The talk in the beginning was altogether confined to the clergymen and Mr. Wilson, including a few diffident contributions from “Peter Malone” and the “two nephews.”

“Mr. M’Guirk,” observed Captain Wilson, after the conversation had taken several turns, “I’m sure that in the course of your professional duties, sir, you must have had occasion to make many observations upon human nature, from the circumstance of seeing it in every condition and state of feeling possible; from the baptism of the infant, until the aged man receives the last rites of your church, and the soothing consolation of religion from your hand.”

“Not a doubt of it, Phaddhy,” said Father Philemy to Phaddhy, whom he had been addressing at the time, “not a doubt of it; and I’ll do everything in my power to get him in* too, and I am told he is bright.”

     * That is—­into Maynooth college—­the great object of
     ambition to the son of an Irish peasant or rather to
     his parent.

“Uncle,” said one of the nephews, “this gentleman is speaking to you.”

“And why not?” continued his Eeverence, who was so closely engaged with Phaddhy, that he did not even hear the nephew’s appeal—­“a bishop—­and why not?  Has he not as good a chance of being a bishop as any of them? though, God knows, it is not always merit that gets a bishopric in any church, or I myself might—­But let that pass.” said he, fixing his eyes on the bottle.  “Father Philemy,” said Father Con, “Captain Wilson was addressing himself to you in a most especial manner.”

“Oh!  Captain, I beg ten thousand pardons, I was engaged talking with Phaddhy here about his son, who is a young shaving of our cloth, sir, he is intended for the Mission*—­Phaddhy, I will either examine him myself, or make Father Con examine him by-and-by.—­Well, Captain?” The Captain now repeated what he had said.

* The Church of Rome existing in any heretical country—­ that is, where she herself is not the State church—­is considered a missionary establishment; and taking orders in her is termed “Going upon the Mission.”  Even Ireland is looked upon as in partibus infidelium, because Protestantism is established by law—­hence the phrase above.

“Very true, Captain, and we do see it in as many shapes as ever—­Con, what do you call him?—­put on him.”

“Proteus,” subjoined Con, who was famous at the classics.

Father Philemy nodded for the assistance, and continued—­“but as for human nature, Captain, give it to me at a good rousing christening; or what is better again, at a jovial wedding between two of my own parishioners—­say this pretty fair-haired daughter of Phaddhy Shemus Phaddhy’s here, and long Ned Slevin, Parrah More’s son there—­eh Phaddhy, will it be a match?—­what do you say, Parrah More?  Upon my veracity I must bring that about.”

“Why, then, yer Reverence,” replied Phaddhy, who was now a little softened, and forgot his enmity against Parrah More for the present, “unlikelier things might happen.”