his honor," were all inimitable in their
way. The father was more cautious and within bounds, simply because he
had more sense, and knew the world better; but, at the same time, it
was easy to see by his manner, that in spite of all his efforts at
impartiality and justice, he possessed the poison as well as the wisdom
of the serpent, but not one atom of the harmlessness of the dove. At
another table, a little to the right of M'Clutchy, sat M'Slime, ready to
take his appropriate part in the proceedings of the day, and prepared,
whilst engaged in the task of seeing that everything was done according
to law, to throw in "a word in season, touching the interests of the
gospel."

At length eleven o'clock arrived, and found Val, Phil, our old friend
Darby, who had not yet entered upon the duties of his office, together
with one or two other understrappers, all ready for business. The two
principal characters were surrounded by books, rentals, receipts, and
every other document necessary and usual upon such occasions. The day
was wet and cold, and by no means in the spirit of the season; but we
know not why it happens, that there seems in general to be a fatality
of disastrous weather peculiar to such days, leading one to imagine that
the agent possessed such a necromantic foreknowledge of the weather,
as enabled him to superinduce the severity of the elements upon his own
cruelty. In a country so poor as Ireland, the scene presented by a rent
day is one too impressive and melancholy ever to be forgotten by any
heart touched with benevolence. There is little, if any, of that
erect freedom of demeanor and natural exhibition of good will, which
characterize conscious independence and a sense of protection on the
part of the tenant; whilst on that of the agent or landlord there is
a contemptuous hardness of manner, a vile indifference, and utter
disregard of the feelings of those by whom he is surrounded, that might
enable the shallowest observer to say at a glance, there is no sympathy
between that man and these people.

But that is not all. Give yourself time to observe them more closely,
listen to that agent pouring his insolent invective upon the head of
this poor man, whose only crime is his poverty, and whose spirit appears
to be broken down with the struggles and sufferings of life; yet, who
hears his honesty impugned, his efforts ridiculed, and his character
blackened, without manifesting any other than a calm spirit tha