et out of the parish comes back
into the parish agin--not all as one as absentee landlords. They give
employment as far as they're able, an' thar's no doubt but their wives
and daughters does a great dale of good among the poor, and so, begad,
does the parsons themselves often."

"Who is that wiseecre that spoke last?" asked the Buck; "if I don't
misteek he leebors with Dennis Purcel, the procter."

"Ay, an' a very good masther he is," replied the spokesman of the
segment; "gives plenty of employment anyhow--although the pay's no great
shakes--an' that's more than some that abuses him does."

"There's no one aboosin' him here, my good friend, so don't imegine
it--at leest I should be extremely sorry to do so. I respect himself and
his family in a very elevated manner, I assoore you. An' what's more, my
friend, I'll thank you to report to him that I said so."

Here he looked significantly among the mob, especially as he perceived
that the man's eyes were not fixed upon him whilst he spoke, and having
thrust his tongue into his cheek, half in derision, and half as it were
by a natural action, he succeeded at all events in creating a general
laugh; but so easily is a laugh, among such an audience, created, that
it is not altogether within our power or penetration to determine the
point which occasioned their mirth, unless it were the grimace with
which his words were accompanied--or stay--perhaps it was the strong
evil odor in which Purcel, the subject of their conversation, must have
been held.

"Talk of the devil, Mr. English," replied a stern voice from the
listeners, "and he will appear; look down the road there and you'll see
Purcel himself an' his family drivin' to mass on the sweat and groans of
the people!"

"Not all of them," replied another voice, in a different tone; "there's
only himself, his wife, and their two spankin' daughters, upon the
jauntin' car; but, blood alive, look at the sons! Devil so purty a lot
of sweat and groans I seen this twelvemonth as the two is riding on,
in the shape of a pair of blood-horses, so that you may put the
blood, Barney, along wid the sweat and the groans, agra. Well done,
tithes!--ha! ha! ha!"

The individual laugh that accompanied these last observation was cruel,
revolting, and hideous. The Buck sought out the speaker among the crowd,
and gave him first a nod of approval--and almost instantly afterward
added, with a quick change of countenance, but not until he perc