at more so, indeed, than seemed good to
those very excellent ladies, Mrs. Townsend and Aunt Letty; but it
always went against the grain with him to be civil to the Rev. Columb
Creagh; and on this special day it would have gone against the
grain with him to be civil to anybody. But the coadjutor knew his
character, and was delighted to have an opportunity of talking to
him, when he could do so without being snubbed either by Mr. Somers,
the chairman, or by his own parish priest. Mr. Creagh had rejoiced
much at the idea of forming one at the same council board with county
magistrates and Protestant parsons; but the fruition of his promised
delights had never quite reached his lips. He had been like Sancho
Panza in his government; he had sat down to the grand table day after
day, but had never yet been allowed to enjoy the rich dish of his
own oratory. Whenever he had proposed to help himself, Mr. Somers or
Father Barney had stopped his mouth. Now probably he might be able to
say a word or two; and though the glory would not be equal to that of
making a speech at the Committee, still it would be something to be
seen talking on equal terms, and on affairs of state, to the young
heir of Castle Richmond.

"Mr. Fitzgerald! well, I declare! And how are you, sir?" And he took
off his hat and bowed, and got hold of Herbert's hand, shaking it
ruthlessly; and altogether he made him very disagreeable.

Herbert, though his mind was not really intent on the subject, asked
some question of the girl as to the amount of meal that had been
sold, and desired to see the little passbook that they kept at the
shop.

"We are doing pretty well, Mr. Fitzgerald," said the coadjutor;
"pretty well. I always keep my eye on, for fear things should go
wrong, you know."

"I don't think they'll do that," said Herbert.

"No; I hope not. But it's always good to be on the safe side, you
know. And to tell you the truth, I don't think we're altogether on
the right tack about them shops. It's very hard on a poor woman--"

Now the fact was, though the Relief Committee at Gortnaclough was
attended by magistrates, priests, and parsons, the shop there was
Herbert Fitzgerald's own affair. It had been stocked with his or his
father's money; the flour was sold without profit at his risk, and
the rent of the house and wages of the woman who kept it came out of
his own pocket-money. Under these circumstances he did not see cause
why Mr. Creagh should interfere