re is that letter of Mr. M'Clutchy's--oh, I have it. Well, Darby,"
said M'Slime, quietly changing it for another, "here it is; now, do you
see how I commit that letter to the flames?" placing M'Clutchy's under
the side of a brief; "and even as the flames die away before your eyes,
so dies away--not my resentment, Darby, for none do I entertain against
him--but the memory of his offensive expressions."

"Sir," said Darby, "this is wonderful! I often heard of religion and
forgiveness of injuries, but antil this day I never saw them in their
thrue colors. The day after to-morrow I'm to call, sir?"

"The day after to-morrow."

"Well, sir, may the Holy Virgin this day--och, indeed I do not know what
I'm sayin' sir--Religion! well if that's not religion what is or can be?
Good mornin' sir."

"Good morning, Darby, and remember my advice--pray, sing, wrestle--peace
be with you!"

CHAPTER XI.--Darby and Solomon at Prayer

--An Instance of Pure Charity---Candidates for Conversion--An
Appropriate Confidence--The Rev. Phineas Lucre and his Curate, Mr.
Clement--Rev. Father Roche and his Curate, Father M'Cabe.

Darby was opening the hall-door, when, as if struck by a new train
of thought, he again tapped at the office door, and begged pardon for
entering.

"I'm in a sweet state, sir," said he; "and would you forgive me, now
that my heart is, full, by lookin' at such an example, if I tuck
the liberty of axin' you to kneel down and offer a Father an' Ave
an'--hem--och, what am I sayin'--an' offer up a wurd in saison for that
unfortunate blaggard, M'Clutchy--any how, it'll improve myself, and
I feel as if there was new strength put into me. Oh, the netarnal
scoundrel! To spake the way he did of sich a man--sich a scantlin of
grace--of--oh, then, do, sir; let us offer up one prayer for him, the
vagabond!"

The reader will perceive, however, by and by, that Darby's sudden and
enthusiastic principle of charity towards M'Clutchy, wanted that very
simple requisite, sincerity--a commodity, by the way, in which the
worthy bailiff never much dealt. Indeed we may say here, that the object
of his return was connected with anything but religion.

A shade of feeling, somewhat rueful, sat on M'Slime's features, until
he caught Darby's eye fixed upon him, when, after rebuking him for the
terms in which he proposed the, prayer, he knelt down, and with a most
serene smile, commenced an earnest supplication, which became still more