LIFE IN IRELAND 49 



and welcomed the Baronet and his friends with an air 

 of modesty which the Devil can assume to suit his 

 purposes. Sal could not help glancing a suspicious 

 eye over Poll ; the wet and dirty state of her garments 

 made her suspect she had been indulging \i^x penchant 

 for low company, and trembled for her valuables ; 

 however, she twigged the tatler in her bosom and was 

 satisfied. Brian Boru did not like this visit to a 

 house of ill-fame; some country scruples still hung 

 about his conscience, and he had not yet forgot the 

 lessons his mother gave. A few bumpers of sparkling 

 champaigne drove all his modesty to the back door, 

 and the entrance of Sal's aviary of game made his eyes 

 sparkle with glee; they had just risen, hastily slipped 

 on their knocking-jackets, tied round the waist with a 

 blue ribbon, on which was inscribed in gold letters the 

 family motto : 



' To wake the soul by gentle strokes of art. ' 



Sir Shawn recognized some new faces, and Gramma- 

 chree knew them all : there was Judy from Ballyshannon 

 — Tiny from Ballinderry — Lezzy from Ballin O'Muck 

 — Sukey from Ballindoyle — Peg Trimbush from Ball- 

 ingahinch — Kate Karney from Ballyhock — Fanny 

 Tumbleup from Ballyshag — and all the Ballys in 

 Ireland had furnished a copy from human nature to 

 oblige Sally M'Lean. 



Mirth and fun was the order of the night; Sir Shawn 



' and Brian danced till they were tired, and Mucalroy 



the Irish piper swore he could play no longer, and his 



bags were dry, though they had been wetted every half 



tune. Grammachree beat time with his one leg, and 



D 



