His companion, after hearing this reply, bent a glance upon him, that indicated the awakening of an interest in the lad much greater than he probably otherwise would have felt.

“It’s only of late,” continued the boy, “that my father an’ mother got poor; they were once very well to do in the world.  But they were put out o’ their farm in ordher that the agint might put a man that had married a get (* A term implying illegitimacy) of his own into it.  My father intended to lay his case before Colonel B------, the landlord; but he couldn’t see him at all, bekase he never comes near the estate.  The agint’s called Yallow Sam, sir; he’s rich through cheatery an’ dishonesty; puts money out at intherest, then goes to law, an’ brakes the people entirely; for, somehow, he never was known to lose a lawsuit at all, sir.  They say it’s the divil, sir, that keeps the lawyers on his side; an’ that when he an’ the lawyers do be dhrawin’ up their writins, the devil—­God betune me an’ harm!—­does be helpin’ them!”

“And is Colonel B------ actually--or, rather, was he your father’s
landlord?”

“He was, indeed, sir; it’s thruth I’m tellin’ you.”

“Singular enough!  Stand beside me here—­do you see that large house to the right among the trees?”

“I do, sir; a great big house, entirely—­like a castle, sir.”

“The same.  Well, that house belongs to Colonel B------, and I am very
intimate with him.  I am Catholic curate of this parish; and I was,
before my ordination, private tutor in his family for four years.”

“Maybe, sir, you might have intherest to get my father back into his farm?”

“I do not know that, my good lad, for I am told Colonel B-----is rather
embarrassed, and, if I mistake not, in the power of the man you call
Yellow Sam, who has, I believe, heavy mortgages upon his property. 
But no matter; if I cannot help your father, I shall be able to serve
yourself.  Where do you intend to stop for the night?”

“In dhry lodgin’, sir, that’s where my father and mother bid me stop always.  They war very kind to me, sir, in the dhry lddgins.”

“Who is there in Ireland who would not be kind to you, my good boy?  I trust you do not neglect your religious duties?”

“Wid the help o’ God, sir, I strive to attind to them as well as I can; particularly since I left my father and mother.  Every night an’ mornin’, sir, I say five Fathers, five Aves, an’ a Creed; an’ sometimes when I’m walkin’ the road, I slip up an odd Father, sir, an’ Ave, that God may grant me good luck.”

The priest smiled at his candor and artlessness, and could not help feeling the interest which the boy had already excited in him increase.

“You do right,” said he, “and take care that you neglect not the worship of God.  Avoid bad company; be not quarrelsome at school; study to improve yourself diligently; attend mass regularly; and be punctual in going to confession.”