ath with," added the Earl, gravely.

"But he appears to understand it admirably, my lord," replied Dunroe.
"He says it quickens a man's intellects, and not only prevents him from
being imposed upon by knaves and sharpers, but enables him, by putting
on a long face, and using certain cabalistic phrases, to overreach--no,
not exactly that, but to--let me see, to steer a safe course through the
world; or something to that effect. He says, too, that religious folks
always come best off, and pay more attention to the things of this life,
than any one else; and that, in consequence, they thrive and prosper
under it. No one, he says, gets credit so freely as a man that is
supposed to be religious. Now this struck me quite forcibly, as a thing
that might be very useful to me in getting out of my embarrassments. But
then, it would be necessary to go to church, I believe--to pray--sing
psalms--read the Bible--and subscribe to societies of some kind or
other. Now all that would be very troublesome. How does a person pray,
my lord? Is it by repeating the Ten Commandments, or reading a religious
book?"

Despite the seriousness of such a subject, Lord Cullamore and his
daughter, on glancing at each other, could scarcely refrain from
smiling.

"Now, I can't see," proceeded Dunroe, "how either the one or the other
of the said commandments would sharpen a man for the world, as Tom
Norton's religion does."

The good old Earl thought either that his son was affecting an ignorance
on the subject which he did not feel, or that his ignorance was in
reality so great that for the present, at least, it was useless to
discuss the matter with him.

"I must say, my dear Dunroe," he added, in a kind and indulgent voice,
"that your first conceptions of reformation are very original, to say
the least of them."

"I grant it, my lord. Every one knows that all my views, acts, and
expressions are original. 'Dunroe's a perfect original' is the general
expression among my friends. But on the subject of religion, I am
willing to be put into training. I told Tom Norton to look out and
hire me a pas'n, or somebody, to give me lessons in it. Is there such a
thing, by the way, as a Religious Grammar? If so, I shall provide
one, and make myself master of all the rules, cases, inflections,
interjections, groans, exclamations, and so on, connected with it. The
Bible is the dictionary, I believe?"

Poor Lady Emily, like her father, could not for the life o