ops of a private
country village, are each a scorpion curse to the people. Your very
existence is a libel upon the laws by which the rights of civil society
are protected."

"Troth, your honor does me injustice; I never see a case of distress
that my heart doesn't bleed--"

"With a leech-like propensity to pounce upon it. Begone!"

The man slunk out.

"Dalton," he proceeded, when the old man, accompanied by the Pedlar,
came in, "I sent for you to say that I am willing you should have your
farm again."

"Sir," replied the other, "I am thankful and grateful to you for that
kindness, but it's now too late; I am not able to go back upon it; I
have neither money nor stock of any kind. I am deeply and gratefully
obliged to you; but I have not a sixpence worth in the world to put on
it. An honest heart, sir, an' a clear fame, is all that God has left me,
blessed be His name."

"Don't b'lieve a word of it," replied the Pedlar. "Only let your honor
give him a good lease, at a raisonable rint, makin' allowance for his
improvements--"

"Never mind conditions, my good friend," said the agent, "but proceed;
for, if I don't mistake, you will yourself give him a lift."

"May be, we'll find him stock and capital a thrifle, any way," replied
the Pedlar with a knowing wink. "I haven't carried the pack all my life
for nothing, I hope."

"I understand," said the agent to Dalton, "that one of your sons is
dead. I leave town to-day, but I shall be here this day fortnight;--call
then, and we shall have every thing arranged. Your case was a very hard
one, and a very common one; but it was one with which we had nothing
to do, and in which, until now, we could not interfere. I have looked
clearly into it, and regret to find that such cases do exist upon Irish
property to a painful extent, although I am, glad to find that public
opinion, and a more enlightened experience, are every day considerably
diminishing the evil."

He then rang for some one-else, and our friends withdrew, impressed
with a grateful sense of his integrity and justice.

CHAPTER XXXII. -- Conclusion.

The interest excited by the trial, involving as it did so much that
concerned the Sullivans, especially the hopes and affections of their
daughter Mave, naturally induced them--though not on this latter
account--young and old, to attend the assizes, not excepting Mave
herself; for her father, much against her inclination, had made a point
to bring her with