thrust his tongue into his cheek, half in derision, and half as it were
by a natural action, he succeeded at all events in creating a general
laugh; but so easily is a laugh, among such an audience, created, that
it is not altogether within our power or penetration to determine the
point which occasioned their mirth, unless it were the grimace with
which his words were accompanied--or stay--perhaps it was the strong
evil odor in which Purcel, the subject of their conversation, must have
been held.

"Talk of the devil, Mr. English," replied a stern voice from the
listeners, "and he will appear; look down the road there and you'll see
Purcel himself an' his family drivin' to mass on the sweat and groans of
the people!"

"Not all of them," replied another voice, in a different tone; "there's
only himself, his wife, and their two spankin' daughters, upon the
jauntin' car; but, blood alive, look at the sons! Devil so purty a lot
of sweat and groans I seen this twelvemonth as the two is riding on,
in the shape of a pair of blood-horses, so that you may put the
blood, Barney, along wid the sweat and the groans, agra. Well done,
tithes!--ha! ha! ha!"

The individual laugh that accompanied these last observation was cruel,
revolting, and hideous. The Buck sought out the speaker among the crowd,
and gave him first a nod of approval--and almost instantly afterward
added, with a quick change of countenance, but not until he perceived
that this double expression was pretty generally understood--

"Don't, my friend--if they get wealthy and proud upon our groans and
tears an' blood, as you say, it is not their invalidity that makes them