by him--the ill-looking scoundrel is right
well able to pay--and dix me if I'll spare him. Tell him he needn't
expect any further forbearance--a rascal that's putting money in the
saving's bank to be pleadin' poverty! It's too bad. But the truth is,
boys, there's no one behind in their tithes now entitled to forbearance,
and for the same reason they must pay or take the consequences; we'll
see whether they or the law will prove the strongest, and that very
soon. Good-bye, boys; good-bye, M'Carthy--and I say, Jack and Alick, be
on your sharps and don't let them lads do you--d'ye mind now?--keen's
the word."

He then got on his comfortable jaunting-car, and drove off to wait,
according to appointment, upon the Rev. Jeremiah Turbot, D.D.

"Mogue Moylan," said John, "will you go out and tell them fellows that I
and Alick will be in the office presently--and do you hear? tell them
to look like men, and not so much like murderers that came to take our
lives. Say we'll be in the office presently, and that we hope it's not
excuses they're fetching us."

"I will, Misther John; but, troth, it's the worst word in their cheek
they'd give me, if I deliver the last part of your message. 'Tis my head
in my fist I'd get, maybe; however, Misther John, between you an' me,
they're an ill-looking set, one an' all o' them, an' could pay their
tides, every tail o' them, if they wished."

"I know that very well," replied the young fellow, "but my father's not
the man to be trifled with. We'll soon see whether they or the law's the
strongest; that's all."

Moylan went over to where the defaulters were standing, and putting up
his hand, he stroked down his cheek with great gravity. "Are yez in a
hurry, good people?" said he.

"Some of us is," replied a voice.

"Ay, all of us," replied others; "and we're here now for an hour and a
half, and no sign of seein' us."

"Yez are in a hurry, then?"

"To be sure we are."

"Well, to them that's in a hurry I've a word to say."

"What is it, Mogue?"

"Why, it is this, take your time--ever an' always, when you happen to be
in a hurry--take your time."

"Maybe, Mogue," they replied, "if you were widout your breakfast, as we
are, you wouldn't say so."

"Why, did'nt yez get your breakfasts yet?"

"Devil a morsel."

"Well, to them that didn't get their breakfasts I have another word to
say."

"What is it, Mogue?"

"Why, have patience--ever and always when you're hungry, have patience,