was a wide one, and day after day Larry and the faithful Barty went forth to interview “People of importance”; darkly-cautious publicans, with wives lurking at hand to make sure that “Himself” should do nothing rash; uninterested farmers, who “had their land bought,” and were left cold by the differences ’twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee; and visits to “The Clergy” of all denominations, productive of much artificially friendly converse and no very definite promises.

Of Larry’s own Communion, Father Tim Sweeny alone announced himself, unhesitatingly, as being of Larry’s camp.  Father Tim’s hostility had not been proof against Larry’s charms, more especially since these were combined with a substantial proof of the young candidate’s interest in the decoration of the new chapel; and, at the gate of that chapel, (the site of which he did not forget that he owed to Larry) he attended one of Larry’s meetings, and shook his bovine head at his flock, and bellowed ferocious commendation of the young man, who, he thundered, had not failed in his duty by the Church and the people.  There was a downright, fighting quality in Father Sweeny that was large and stimulating.  Larry felt that he had, at least, his own parish firmly at his back, and wished that he had a few more such as Father Tim to stand by him.

The Rev. Matthew Cotton (stiffened by Mrs. Cotton) said that to enter a hustings for a Home Ruler, of any variety, would be for him an unauthorised bowing down in the House of Rimmon, a simile that conveyed little to Larry, and nothing at all, allegorically, to his agent, Barty Mangan, though its practical interpretation presented no difficulties to either of them.

The Reverend Mr. Armstrong, Pastor of the Methodists, admitted to a preference for an “All-for-Irelander,” as opposed to an Official Nationalist; but evaded the responsibility of a promise by saying that he would lay the matter before the Lord, and would write later.

Neither did young Mr. Coppinger receive much encouragement from his own class.  Bill Kirby, indeed, undertook to support him and even volunteered to go round with him on his canvassing expeditions, but this was considered by Larry’s Committee as being of questionable advantage, even, possibly, affording to the enemy an occasion to blaspheme, and the offer (made, it may be said, at Judith’s instigation) was declined.

Nor, as a matter of fact, was Larry himself disposed to take Bill Kirby’s proffered hand.  He told himself that he was done with that lot.  He was bitterly angry with Christian.  He said to himself that he would never forgive her; would never, if he could help it, see one of them again.  At a word from her father she had chucked him; without a moment of hesitation, without a word to show that she was even sorry for her father’s treatment of him.  “Apparently it’s the only thing to do!” she had said.  That was all she thought of keeping a promise!  What about leaving father and mother and sticking to your husband,