were it not for the family--and, talking of
leases, you will not forget to draw up those two for the O'Flaherties,
with a flaw in each. They are certainly with us up to the present time,
but, then, we can never be sure of these Papists."

"No, d--n my honor, if ever we can," re-echoed Phil; "they hate us
because we keep them down. Put in two good thumping flaws, Solomon, and
be hanged to you; so that we can pop them out if ever they refuse to
vote for us."

"Never you mind Solomon," said his father, "Solomon will put in a pair
of flaws that will do him honor."

"If I did not feel that in doing so, my dear M'Clutchy, I am rendering
a service to religion, and fighting a just and righteous fight against
Popery and idolatry, I would not deem myself as one permitted to do this
thing--but the work is a helping forward of religion, and that is my
justification."

"Call Philip Duggan in."

A poor looking man now entered with a staff in his hand, by the aid of
which he walked, for he was lame.

"Well, Duggan, your rent?"

"I have scrambled it together, sir, from God knows how many quarthers."

"Phil," said Solomon aside, "is it not painful to hear how habitually
these dark creatures take the sacred name in vain."

"By ---, it's perfectly shocking," said Phil, "but what else could you
expect from them?"

"Duggan," said Val, "what is this, here's a mistake--you are short three
pound ten."

"Beggin' your pardon, sir, it's all right," replied Duggan; "you see,
your honor, here's my little account for the work I wrought for you for
five weeks wid horse and cart, up until I put my knee out o' joint in
the quarry--you remember, sir, when I brought it to you, you said to let
it stand, that you would allow for it in the next gale."

"I remember no such thing, my good fellow, or, if ever I said such a
thing, it must have been a mistake; do you imagine, now--are you really
so stupid and silly as to imagine that I could transmit this account of
yours to Lord Cumber, in payment of his rent?"

"But wasn't it by your own ordhers I did it, sir?"

"No, sir; it couldn't be by my orders. Duggan, you're a great knave, I
see. I once had a good opinion of you; but I now perceive my error. Here
you trump up a dishonest bill against me, when you know perfectly well
that most of the work you charge me with was duty work."

"Beggin,' your pardon, sir, I paid you the duty-work besides, if you'll
remember it."

"I tell you, sirra, you