"You seem to know all about it," said Dick; "maybe _you_ have instructed them." "No, sir, I didn't instwuct them," said Furlong, very angry at being twitted by Dick. Dick laughed in his face, and said, "Maybe that's some of your electioneering tactics--eh?" Furlong got very angry, while Dick and Murphy shouted with laughter at him--"No, sir," said Furlong, "I don't welish the pwactice of such di'ty twicks." "Do you apply the word 'dirty' to me, sir?" said Dick the Devil, ruffling up like a game-cock. "I'll tell you what, sir, if you make use of the word 'dirty' again, I'd think very little of kicking you--ay, or eight like you--I'll kick eight Furlongs one mile." "Who's talking of kicking?" asked O'Grady. "I am," said Dick, "do you want any?" "Gentlemen! gentlemen!" cried the sheriff, "order! pray order! do proceed with the business of the day." "I'll talk to you after about this!" said O'Grady, in a threatening tone. "Very well," said Dick; "we've time enough, the day's young yet." O'Grady then proceeded to find fault with Egan, censuring his politics, and endeavouring to justify his defection from the same cause. He concluded thus: "Sir, I shall pursue my course of duty; I have chalked out my own line of conduct, sir, and I am convinced no other line is the right line. Our opponents are wrong, sir--totally wrong--all wrong; and, as I have said, I have chalked out my own line, sir, and I propose the Honourable Sackville Scatterbrain as a fit and proper person to sit in parliament for the representation of this county." The O'Gradyites shouted as their chief concluded; and the Merryvalians returned some groans, and a cry of "Go home, turncoat!" Egan now presented himself, and was received with deafening and long-continued cheers, for he was really beloved by the people at large; his frank and easy nature, the amiable character he bore in all his social relations, the merciful and conciliatory tendency of his decisions and conduct as a magistrate, won him the solid respect as well as affection of the country. He had been for some days in low spirits in consequence of Larry Hogan's visit and mysterious communication with him; but this, its cause, was unknown to all but himself, and therefore more difficult to support; for none but those whom sad experience has taught can tell the agony of enduring in secret and in silence the pang that gnaws a proud heart, which, Spartan like, will let the tooth destroy, without complaint or murmur. His depression, however, was apparent, and Dick told Murphy he feared Ned would not be up to the mark at the election; but Murphy, with a better knowledge of human nature, and the excitement of such a cause, said, "Never fear him--ambition is a long spur, my boy, and will stir the blood of a thicker-skinned fellow than your brother-in-law. When he comes to stand up and assert his claims before the world, he'll be all right!"