the whip made a most ferocious sweep
in the air.

"Yes," replied Darby, thinking by the admission to increase the
impending castigation--"yes, sir; I don't belong to your flock now--you
have no authority whatsomever over me--mind that."

[Illustration: PAGE 216-- Oh, what a sweet convert you are]

"Haven't I indeed, Mr. Convert--oh, what a sweet convert you are--but
we'll see whether I have or not, by and by. Where are you bound for now?
To taste of Mr. Lucre's flesh pots? eh?"

"I'm bound for Mr. Lucre's, sure enough; and I hope there's no great
harm in that."

"Oh, none in the world, my worthy neophyte, none. Mr. Lucre's argument
and Lord ----'s bacon are very powerful during this hard season. Those
that haven't a stitch to their backs are clothed--those that haven't a
morsel to eat are fed--and if they haven't a fire, they get plenty of
fuel to burn their apostate skins at; and because this heretical crew
avail themselves of the destitution of these wretches--and lure them
from their own faith by a blanket and a flitch of bacon, they call that
conversion--the new Reformation by the way, ha--ha--ha--oh, it's too
good!"

"And do you think, sir," said Darby, "that if they had a hard or an
enlightened hoult of their own creed, that that would do it?"

The whip here described a circle, one part of whose circumference sang
within a few inches of Darby's ear--who, forgetting his relish for
martyrdom, drew back his head to avoid it.

"None of your back jaw," said M'Cabe; "don't you know, sirra, that in
spite of this Methodist Lord and the proud parson's temptations, you
are commanded to renounce the devil, the world, and the flesh? Don't you
know that?"

"But," replied Darby, "are we commanded to renounce the devil, the
world, and a bit o' fresh mait?"

"Ha--you snivelling scoundrel," said the curate, "you've got their
arguments already I see--but I know how to take them out of you, before
you leave my hands."

"Surely," continued Darby, "you wouldn't have a naked man renounce a
warm pair o' breeches, or a good coat to his back--does the Scriptur
forbid him that?"

"You will have it," replied the curate, who felt for the moment
astounded at Darby's, audacity, "you are determined on it; but I will
have patience with you yet, a little, till I see what brought you over,
if I can. Don't you admit, as I said, that you are commanded to renounce
the devil, the world, and the flesh--particularly the flesh, sirra, for