d not the least loved one, I assure you,--I hope I
may, without impropriety, by right of relationship by adoption, claim
you as a member also."

Father Paul answered by assuring him he appreciated his kindness; that
he acknowledged the honorable connection in full; and that, though this
very affectionate advance had not taken place, Mr. Goldrich would ever
be regarded by him with feelings of veneration and love, on account of
his affectionate kindness to his sister, in giving her such a superior
education, and treating her on terms of equality with his own children.
The highminded and liberal gentleman, after having shed tears at the
idea of losing his dear adopted girl, departed, having previously
extorted a promise from Father Paul to attend a great party in honor of
Aloysia, at the palace, on the evening of the next day.

In the mean time, Aloysia's room was besieged with crowds of anxious
visitors and voluntary condolers on her resolution of renouncing wealth,
pleasure, and Protestantism, for poverty, Popery, and penance. Rich
merchants came, offering to settle annuities on her for life; rich
widows came, with their tracts and Bibles in one hand, and their real
estate deeds and scrip in the other, hoping to conquer her resolution;
and eloquent parsons, with their "sweet speeches and flattering
discourses," were chasing one another, like clouds driven by the winds,
to and from the well-furnished boudoir, all charged with the same
apostolic office of saving a soul, a beautiful, interesting one, from
falling into that world-wide "net" of Popery with which St. Peter and
his successors have never ceased to "catch men," since the days of Jesus
Christ. All the discourses, prayers, entreaties, threats, crocodile
tears, flatteries, misrepresentations, legacies, settlements, and other
seductive allurements have miscarried, this time. A Catholic Aloysia was
baptized, and a Catholic she is resolved to live and die, with God's
grace.

The "big dinner" was prepared at the rich man's house, where Father Paul
through courtesy attended, and where he was obliged to defend, in a
speech of some length, the violent assault of that Parson Cashman, who
we told was fishing for the hand of Aloysia, but who now, because she
rejected him with scorn, had the bad taste to insult the whole company
by his _champagne_-inspired attack on Ireland, her creed, and her
children.

Paul completely refuted his charge of ignorance of the Irish, by
con