A BEAUTIFUL NEW COACH. 285 



second-hand, as it is well not to forget appearances, 

 and human nature is somehow or other ashamed of 

 buying any thing second-hand. The fact was that 

 Dandy Jim had pretty much used up my first wagon ; 

 he had run away with it so often, had dragged it 

 over so many fences, and smashed it so frequently 

 and so effectually, that, when he was sold and the 

 new family horse was purchased, a new wagon had 

 to be bought for him. I said nothing to Patrick 

 about its being second-hand, and he said nothing to 

 me; we neither of us pretended to be aware of a 

 fact which^both of us knew perfectly well. True to 

 his instinctive Irish delicacy, not a word was breathed 

 against the honor of the house to which his fortunes 

 were attached. So he replied, 



&quot; Be gorra ! and it was a beautiful wagon intirely 

 when yer honor brought it home ; you may well say 

 that.&quot; 



&quot;What is the trouble, then, now ?&quot; 



&quot; Sorrow a one o me knows, but they tell its going 

 fast, and I thought it was me duty to spake about it 

 before any accident happened, which would be a 

 pity, indade, indade.&quot; 



&quot; Is there any thing wrong with the axle-trees ?&quot; I 

 inquired, anxiously, worried at the implied risk. 



&quot;Axle-trees! whirra, and they re as strong and 



