254 A YEAR OF LIBERTY; OR, 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 



Donegal Lough Esk A Journey through the Wilderness. 



October 6. 

 The males of a family either are, or, for the maintenance of 

 domestic doctrine and discipline, are assumed by Materfamilias to 

 be, sadly troublesome delinquents, and this evil reputation, which 

 begins with childhood, continues to old age. 



The knight and his squire were quite unable to see the iniquity 

 of coming home four hours or so too late on Saturday night. True, 

 the weather was such as no respectable dog would have been abroad 

 in if he could have helped it ; but that was our misfortune, not our 

 fault. We did not make the rain or the darkness ; in fact, would 

 gladly have dispensed with them, and considered it very hard lines 

 to be held responsible for what we neither desired nor could prevent. 

 It is with no wish to raise our virtue to an undue height that I say 

 we, the poor ill-used masculines, behaved nobly. I drank half a 

 bottle of vin de greve (by desire) to obviate the evil effects of so much 

 rain water, and, as the quality was good, finished the remainder 

 (also by desire) as a prophylactic against aches and pains in general ; 

 likewise at night a stiff tumbler of whisky punch screaming hot 

 (again by particular request) as a diaphoretic ; and what could man 

 do more ? These sacrifices, though acceptable, were inefficient. The 

 health of her Majesty and her prime minister had received a severe 

 shock ; even the tranquillising influence of the Eev. Dr. O'Callaghan's 

 evening sermon failed to produce perfect repose in the minds 

 of these unhappy females. Our sins required further expia- 

 tion we were delinquents still. On the following morning, 

 whilst passing through the yard for my rod. Mademoiselle 

 accosted me. 



" Is it to Lough Esk you'll be going after breakfast, master ?" 



" Yes. Why do you ask ?" 



