I02 GARRYOWEN 



Norah. " Talk of landlords ! Good God! when 

 was there ever a landlord would cut a cow's tail off? 

 When was there ever a landlord would mutilate 

 horses? Did ye ever hear of a landlord fire a gun 

 through the window of a house where a lonely old 

 woman was, and nearly blow the roof off her skull, 

 all because her son refused to ' strip his farm,' as 

 they call it? And that was done ten miles from 

 here a month before you came. Norah, get the 

 whisky and give old Ryan a glassful and a bite to 

 eat. He's sitting in there in the little study, with 

 his two cows' tails those blackguards have cut off 

 in his hand. Take him into the kitchen and dry 

 him, and let him sit by the fire, and tell Ivirs Driscoll 

 to give him something for his old wife, for she's 

 sick in bed. Yes, that's what Ireland has come to. 

 A lot of poor, ignorant people like Ryan, ruled by 

 a syndicate of ruffians that make their own laws 

 and don't care a button for the law of God or the 

 law of the land. It's mibehevable, but there it is. 

 And now they'll be going for me. I've had several 

 anonymous letters in the last month, threatening 

 boycotting, or worse, if I don't amend my ways. 

 Much I care for them! Look, the rain's cleared 

 off. I'm going to the meet of the hounds at 

 Drumboyne. Would you care to drive with me? 

 If you had a riding-habit we might have ridden." 



" But I have a riding-habit. It's pretty old, 

 but—" 



" Up with you and put it on, then," said Mr 

 French; " and I'll tell Moriarty to saddle the grey 



