The Merry Past 



at me, and I rose and struck his Lardship with my 

 sheathed sword, and desired the other two to concave 

 themselves struck as well, and lift the room. The 

 nixt morning we ware out, yu may be sartain, but 

 I had the advantage, though they were three to one, 

 being sober, which they were not. The first man 

 who tuk his ground was the Colonel ; he fell at the 

 first fire, nivir stirred hand or feet. The Captain 

 was the nixt. I hit him in the right hip, and lamed 

 him for life. Though my blood was up, I could not 

 help feeling a little sarious now, but what cud a 

 man do, and his second handing him the third pistol 

 without a word ,? His Lardship nivir tuk his ground, 

 but coming up to me, said enough blood had been 

 shed, and that he begged my pardon. I thought so 

 to, but my blood was up, and I thought him a mane 

 (mean) fiUow at the time ; but I have since percaved 

 I was in the wrong. It was the fashion of those days, 

 howivir, and no man knew whin it might be his own 

 turn." 



The Squire was something of a dandy in the even- 

 ing, when he always appeared in silk stockings and 

 dancing pumps. Notwithstanding his advanced age, 

 he was a very tiger to dance, and would do so the 

 whole night through, always taking special care to 

 get hold of the prettiest girls in the room. He was 

 such a wonderful gay hero for his time of life that 

 he was a universal favourite. 



A character always out with the Squire's hounds 

 was Jack Mara, the groom and colt-breaker. The 

 '* Ould Squire " bred his own horses, and Jack was cele- 



6i 



