“Pope! What the devil do I care about his opinions? let him preach and stick to his controversy with Father Tom--from whom he hadn't so much to brag of--but as for you, Fergus, you are, to spake plainly, a thorough ass. What d--d stuff you have been letting out of you! Go and find, if you can, some purer world for yourself to live in, for, let me tell you, you are not fit for this. There is no perfection here, Catherine, is there?” “Oh, yes, Papa! certainly.” “There is--is there? Well, upon my honor and conscience, now, this is the first time I've heard that argument used. Come, then, how do you prove it--eh?” “There is perfection, papa, occasionally at least, to be found among women, and--you certainly, sir, cannot deny the truth of this--occasionally, too, among magistrates--ha ha! ha!” “Ah! Kate, I know you of old! Very good that--extremely good, upon my word However, as I was saying, if you don't act and think as the world about you acts and thinks, you had as good, as I said, get a betther one if you can. Here, now, I see Mat Purcel coming up the avenue; and as I want to have some private conversation with him, I must be off to my office, where I desire you to send him to me. There's a time for everything, they say, and a place for everything--I hope, Fergy, you and I will have occasion, before long, to say, a place for some--ha! ha! ha! Well, as I said, there's a place for everything! and I don't think it would become me to spake upon official business anywhere but in my own office. We must not only do our business properly, but look like it.” Purcel found our pompous little man enveloped, as we have already said, in a most fashionable morning-gown and embroidered slippers, and at the same time busily engaged in writing. “How do you do, Mr. Purcel?” said he; “will you excuse me for about three minutes, till I finish this paragraph, after which I am at your service?” “Certainly,” said Purcel, “I'm in no hurry, Fitzy, my boy.” “Here,” continued the other, “amuse yourself with that paper. By the way, there's a flattering notice there of your humble servant, by our friend Swiggerly, who certainly is a man of sound judgment and ability.” “I won't interrupt you now,” replied the proctor; “but I will tell you my opinion of him by and by.”