but it might answer the purpose?"

"I'm afraid," said M'Small, who, by the way, was a good deal of a
humorist, "I fear, Hartley, that the jurisdiction of the grand panel
would scarcely reach so high. In the meantime I shall think of it."

The bridge, however, was not only passed, but built, and actually stands
to this day, an undeniable monument of the frugality and honesty of
grand jurors, and the affection which they were then capable of bearing
to each other, when their interests happened to be at stake, which was
just four times in the year.

In the meantime, the tumultuous battle of jobs in all its noise,
recrimination, and jangle of conflicting interests, and incredible
selfishness commenced. There were strong mutual objections to pass the
roads to Mr. Lucre and M'Clutehy, and a regular conflict between their
respective partisans accordingly took place. M'Clutchy's party were
absolutely shocked at the grossness and impiety of such a man as Mr.
Lucre, a person of such great wealth, an absentee, a nonresident-rector,
dipping his hand in the affairs of the county for the sake of a job.

His party, for he had a strong one, dwelt upon his rights as a civil
officer, a magistrate, and justice of quorum--upon his sterling
principles as a loyal Protestant, who had rendered very important
services to the Church and the government. It was such as he, they said,
who supported the true dignity and respectability of Protestantism, and
it would be a scandal to refuse him a road to his glebe. Deaker groaned
several times during this eulogium, and repeated his favorite text--let
us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die; but whether
its application was designed for Lucre or himself, was not very
easy--perhaps we should rather say difficult to determine.

"That is all very true," replied Val's party; "but in the meantime,
it would be quite as creditable for him to pay some attention to the
spiritual interests of his parish, and the condition of its tottering
old church, as to be mulcting the county for a job."

"What can you know about his church," inquired Spavin, "who have never
been seen in it, except on last Easter Monday, when you were candidate
for the church wardenship? M'Clutehy," he added, "we all know you are a
Protestant of your father's color; it's the best Protestantism that puts
most into your pocket."

"And on what other principle is Lucre himself now proceeding, or has
ever proceeded?" replied Val's