Then no duty-work called for, no presents, nor GLOVE-MONEY, nor SEALING-MONEY even, taken or offered; no underhand hints about proposals, when land would be out of lease, but a considerable preference, if desArved, to the old tenant, and if not, a fair advertisement, and the best offer and tenant accepted; no screwing of the land to the highest penny, just to please the head landlord for the minute, and ruin him at the end, by the tenant's racking the land, and running off with the year's rent; nor no bargains to his own relations or friends did Mr.Burke ever give or grant, but all fair between landlord and tenant; and that's the thing that will last; and that's what I call the good agent.' Lord Colambre poured out a glass of wine, and begged the innkeeper to drink the good agent's health, in which he was heartily pledged.

'I thank your honour;--Mr.Burke's health! and long may he live over and amongst us; he saved me from drink and ruin, when I was once inclined to it, and made a man of me and all my family.' The particulars we cannot stay to detail: this grateful man, however, took pleasure in sounding the praises of his benefactor, and in raising him in the opinion of the traveller.
'As you've time, and are curious about such things, sir, perhaps you'd walk up to the school that Mrs.Burke has for the poor children; and look at the market-house, and see how clean he takes a pride to keep the town; and any house in the town, from the priest to the parson's, that you'd go into, will give you the same character as I do of Mr.Burke: from the brogue to the boot, all speak the same of him, and can say no other.

God for ever bless and keep him over us!' Upon making further inquiries, everything the innkeeper had said was confirmed by different inhabitants of the village.

Lord Colambre conversed with the shopkeepers, with the cottagers; and, without making any alarming inquiries, he obtained all the information he wanted.

He went to the village school--a pretty, cheerful house, with a neat garden and a play-green; met Mrs.Burke; introduced himself to her as a traveller.