d when in the bonds of iniquity; but you must
reform it--or rather, grace will be given you to reform it."

"I hope so," replied Darby, "and that I'll still get a clearer knowledge
of the truth, plaise Goodness."

Darby, as he uttered these words, would have given a trifle to have had
M'Clutchy to look at. Little did Solomon suspect the truth to which his
convert alluded.

"May it in charity be granted!" exclaimed Solomon, slightly twitching up
his eyebrows. "But, Darby, will you be properly prepared on next Sabbath
(D.V.) to bear strong testimony against error and idolatry?"

"Why, I'll do my best, sir," replied Darby, "and you know the best can
do no more."

"Well, but you can faithfully say that you are utterly free from every
taint of Popery."

"Faith, sir, I don't know that that would be altogether prudent. Did you
never hear of the ould proverb, sir--not to throw out the dirty water
till you get in the clane--I'm not sure that I have a sufficient grip
of the new light yet," said Darby, falling unconsciously into his usual
style of conversation, "but, I hope that by next Sunday, I'll be able
to shine;--an', be me sowl, if I don't, sir, it'll be none o' my
fawt--divil resave the purtier convert in Europe than I'll make when I
come to know a little about it."

"Darby," said Solomon, impatiently, "this is really very trying to one
so anxious for your spiritual welfare as I am. This awful swearing--I
really fear that some of your light has been withdrawn since our last
interview."

"Not at all unlikely," replied Darby; "but wid great submission, don't
you think, sir, that two religions is betther than one?"

"How do you mean by adverting to such an impossibility?"

"Why, sir, suppose I kept the ould one, and joined this new reformation
to it, wouldn't I have two chances instead o' one?"

"Darby," said Solomon, "avoid, or rather Pray that you may be enabled
to avoid the enemy; for I fear he is leading you into a darker error.
I tell you--I say unto you--that you would be much better to have no
religion than the Popish. You have reminded me of one proverb, suffer me
to remind you of another; do you not know, to speak in a worldly figure,
that an empty house is better than a bad tenant? why, I looked on you
with pride, with a kind of and joy as one wilom I had wrestled for, and
won from the enemy; but I fear you are elapsing."

"I hope in God sir," very gravely, "that you and he won't have to toss
up for me