LIFE IN IRELAND 5 



He continually pestered his youthful friend to pay him 

 a visit in Dublin, and Brian only put off compliance 

 from day to day in hopes to get there about the time 

 of the King's visitation, but as that continued to be 

 put off, and appeared never likely to come on, he 

 started one summer's morning from Born Castle in a 

 curricle and pair, with his servant Patrick Mooney 

 and a brace of greyhounds. 



The attachments Brian had formed in the country 

 were not very strong; he loved Judy Macanulty, to 

 be sure he did ; and why shouden't he, when Judy 

 loved him ? He promised to send her down from 

 Dublin a hog-trough bonnet, two poplin jockey-coats, 

 an emerald green knocking-jacket, a pair of silken 

 sliders to cover her ten ground smellers, and a buckle 

 of Wicklow gold to keep her ' flesh bags ' tight and 

 jonteel round her middle. It will be seen hereafter 

 how well he fulfilled his promises ; in the mean time 

 he dashed along the road in high style, anxious to gain 

 the cover of Belfast before dark. ' God be wid your 

 honour, if possible,' said an ould ragged woman toddling 

 along the road with a basket on her head, ' God be wid 

 your honour, and be after throwing your charity at 

 me!' — 'Can you tell me a short cut to Belfast?' said 

 Brian. ' Sure and I can do that same ; 'twill keep 

 you three long miles to the good.' Mooney, by his 

 master's orders, alighted and lifted the old lady into 

 the cover of the curricle, that laid in folds behind, and 

 on they drove through bye lanes and barren heaths, 

 according to the old woman's directions. Brian 

 enquired her story. 'Plase your honour,' said she, 

 ' haven't you got a steel bar in de coach, to let us have 



