o money to give,--neither
is there anything to be given,--for the sake of conversion--but, if
your notions of your own religion are unsettled, put yourself under Lord
------'s chaplain; and, if, in the due course of time, he thinks you
sufficiently improved to embrace our faith, you and your family may be
aided by some comforts suitable to your condition."

Cummins' face lengthened visibly at 'an intimation which threw him so
far from his expectations; the truth being, that he calculated upon
receiving the money the moment he read his recantation. He looked at
Mr. Lucre again as significantly as he could--gave his head a scratch of
remonstrance--shrugged himself as before--rubbed his elbow--turned round
his hat slowly, examined its shape, and gave it a smarter set, after
which he gave a dry hem and prepared to speak.

"I'll hear nothing further on the subject," said the other, "withdraw."

Without more ado Cummins slunk out of the room, highly disappointed, but
still not without hopes from Lord ------, to whom, or his chaplain, he
resolved to apply. In the meantime he made the best of his way home to
his starving wife and children, without having communicated the result
of his visit to those who were assembled at the glebe house.

He had scarcely left the hall door when another claimant for admission
presented himself in the person of a huge, tattered fellow, with red,
stiff hair standing up like reeds through the broken crown of his hat,
which he took off on entering. This candidate for Protestantism had
neither shoe nor stocking on him, but stalked in, leaving the prints of
his colossal feet upon the hall through which he passed.

"Well, friend, what is wrong with you?--why did'nt you rub your filthy
feet, sir, before you entered the room? You have soiled all my carpet."

"I beg your honor's parding," said the huge fellow; "I'll soon cure
that." Having said which he trotted up to the hearth-rug, in which,
before Lucre had time even to speak, by a wipe from each foot, he left
two immense streaks of mud, which we guess took some hard scrubbing to
remove. "Now, your honor, I hope I'll do."

Lucre saw it was useless to remonstrate with him, and said, with more
temper than could be expected--

"Man, what's your business?"

"I come, sirra,"--this man had a habit of pronouncing sir as sirra,
which he could never overcome--"to tell your reverence to enther me down
at wanst."

"For what purpose should I enter you do