“If he wasn't deaf he couldn't help hearing it, for we all did; and when I ventured to observe that a country was never the better for losing the patrons of art, and the great families that could encourage a genius, young Massingbred, said, 'Give up Moses, Mr. Crow,--give up Moses, and paint Daniel O'Connell, and you 'll never want admirers and supporters!' And they drowned me in a roar of laughter.” “I wish my Lady could only hear all this,” said Rep ton, in a whisper to Martin. “Always provided that I were somewhere else!” answered Martin. “But to be serious, Repton, I 'll hold no intercourse with men who treat us in this fashion. It is absurd to suppose that the Secretary could receive at his table this rabble,--this herd of low, vulgar--” “Eh--what!” broke in Crow, with an expression of such truly comic misery as made Repton shake with laughter. “I didn't mean _you_, Crow--I never thought of including you in such company,--but if these be Colonel Massingbred's guests, I 'll swear that Godfrey Martin shall not be my Lord Reckington's!” And with this bold resolve, uttered in a voice and manner of very unusual firmness, Martin arose and left the room. “On the whole, then, your party was a pleasant one?” said Repton, anxious to lead Crow into some further details of the late dinner. “Well, indeed it was, and it was not,” said the artist, hesitatingly. “It was like a picture with some fine bits in it,--a dash of rich color here and there,--but no keeping! no general effect! You understand? I myself took no share in the talk. I never understood it; but I could see that they who did were somehow at cross-purposes,--all standing in adverse lights,--if I may use the expression. Whenever the Colonel himself, or one of the 'swells' of the company, came out with a fine sentiment about regenerated Ireland, happy and prosperous, and so forth, Magennis was sure to break in with some violent denunciation of the infernal miscreants, as he called the landlords, or the greatest curse of the land,--the Law Church!” “And how did Father Neal behave?” “With great decorum,--the very greatest. He moderated all Tom's violence, and repeatedly said that he accepted no participation in such illiberal opinions. 'We have grievances, it is true,' said he, 'but we live under a Government able and willing to redress them. It shall never be said of us that we were either impatient or intolerant.' 'With such support, no Government was ever weak!' said the Colonel, and they took wine together.” “That was very pleasant to see!” said Repton. “So it was, sir,” rejoined Crow, innocently; “and I thought to myself, if there was only an end of all their squabbling and fighting, they 'd have time to cultivate the arts and cherish men of genius,--if they had them!” added he, after a pause. “Father Neal, then, made a favorable impression, you 'd say?” asked Repton, half carelessly.