IRISH VIGNETTES 



looked back darkly at us. "There were some horrible 

 people in the cabin next me, who would talk, and talk, and 

 talk/' 



" Well/' we exclaimed, and it was indeed in all innocence, 

 " you were at least better off than we were. For there 

 was a creature in the cabin next to us the most disgusting 

 the most unbridled " 



It was not till we saw the dreadful rage in her eyes 

 that we realized ! It is a horrible little anecdote, but it 

 started us laughing even before we set foot on the 

 quays. 



The next incident partakes of the tragi-comedy in which 

 every Irish problem is set. All Ireland stands like one of 

 those figures of mimes on an old drop-curtain/ a laughing 

 face behind a tragic mask or indeed the reverse. We 

 laughed while our hearts grew sad at the sight of a 

 stalwart devil-may-care individual in a frieze coat who 

 strolled up to a group of jarvies while we sat in the cab 

 waiting for our luggage to be loaded. The whole business 

 was conducted with a fine artful carelessness. Now one, 

 now another of the standing group of cab-drivers would 

 lurch up against him of the frieze coat or clasp him jovially 

 by the hand, and there would ensue a passage of coppers 

 from one grimy palm to ianother. Then out of a deep 

 side-pocket of the frieze coat a black bottle would be 

 drawn, with all the desinvolture of the conjuring trick. No 

 doubt some four yards away on either side stood a 

 policeman / the illicit traffic was conducted, so to speak, 

 under his nose. But, splendid fellow as he is, is he not, 

 too, an Irishman ? He knows when to sniff in another 

 direction. 



267 



