wanted to rob you
of your faith sent you. It is owing to the robbery of the money you
possessed that your mother died; and, finally, but for the cruelty of
the landlord and his injustice, you might be now at home in Ireland, and
probably studying in Maynooth College. See how God brings good from
evil. See how, as he made the hardness of Pharaoh's heart contribute to
the glory and miraculous power of Moses and Aaron, he continually makes
use of the tyranny of the landlords of Ireland--not inferior to the
cruelty of Pharaoh or Herod--to contribute to the spread of the faith,
without which there is no salvation, among the generous and naturally
good people of this vast country."

"I understand it all now," said Paul, "and thank God for all that has
happened to us."

"That's right, my boy; you will be yet a priest, perhaps, yourself. I
must now prepare to return."

As Father Ugo passed down stairs, he was met by Mrs. and Mr. Prying,
who invited him to the parlor, and by a good deal of persuasion
prevailed on him to remain there over night, rather than go to the hotel
six miles off. Even the bigoted Amanda was very anxious to have an
argument with a real priest--that mysterious sort of being whom she
never saw, but heard so much about.

Father Ugo was a robust, brave-looking man, of unaffected manners,
bordering on plainness, though highly educated, and accustomed in
Europe, where he was chaplain to Lord C----d, to the most aristocratic
society. Perhaps it was owing to his knowledge of the vanity of
aristocratic airs that he affected such a plainness of manners, being
thoroughly tired of the odd, unmeaning ceremonials of fashion. It must
be confessed, at any rate, that he entertained no small contempt for the
mushroom aristocratic imitations that he witnessed in America; and this
made him a little sarcastic, and therefore rather rude, in his
association with what he called "the monkey aristocracy" of the new
world.

Such being the sentiments of Father Ugo, the reader ought not to be
surprised that his reluctance to enter into a theological discussion
with Amanda was great, and his answers to that indefatigable _she bore_
rather curt and ironical. After a good deal of conversation about the
weather, crops, the telegraph, railroads, thunder storms, electricity,
and such other subjects as were suggested by the climate and state of
the weather, Mr. Prying left the room, wondering where this priest got
his knowledge, and