The two brothers came out along with their sisters, and signed to the lads who had been holding their horses to bring them up.

In the meantime, Buck English, unabashed by the rebuff he had received, once more approached, and just as the car had come up, tendered his gallantry--as he called it--with his usual politeness.
"I trust, leedies, that as you were not kin-descending enough to let me have the gallantry of helping you off, you will let me have the pleasure of helping you on ?" "That lady behind you appears to have prior claims upon you, Mr.
English." "Behind me!" he exclaimed, turning about.

"Why, Miss Joolia, there's no leddy behind me." In the meantime she beckoned to her brother who, while the, proctor was assisting his wife to take her seat, helped up both the girls, who nodding to the Buck, said-- "Thank you, Mr.English: we feel much obliged for your gallant intentions; quite as much, indeed, as if you had carried them into effect." This joke, so soon played off after that which had preceded it, and upon the same person, too, occasioned another very general laugh at the Buck's expense; and, beyond a doubt, filled him with a double measure of mortification and resentment.
"There you go," he muttered, "and it was well said before Mass, that if you set a beggar on horseback he'll ride to the divil." "To whom do you apply that language ?" asked Alick Purcel.
"To one Michael Purcel, a tithe-proctor, an oppressor and a grinder of the poor," returned Buck, fiercely.
"And, you insolent scoundrel, how dare you use such language to my father ?" said the other.

"I tell you, that if it were not from a reluctance to create an unbecoming quarrel so near the house of God, and so soon after his worship, I would horsewhip you, you illiterate, vulgar rascal, where you stand." "I would be glad to catch you making the attempt," replied the Buck, with a look of fury; "because I would give you such a lesson as you would never forget.

I would let you know that it isn't your father's unfortunate tenants and day-laborers you have before you--and that you scourge like hounds in a kennel." Purcel was actually in the act of springing at him, whip in hand, when, fortunately, the priest interfered, and prevented a conflict which, from the strength and spirit by which the parties were animated, must have been a fearful one.
[Illustration: PAGE 374-- The priest interfered, and prevented a conflict] "What is this ?" said the worthy man; "in God's name, what does this scandalous conduct, in such a place, and on such an occasion, mean?
Come between these madmen," he proceeded, addressing the crowd, which had now collected about them.