iate your delicacy and worth. I know Mrs.
Temple would prefer keeping the shawl, and if you will call in the
course of the evening, I shall return the money to you. I must first go
into Lisnagola to get change for a note."

"Thank you, sir," replied the Cannie, "but it is time enough--I am in no
hurry at all--not the laist; it will do when I call again.. And now that
that's settled--and many thanks to you, ma'am," he added, bowing to Mrs.
Temple, "for thinkin' of it, I'd be glad to have a word or two wid you,
sir, if you plaise."

"Certainly," said Mr. Temple, going to the hall-door, and opening it,
"come in a moment; leave your pack in the hall there, and come this
way."

He then proceeded to the library, whither the pedlar followed him; and
after looking about him with something like caution, he said, "You know
Mr. Purcel, the proctor, sir?"

"Of course I do," replied Mr. Temple.

"I'm not askin' it as a question," he proceeded; "but I wish to say,
that as you do know him and his sons, it's possible you may save them
from destruction. I was tould by a stranger that I never seen before,
and that I didn't know from Adam, that his house is to be attacked
either this night or to-morrow night."

"Can you not say which?" asked Mr. Temple.

"No," replied the Cannie Soogah; "I axed the stranger the same question,
and he couldn't tell me. Now, sir, you know them, and I know how much
they respect you; and the thing is this,--I think if you'd see them, and
thry to get them to go to Lisnagola, or some safe place, takin' their
lives and money along wid them, you'd save them from murdher; they'd be
apt to listen to you; but as for me, or the likes o' me, they'd laugh
at me; indeed, they're rather wishin' for an attack, in hopes they might
get revenge upon the people, for, to tell you the truth, they've been
foolish enough to say so; an' as their words has gone abroad, the
people's determined, it seems, to let them know which o' them is
strongest."

"Well," replied the curate, "I am sorry to hear this--it is dreadful.
That they are unpopular--nay, detested--I know; as I do, also, that they
have latterly gone daring lengths--oppressive and unjustifiable lengths
--in collecting tithes. I shall, however, see them, and endeavor to make
them take refuge in some place of security."

"It will be a good act," said the pedlar, "and if I can do anything,
humble as I am, to save them, I'll do it."

"I think they ought to get a par