ii8 LIFE IN IRELAND 



'All don't see with your eyes, for all seem to be 

 cheerful and good-humoured.' ' By Jasus ! and that's 

 no proof of its pleasantness, for you proved to me 

 awhile ago that an Irishman can be happy under the 

 gallows.' 



A rush now from all parts announced that the 

 Rotunda doors were thrown open and the concert 

 about to begin. Our heroes made two of the hundreds 

 who entered after having their ribs squeezed to death, 

 their coats torn, and their pockets picked. It was in 

 vain to attempt getting near Lady Demiquaver, who, 

 as patroness of the evening's amusement, was hid by 

 groups of fashion from vulgar eyes; a fiirt of the fan 

 and a nod of the head was all poor Brian had to 

 console him for the trouble he had undergone. A 

 w^ord from Sir Shaw^n would have opened the ranks of 

 fashion, but he wanted to see, and not be seen. Lord 

 Wiggins tript up to the party and introduced himself 

 to Brian with his usual effrontery, or no}i chalance if 

 you please. His Lordship was a wit, and undertook 

 to explain what appeared incomprehensible to him ; 

 Sir ShaWxV bowed thanks, and in half an hour the 

 reputations of half the rooms were torn in pieces by 

 this able butcher of character. 



'Behold Lord M ,' said he, 'that youth with no 



buttons to his coat, and no brains in his head ; he 

 gained a fortune by his father's death and lost a con- 

 stitution before he was twenty-one; he married an old 

 widow to doctorise him, who died on the continent ; he 

 brought her home in pickle himself, sat astride on the 

 coffin, and waked her all the way to Dublin. He now 

 wants another to put buttons on his coat and mend it 



