“His intintion,” said they, “is to keep you at home to-night, in ordher to get whatever money you have into his own hands, that he may keep it safe for you; but if you give him a penny, you may bid farewell to it.  Put it in the curate’s hands,” added Thady, “or in my father’s, an’ thin it’ll be safe.  At all evints, don’t stay wid him this night.  He’ll take your money and then turn you off in three or four weeks.”

“I didn’t intind to give him my money,” replied Jemmy; “a schoolmaster I met on my way here, bid me not to do it.  I’ll give it to the priest.”

“Give it to the curate,” said Thady—­“wid him it’ll be safe; for the parish priest doesn’t like to throuble himself wid anything of the mind.”

This was agreed upon; the boy was prepared against the designs of the master, and a plan laid down for his future conduct.  In the meantime, the latter re-entered the school in a glow of indignation and disappointment.

Thady, however, disregarded him; and as the master knew that the influence of the boy’s father could at any time remove him from the parish, his anger subsided without any very violent consequences.  The parish priest was his avowed patron, it is true; but if the parish priest knew that Mr. O’Rorke was dissatisfied with him, that moment he would join Mr. O’Rorke in expelling him:  from the neighborhood.  Mr. O’Rorke was a wealthy and a hospitable man, but the schoolmaster was neither the one nor the other.

During school-hours that day, many a warm-hearted urchin entered into conversation with the poor scholar; some moved by curiosity to hear his brief and simple history; others anxious to offer him a temporary asylum in their father’s houses; and several to know if he had the requisite books, assuring him if he had not they would lend, them to him.  These proofs of artless generosity touched the homeless youth’s heart the more acutely, inasmuch as he could perceive but too clearly that the eye of the master rested upon him, from time to time, with no auspicious glance.

When the scholars were dismissed, a scene occurred which was calculated to produce a smile, although it certainly placed the poor scholar in a predicament by no means agreeable.  It resulted from a contest among the boys as to who should first bring him home.  The master who, by that cunning for which the knavish are remarkable, had discovered in the course of the day that his designs upon the boy’s money was understood, did not ask him to his house.  The contest was, therefore, among the scholars; who, when the master had disappeared from the school-room, formed themselves into a circle, of which Jemmy was the centre, each pressing his claim to secure him.

“The right’s wid me,” exclaimed Thady; “I stood to him all day, and I say I’ll have him for this night.  Come wid me, Jimmy.  Didn’t I do most for you to-day?”

“I’ll never forget your kindness,” replied poor Jemmy, quite alarmed at the boisterous symptoms of pugilism which already began to appear.  In fact, many a tiny fist was shut, as a suitable, accompaniment to the auguments with which they enforced their assumed rights.