244 LIFE IN IRELAND 



This was an important point for Sir Shawn to obtain, 

 and he was determined to carry on the joke to the 

 utmost. 



The sun rose as usual on any clear Irish day, and 

 Brian Boru drest by the help of Mooney in his wonted 

 elegant costume — a la Dugherty — but on putting his 

 coat to his shoulders, he observed a flaming silver star^ 

 on the left breast. What is the meaning of this 

 foolery, said Brian, in an angry tone. Sure, said 

 Mooney, and don't all the world know I am a knight's 

 sarvant; and the tailor said, that for my credit and 

 honour you should be after wearing the insigny of your 

 order. 



Never, Sir, do anything relative to me or my 

 personal appearance, without my bidding. I have no 

 ambition to be a Knight : the honour was conferred 

 upon me by a most generous and noble-minded man, 

 or I would not have received it. 'Tis not my intention 

 to adopt the title until I have done something to merit 

 it ; and if you are not contented to remain the humble 

 servant of Brian Boru, you are perfectly at liberty to 

 find another master, who has Sir to his name. 



Poor Mooney burst into tears, and sunk at his 

 master's knees, blubbering. By the holy poker, I'd 

 live and die wid you, if you were a beggar ; and I 

 didn't mean any harm, only / was a little proudish, 

 because I thought you had a right to be so. The 

 right is incontestible, said Brian, and so is my in- 

 clination. Ah, your Honour, when you come to be 

 Justice of the Peace for the County of Galway. a bit 

 of a title will be no bad thing to make the women tell 

 truth about their bastard children. Possibly it may ; 



