“‘Go on,’ said Phil, ‘you are a fire-eater.’

“‘I now leave you both,’ continued the young Hotspur, with a blazing eye and flushed cheek, ’with the greatest portion of scorn and contempt which one man can bestow upon another.’

“‘Go off,’ said Phil, ‘you are a fire-eater.’

“‘Phil,’ said the father, ’send for M’Murt, and let him get the ejectments from M’Slime—­we shall not, at all events, be insulted and bearded by Papists, or their emissaries, so long as I can clear one of them off the estate.’

“’But, good God, Mr. M’Clutchy, surely these other Papists you speak of, have not participated in the offences, if such they are, of M’Loughlin and Harman.’

“‘Ay, but they’re all of the same kidney,’ said Phil; ’they hate us because we keep them down.’

“‘And what can be more natural than that?’ I observed; ’just reverse the matter—­suppose they were in your place, and kept you down, would you love them for it?’

“‘Why, what kind of talk is that,’ said Phil, ’they keep us down!  Are they not rebels?’

“‘You observed,’ I replied, getting tired of this sickening and senseless bigotry, ’that you wished to make a proposal of some kind to me before I went.’

“‘Yes,’ he replied, ’I wished, if it be a thing that you remain in the neighborhood, to propose that you should become an Orangeman, and join my father’s lodge.  You say you want a farm on the estate; now, if you do, take my advice and become an Orangeman; you will then have a stronger claim, for my father always gives them the preference.’

“’By Lord Cumber’s desire, Phil; but I shall be very happy, indeed, sir,’ proceeded Val, ’that is, provided you get an introduction—­for, at present, you will pardon me for saying we are strangers.’

“‘I should first wish to witness the proceedings of an Orange Lodge,’ I said, ’but I suppose that, of course, is impossible, unless to the initiated.’

“‘Certainly, of course,’ said M’Clutchy.

“‘But, father,’ said Phil, ’couldn’t we admit him after the business of the lodge is concluded.’

“‘It is not often done,’ replied the father; ’but it sometimes is—­however, we shall have the pleasure, Mr. Easel—­(I forgot to say that I had sent in my card, so that he knew my name),—­we shall have the pleasure of a better acquaintance, I trust.’

“‘I tell you what,’ said Phil, leaping off his chair, ’d—–­n my honor, but I was wrong to let young Hartley go without a thrashing.  The cowardly scoundrel was exceedingly insulting.’

“‘No, no, Phil,’ said the father; ’you acted with admirable coolness and prudence.’

“‘I tell you I ought to have kicked the rascal out,’ said Phil, getting into a passion; ’I’ll follow him and teach the impudent vagabond a lesson he wants.’

“He seized his hat, and buttoned up his coat, as if for combat, whilst he spoke.

“‘Phil, be quiet,’ said his father, rising up and putting his arms about him; ’be quiet now.  There will be no taming him down, if his spirit gets up,’ said Val, addressing me; ’for all our sakes, Phil, keep quiet and sit down.  Good heaven! the strength of him!  Phil, keep quiet, I say, you shan’t go after him.’