"Father O'Hara is a great man," he said.
"Well, don't you think that with the revival of industries the people might be induced to stay at home?"
"Sorra stay," said he.
I could see that he was not so convinced about the depopulation of Father O'Hara's parish as he was about Father Madden's, and I tried to induce him to speak his mind.
"Well, your honour, there's many that think there's a curse on the parish."
"A curse! And who put the curse on the parish?"
"Isn't that the bell ringing for Mass, your honour?"
And listening I could head a doleful pealing in the grey sky.
"Does Father Madden know of this curse?"
"Indeed he does; none better."