Such had been the situation of this family on the day alluded to by Mr. Easel, who could not, of course, have had any means of becoming acquainted with them, but as we felt that the incidents were necessary to give fulness to his narrative, we did not hesitate to introduce them here, where a knowledge of them was so necessary.  We now allow Mr. Easel himself to resume his narrative.

“This venerable pastor,” continues Mr. Easel, “is a thin, pale man, but, evidently, in consequence of temperance and moderation in his general habits of living, a healthy one.  He cannot be less than seventy, but the singular clearness of his complexion, and the steady lustre of his gray eye, lead you to suppose that he is scarcely that.  He is tall and without stoop, and, from the intellectual character of his high and benevolent forehead, added to the mildness of his other features, and his whole face, he presented, I must say, a very striking combination of dignity and meekness.  His dress is plain, and nothing can be more fine and impressive than the contrast between his simple black apparel, and the long flowing snow-white hair which falls over it.  His holy zeal as a Christian minister, unobscured by secular feelings, or an unbecoming participation in the angry turmoils of political life, possessed all the simple beauty of pure and primitive piety.  Father Roche received his education on the Continent, in several parts of which he has held ecclesiastical appointments, one being the Presidency of an Irish College.  He consequently speaks most, if not all, of the continental languages; but so utterly free from display, and so simple are his manners, that you would not on a first interview, no, nor on a second, ever suppose the man to be what he is—­a most accomplished scholar and divine.  In one thing, however, you never could be mistaken—­that his manners, with all their simplicity, are those of a gentleman, possessing as they do, all the ease, and, when he chooses, the elegance of a man who has moved in high and polished society.  He has only been a few years in Ireland.  After a glass of wine and some desultory conversation touching public events and the state of this unfortunate and unsettled country, upon all of which he spoke with singular good temper and moderation, we went to see the manufactory, now that I had recovered from my fatigue.  This building is two or three hundred yards from the house, and as we were on our way there, it so happened that he and I found ourselves together, and at some distance from M’Loughlin and his sons.

“‘You were introduced, sir,’ said he, ‘to me as Mr. Easel.’

“I bowed.

“‘I am not inquisitive,’ he added with a smile, ’because in this case I do not find it necessary; but I am candid.’

“I began to feel slightly uneasy, so I only bowed again, but could say nothing.

“‘I have met you on the continent.’

“‘It is quite possible,’ I replied, ‘I have been there.’