ked upon as the bitterest enemies of the
people; and because we endeavor to get out of them the means of enabling
you to maintain your rank in the world, we are obliged to hear
ourselves branded every day in the week as villains, oppressors, and
blood-suckers. This, however, we could bear; but to know that we are
marked down for violence, brutality, and, if possible, assassination, is
a penalty for which nothing in your establishment could compensate us.
I and my sons have received several notices of violence in every shape,
and we are obliged to sleep with our house half filled with arms and
ammunition, in dread of an attack every night in the year."

"Well, well," replied Turbot, "this, after all, is but the old story;
the matter is only an ebullition, and will pass away. I know you are
constitutionally timid. I know you are; and have in fact a great deal of
the natural coward in your disposition; and I say natural, because a
man is no more to be blamed for being born a coward than he is for being
born with a bad complexion or an objectionable set of features. You
magnify the dangers about you, and, in fact, become a self-tormentor. As
for my part, I am glad you have got money, for I do assure you, I never
stood so much in need of it in my life."

"The very papers, sir," continued Purcel, who could not prevent himself
from proceeding, "might enable you to see the state of the country."

"Oh, d--n the papers," said the parson, "I am sick of them. Our side is
perpetually exaggerating matters--just as you are; and as for the other
side, your papist rags I never, of course, see or wish to see. I want
six hundred now, or indeed eight if you can, and I had some notion of
taking a day or two's shooting. How is the game on the glebe? Has it
been well preserved, do you know?"

"I am not aware," said the proctor, "that any one has shot over the
glebe lands this season; but if you take my advice, sir, you will expose
yourself as little as you can in the neighborhood. There are not two
individuals in the parish so unpopular as Dr. Turbot and your humble
servant."

"In that case, then," replied the other, "the less delay I make here the
better--you can let me have six hundred, I hope?"

"I certainly told you, sir," replied Purcel, with something of a
determined and desperate coolness about him, "that I had money for you,
and so I have."

"Thank you, Purcel; I must say you certainly have, on all occasions,
exerted yourself