As we went home, Father Letheby showed me a letter received that morning from the manager of the great firm at Loughboro', complaining that the work lately sent from the Kilronan factory was very imperfect, and, indeed, unsalable, and calling for the first instalment payable on the machines. "I called the girls' attention to this," he said, "some weeks ago, when the first complaints were made; and some pouted, and some said they were doing too much for the wages I gave them, although, to encourage them, I gave them nearly double what I had stipulated for, and have left myself without a penny to meet this first instalment." "Come," I said, "this won't do. Let us go in and see all about this!" We went upstairs to the great room, to find it empty of workers. The girl who was placed in the position of superintendent was knitting in a corner, and rose as we entered. "Where are the girls, Kate?" he said, not unkindly. "I don't know, your reverence. They were saying yesterday that this should be a holiday." "They knew all this work was waiting, and that the manager was complaining." "They did, indeed, your reverence. I told them so, and one said: 'Let them wait.' They're grumbling about the wages, though they were never better off in their lives before." "Are they all of the same mind in that matter?" "Oh, no, your reverence. Nine of the girls are anxious, and are really grateful for the work; but there are three doxies, who have bachelors, if you please, and they think themselves quite above the work." "I see. I think I know them. They won't come here again. Can you supply their places?" "Easy enough, your reverence, but--" "Never mind. I'll do that myself." He did. He dismissed the recalcitrants promptly; but when it became a question of obtaining substitutes, it was not so easy. The rest of the girls went to work the following day; but as they passed through the village in the evening on the way home, they were hooted unmercifully, called "staggeens," "thraitors," "informers," and, as a result, remained at home, and sent in their resignation to Father Letheby. Not that the entire body of villagers sympathized with this disgraceful conduct; but the powers of evil are more aggressive than the agents of goodness; and the children of darkness are wiser in their generation than the children of light. I suppose it is the same the wide world over; but, of a surety, in Ireland one rebel makes a thousand. No one thinks himself called upon to be a martyr or witness to the right. Of course, Father Letheby had sympathizers; but they limited their sympathy to kindly criticism:-- "He was well in his way, making ladies of thim that ought to be diggin' praties in the fields." "He's young, Maurya; when he gets oulder, he'll know betther." "Shure, they were bad enough to say he was puttin' the money in his own pocket, and dem goin' to their juty every month."