“Why, you ninny you, didn't you repeat it just now. 'Eighth--And to his church neglect not tithes to pay.' Now that I have put the words in your mouth, what does it mean?” Kelly having thus got the cue, replied, in the words of the Catechism, “To pay _tides_ to the lawful _pasterns_ of the church, sir.” “Pasterns!--oh, you ass you! _Pasterns!_ you poor; base, contemptible, crawling reptile, as if we trampled you under our hooves--oh, you scruff of the earth! Stop, I say--it's pastors.” “Pastures of the church.” “And, tell me, do you fulfil that commandment?” “I do, sir.” “It's a lie, sir,” replied the priest, brandishing the whip over his head, whilst Kelly instinctively threw up his guard to protect himself from the blow. “It's a lie, sir,” repeated his Eeverence; “you don't fulfil it. What is the church?” “The church is the congregation of the faithful that purfiss the true faith, and are obadient to the Pope.” “And who do you pay tithes to?” “To the parson, sir.” “And, you poor varmint you, is he obadient to the Pope?” Kelly only smiled at the want of comprehension which prevented him from seeing the thing according to the view which his Reverence took of it. “Well, now,” continued Father Philemy, “who are the lawful pastors of God's church?” “You are, sir: and all our own priests.” “And who ought you to pay your tithes to?” “To you, sir, in coorse; sure I always knew that, your Rev'rence.” “And what's the reason, then, you don't pay them to me, instead of the parson?” This was a puzzler to Kelly, who only knew his own side of the question. “You have me there, sir,” he replied, with a grin. “Because,” said his Reverence, “the Protestants, for the present, have, the law of the land on their side, and power over you to compel the payment of tithes to themselves; but we have right, justice, and the law of God on ours; and, if every thing was in its proper place, it is not to the parsons, but to us, that you would pay them.” “Well, well, sir,” replied Kelly, who now experienced a community of feeling upon the subject with his Reverence, that instantly threw him into a familiarity of manner which he thought the point between them justified--“who knows, sir?” said he with a knowing smile, “there's a good time coming, yer Rev'rence.” “Ay,” said Father Philemy, “wait till we get once into the Big* House, and if we don't turn the scales--if the Established Church doesn't go down, why, it won't be our fault. Now, Kelly, all's right but the money--have you brought your dues?” * Parliament. This was written before the passing of the Emancipation Bill. “Here it is, sir,” said Kelly, handing him his dues for the last year.