“Is there any opposition to this?” inquired the chairman.

“Read the next,” said M’Clutchy, “and then we shall be the better able to see.”

No. 2.  “For four miles of road, commencing at the Ban Ard river, which it crosses, running through Frank Fagan’s croft, along Rogues Town, over Tom Magill’s Long-shot meadow, across the Sally Slums, up Davy Aiken’s Misery-meerin, by Parra Rakkan’s haggard, up the Dumb Hill, into Lucky Lavery’s Patch, and from that right ahead to Constitution Cottage, the residence of Valentine M’Clutchy, Esq., within two hundred yards of which it joins the high road to Castle Cumber.”

“Now the question is,” said Val, “can both these be passed during this term?”

“Val,” replied young Jollyblock, “if ever a man was afflicted with modesty and disinterestedness you are he; and well becomes me the parson, too, in his share of the job; but it’s all right, gentlemen.  Work away, I Say.  The Parson-magistrate, and the Agent-grand-juror have set us an excellent example—­ha—–­In.—­ha!  Deaker, drop whistling the Boyne Water there, and see what’s going on here.”

“No,” said Deaker, “there never was such air composed as the Boyne Water; and my only request is, that I may die whistling it.  Damn it, Jollyblock, unless a man is a good Protestant he’s bad for everything else.”

“But how the devil Deaker, can you call yourself a good Protestant, when you believe in nothing?”

“Why,” said Deaker, “I believe that a certain set of political opinions are necessary for our safety and welfare in this world; and, I believe, that these are to be found in the Church, and that it is good Protestantism to abide by them, yes, and by the Church too, so long as she teaches nothing but politics, as she does, and acts up to them.”

“And does your faith stop there?”

“How could it go farther with the lives of such men as your father and Lucre staring me in the face?  Precept, Dick, is of little value when example is against it.  For instance, where’s the use of men’s preaching up piety and religion, when their own conduct is a libel upon their doctrine?  Suppose, now, there are two roads—­and ’tis said there are:  No. 1, leading to an imaginary region, placed above; No. 2, to another imaginary region, placed below—­very good; the parson says to jon and to me, do so and so, and take the No. 1 road; but, in the meantime, he does himself the very reverse of this so and so, and takes the No. 2 road.  Now, which are we to respect most, his advice or his example?”

“Let us go on,” said Spavin, “perhaps there are others whose claims are as modest and disinterested; we shan’t say anything about being as well founded.  You secretary fellow, read away.”

“Before you go any farther,” said a droll-looking person named M’Small, “you must pass me a bridge over Lumlay’s Leap.  Our party voted you about thirty miles of roads to repair thoroughly, and you know that although you only veneered them, we said nothing.”