ame of Funny Eye. The
poor woman is mother to a large family of childre, sir; and the worst of
it is, that no two o' them goies by the same name. It would be a proud
day that we could make sure of her, especially as Father Roche and Mr.
M'Cabe, his curate, were obliged to give her up, and forbid her the
parish; but Funny Eye only winks and laughs at them and the world. She's
the last, sir--but I'll be on the look out, God willin', for a few more
desperate cases to crown our victory over the dev--ahem! over Satan and
the priests."

"Well, then, let me see you, as I said, the day after to-morrow, and in
the mean time--peace, and joy, and victory be with you!"

"The same to you, sir, and many of them! Amin--I pray the sweet queen o'
heaven this day!"

"Darby," said M'Slime, who looked upon his mingling up religious
expressions peculiar to his class as a proof of his sincerity--"Darby,"
said he in a low, condensed, and collected voice--"I said I had the
execution of a commission to entrust to you."

"But, sir," said Darby, whose ears, could they have shaped themselves
according to his wishes, would have ran into points in order to hear
with more acuteness--"Sir," said he, "I doubt I'm not worthy of such a
trust."

"Perfectly worthy, Darby," continued Solomon, "if I did not think so I
would not employ you--I have engaged another person to prepare, as it
were, the way for you; but the truth is, it would never do to allow that
person and the young person of whom you are going to take charge to
be seen together. Evil constructions would most assuredly be put on
innocent actions, Darby, as they often are; and for this reason it
is that I have partly changed my mind, and will entrust one-half the
commission I speak of to you." As if, however, he feared that the very
walls might justify the old proverb by proving that they had ears,
he stood up and whispered a short, but apparently most interesting
communication to Darby, who appeared to listen to a tale that was
calculated rather to excite admiration than any other feeling. And
we have little doubt, indeed, that the tale in question was given as
illustrating the exertion of as pure an instance of Christian compassion
and benevolence as ever was manifested in the secret depths of that true
piety which shuns the light; for Darby's journey was most assuredly to
be made in the dark and still hours of the night. On opening the door
a party of three or four clients were about to