, that it would be a disgrace to Kilmore if
the church were not finished; but no one could see that he could work
for less wages than he was in the habit of getting. As the evening wore
on the question of indulgences was raised, and Ned Kavanagh said:--

"The devil a bit of use going against the priest, and the indulgences
will do us no harm."

"The devil a bit, but maybe a great deal of good," said Peter M'Shane,
and an hour later they were staggering down the road swearing they
would stand by the priest till the death.

But on Monday morning nearly all were in their beds; only half a dozen
came to the work, and the priest sent them away, except one plasterer.
There was one plasterer who, he thought, could stand on the scaffold.
"If I were to fall I'd go straight to Heaven," the plasterer said, and
he stood so near the edge, and his knees seemed so weak under him, that
Biddy thought he was going to fall.

"It would be better for you to finish what you are doing; the Holy
Virgin will be more thankful to you."

"Aye, maybe she would," he said, and he continued his work mechanically.

He was working at the clustered columns about the window Biddy had
chosen for her stained glass, and she did not take her eyes off him.
The priest returned a little before twelve o'clock, as the plasterer
was going to his dinner, and he asked him if he were feeling better.

"I'm all right, your reverence, and it won't occur again."

"I hope he won't go down to Michael Dunne's during his dinner hour," he
said to Biddy. "If you see any further sign of drink upon him when he
comes back you must tell me."

"He is safe enough, your reverence. Wasn't he telling me while your
reverence was having your breakfast that if he fell down he would go
straight to Heaven, and he opened his shirt and showed me he was
wearing the scapular of the Holy Virgin."

And Biddy began to advocate a sale of scapulars.

"A sale of scapulars will not finish my church. You're all a miserly
lot here, you want everything done for you."

"Weren't you telling me, your reverence, that a pious lady in Dublin--"

"The work is at a stand-still. If I were to go to America to-morrow it
would be no use unless I could tell them it was progressing."

"Sure they don't ask any questions in America, they just give their
money."

"If they do, that's more than you're doing at home. I want to know,
Biddy, what you are going to do for this church. You're always talking
abou