“If there be one curse,” observed Harman, “worse than another on any such property, it is to have for your agent an outrageous partisan—­a man who is friendly to one party and inimical to another—­a fellow who scruples not to avail himself of his position, for the gratification of party rancor, and who makes the performance of his duties subservient to his prejudices, both religious and political.  Think, for instance, of a rancorous No-Popery-man being made agent to an estate where the majority of the tenantry are Catholics.”

“As is the case on the Castle Cumber estate,” said Easel.

“And as is the case on too many estates, throughout the country,” added Harman; but the truth is, that unless something is done soon to redress the local grievances of the people, there will, I fear, be bad work among us ere long.  The tenantry are all ready in a state of tumult; they assemble on Sundays in vindictive-looking and suspicious groups; they whisper together, as if fraught with some secret purposes; and I am also told that they frequently hold nightly meetings to deliberate on what may be done.  Between the M’Clutchys and M’Slimes, I must say they have ample cause for discontent.”

“Everything considered,” said Easel, “it is better that we should anticipate them.  When I say we, you of course know who I mean; but indeed we shall expect every aid, and it will be welcome, no matter from what quarter it comes.”

“M’Clutchy and the estate in question are topics on which I wish not to speak,” said Hickman; “I do not blame Lord Cumber for dismissing me, Mr. Easel, the fact being—­that I dismissed myself; but I most sincerely hope and trust, for the sake of the people, that some change for the better may take place.  Good God, sir, how popular your——­how popular Lord Cumber might become, and what a blessing to his tenantry and his country he might be in a short time.”

“I feel that, Mr. Hickman,” said Easel, “I feel it now, because I know it.  In this instance, too, I trust that knowledge will be power.  Lord Cumber, sir, like other Irish Lords, has nothing to detain him in his native country but his own virtue.  His absence, however, and the absence of his class in general, is, I fear “—­and he smiled as he spoke—­a proof that his virtue, as an Irish nobleman, and theirs, is not sufficiently strong to resist the temptations of an English court, and all its frivolous, expensive, and fashionable habits.  He has now no duty as an Irish peer to render his residence in Ireland, at least for a considerable portion of the year, a matter of necessity to his class and his country.  However, let us not despair—­I have reason to think that his brother has nearly succeeded in bringing him to a sense of his duty; and it is not impossible that the aspect of affairs may be soon changed upon his estate.”

“The sooner, the better, for the sake of the people,” said Harman.  “By the by, Mr. Clement, are you to be one of the Reverend gladiators in this controversial tournay, which is about to take place in Castle Cumber?”