appearance made Thady at once feel that it was some infernal
missile come still further to harass him, and leave him, if possible,
more miserable than it found him. However, such as it was, it was
necessary that it should be read; so he took it to his father, and
having broken the seal, said,--

"Here's a letter from Keegan, Larry; shall I read it you?"

"D----n Keegan," was the father's consolatory reply, "I don't want
his letters. I tell you he can't call for his money before November,
and this is October yet."

"That's thrue," said Thady, when he had spelt through the epistle;
"that's thrue, father; but this is to say that he manes to come in
'arnest, when that time comes."

"And don't he always come in 'arnest? is it in joke he comes, when
he axes for a hundred pound every half year? come in 'arnest! why,
d----n him, he's always in 'arnest!"

"But, father, it's not only the hundred pound now, but the whole debt
he demands;" and, at last, Thady succeeded in reading the letter to
his father.

Larry at first got into a violent passion, swearing fearfully at
Keegan, and hinting that he, Larry, knew well enough how to take
care of his own bo