The mother and sisters of Denis were now drowned in tears; and the grief of his sister Susan was absolutely hysterical.  Old Denis’s brow became pale and sorrowful, his eye sunk, and his hand trembled.  His friends all partook of this serious disappointment, and sat in silence and embarrassment around the table.  Young Denis’s distress was truly intense:  he could not eat a morsel; his voice was tremulous with vexation; and, indeed, altogether the aspect of those present betokened the occurrence of some grievous affliction.

“Well,” said Brian, Denis’s elder brother, “I only say this, that it’s a good story for him to tell that he is a Bishop, otherwise I’d think no more of puttin’ a bullet through him from behind a hedge, than I would of shootin’ a cur dog.”

“Don’t say that, Brian,” said his mother; “bad as it is, he’s one of our clargy, so don’t spake disrespectful of him; sure a year is not much to wait, an’ the next time you go before him it won’t be in his power to keep you back.  As for Father Molony, we wish, him well, but undher the roof of this house, except at a Station, or something else of the kind, he will never sit, barrin’ I thought it was either dhry or hungry, that I wouldn’t bring evil upon my substance by refusin’ him.”

“And that was his lordship’s character of me?” inquired the priest once more with chagrin.

“If that was not, perhaps you will find it in this letter,” replied Denis, handing him a written communication from the Bishop.  Father Finnerty hastily broke open the seal, and read silently as follows:—­

“To the Rev. Father Finnerty, peace, and benediction.

“Rev. Sir,

“I feel deep indignation at hearing the disclosure made to me this day by the bearer, touching your negotiation with him and his family, concerning a horse, as the value paid by them to you for procuring the use of my influence in his favor; and I cannot sufficiently reprobate such a transaction, nor find terms strong enough in which to condemn the parties concerned in it.  Sir, I repeat it, that such juggling is more reprehensible on your part than on theirs, and that it is doubly disrespectful to me, to suppose that I could be influenced by anything but merit in the candidates.  I desire you will wait upon me to-morrow, when I hope you may be able to place the transaction in such a light as will raise you once more to the estimation in which I have always held you.  There are three other candidates, one of whom is a relation of your excellent curate’s; but I have as yet made no decision, so that the appointment is still open.  In the meantime, I command you to send back the horse to his proper owner, as soon after the receipt of this as possible, for O’Shaughnessy must not be shackled by any such stipulations.  I have now to ask your Christian forgiveness, for having, under the influence of temporary anger, spoken of you before this lad with disrespect.  I hereby make restitution, and beg that you will forgive me, and remember me by name in your prayers, as I shall also name you in mine.