242 GARRYOWEN 



themselves in the open air. " I say, you're well 

 out of it, and I wouldn't go back if I were you. 

 Do you mean to tell me they wanted to rook you 

 of one-and-six for a cup of tea and a bun? " 



" They did that," replied the other, with a 

 chuckle. " They thought they'd caught an omad- 

 haun asleep; but, faith, they thought wrong! " 



" You were too sharp for them," said Mr Dash- 

 wood. " I saw you come in. I'm down here for 

 the day, and I just dropped into the place. Then 

 I heard you talking to the girl behind the stall, 

 and chaffing her and teUing her you were Irish; 

 then I heard the row and came to your assistance. 

 I hke Irish people. Are you staying here? " 



" No," said Mr Giveen. " I just came down 

 for the day. Do you live here? " 



" No," said Mr Dashwood. " I just came down 

 for the day. I Kve in London. But I'm jolly 

 glad to have met you ; it's a relief to come across 

 a genuine Irishman with some wit in him. I say, 

 I'm j oily glad you put that girl in her place. She's 

 a cheeky beast. Come along into the inn and 

 have a drink." 



They had been walking towards the inn, and Mr 

 Dashwood, taking his companion's arm, guided 

 him, nothing loth, through the entrance and into 

 the bar parlour. 



" Now we're all right," said Bobby, taking his 

 seat and rapping on the counter with a haK- 

 sovereign. "Cock yourself up on that stool. 

 What'll you have? " 



