198 LIFE IN IRELAND 



less pillow, where many a sleepless one had lain before 

 him. 



Morning peeped in at his grate, and he purposed 

 taking a walk in the yard before his brother debtors 

 made their appearance ; but here he was out of his 

 reckoning — the galleries were all locked, and not to be 

 opened till nine o'clock, so that he paced the room in 

 gloomy agitation : at length the wished-for moment 

 came, and Patrick Mooney came in to attend his 

 master, and get him breakfast in his own room. 



The yard was so very full, some playing at rackets or 

 ball, and others washing under the pump, that Brian 

 was obliged to retire and pace the gallery, in silent 

 admiration of what was passing : he however had an 

 appetite for breakfast, and did justice to it in his usual 

 hearty way. 



To beguile the interim betwixt it and dinner, he 

 went over the prison, where he found nothing par- 

 ticular, but diversified scenes of misery and wretched- 

 ness : most of the lads were merry, and seemed to 

 cease regretting the liberty they had forfeited : not so 

 with Brian— he longed to be on the Galway moun- 

 tains with his Bay Mare, or Lady Macanatty ; and 

 swore no kicking flirting filly should ever again get him 

 into the Cage or Clink. 



About two o'clock Sir Shawn arrived, to say that 

 he had waited on his principal creditors, who were 

 inclined to come to some terms of compromise, but 

 that he found his debts amounted to fifteen thousand 

 pounds, besides having two mortgages oti his estate, 

 amounting \o five thousand pounds and upwards. So 

 that some consideration was required before any steps 



