Sometimes he doubted whether he ought to trust the people with more than a few pounds' worth of goods, but he gradually learnt that, unlike the patriotic Mr.Dowling, they were universally honest.

He discovered, too, that these people, with their imperfect English and little knowledge of the world, were exceedingly shrewd.

They had very little real confidence in oratorical politicians, and their interest in public affairs went no further than voting consistently for the man their priest recommended.

But they quickly understood Hyacinth's arguments when he told them that the support of Irish manufactures would help to save their sons and daughters from the curse of emigration.
'Faith, sir,' said a shopkeeper who kept a few blankets and tweeds among his flour-sacks and porter-barrels, 'since you were talking to the boys last month, I couldn't induce one of them to take the foreign stuff if I was to offer him a shilling along with it.'.