"Tunder and ages! man, and would you be letting him come over ye that way? If any blackguard of a lawyer could be selling an estate that way, because money may be a little scarce or so, would there be so many gintlemen in the counthry, enjoying themselves in their own houses, just keeping the right side of the door? Only take care the owld man don't be showing hisself that way he does be doing on the big steps there; and take care the door is kept shut, instead of right open; and make Biddy understand she an't to open it for any one at all, at all--except yerself jist, and Father John, or the like, who wouldn't mind going round to the back door. I tell ye that all the Flannellys and Keegans in Ireland can't sell Ballycloran, unless they first get hould of the owld man." "But can't they put resavers on every acre of the land, and wouldn't that be all one as selling it?" "Oh! let the boys alone for that; stick to them, and they'll not let a resaver do much among them; faix, I'm thinking I for one wouldn't like to go resaving rents up to Drumleesh for any one but the Masther hisself. But any way you'll be coming down to the boys and spaking to them yerself this night--you wouldn't go, Mr. Thady, not to be at Mary's wedding?" "You know that ruffian Ussher 'll be there; and I don't want to be meeting him." "But that's jist it; don't let him be there playing what tricks he plazes with Miss Feemy, and you not there to purtect her--and there's all them boys expect you. You won't let Keegan run off with land and house, and all without a blow sthrick?" "They'll all be up at Ballycloran to-morrow, and I'll hear what they have to say then." "But I tell you, they won't be there at all to-morrow, unless you come down to them to-night," answered Pat. "Do they main to say they refuse out and out to pay the rint?" "Not at all; but they'll be getting stiff if they think you're so thick with him as is their inimy--and isn't that natural too? It's only to come down and say a kind word or so to 'em yourself, and you'll find them all right--and ready to stand by you and yours to the last, Mr. Thady." "Well, Pat, I'll be down there. Father John would think it odd if I weren't there." By this time they had got round to the back of the house, where the outhouse stood; and the young man told Brady to go into the kitchen and get him a coal for his pipe, and to tell the girl to say he wouldn't be in to dinner. "And won't you be wanting your dinner, Mr. Thady?" "No, Pat; I'll jist sit and have a smoke in the stable, till it's time to go down to you. I couldn't face the owld man and Feemy, afther what jist happened." So we will for the present leave him smoking in the stable, and return to the inmates of the house.