254 LIFE IN IRELAND 



and, helter skelter, ran after him, attended by a thou- 

 sand ragged vagabonds. 



The BULL took the strawberry gate, and carried it at 

 a single crash : through the eglantine and honeysuckle 

 he made his way, overturned Lady Demiquaver and 

 the DowNSHiRE Lass into a clean dirty gutter that 

 SKIRTED the arbour in dirty meandering. 



This scene was quite good, and afforded some merri- 

 ment to all who witnessed the chase. At length the 

 bull was pinned, and he became a captive. 



Brian Boru and the Baronet returned to pick up 

 their scattered companions, and were received with 

 gloomy looks and peevish expressions. 



A little flattery, and a few glasses of y^hisk^y punch 

 set all to rights, and harmony became the order of the 

 evening. The carriage was ordered, and in a pig's 

 whisper the whole ^boiling'' were on the way to 

 Dublin. 



It is not the province of this work to condemn or 

 applaud the moral virtues in any one ; and I feel the 

 best inclination in the world to go on in a straight- 

 forward line — even in a line with our party. Brian 

 Boru was at home, and so was his Chere Amie ; Sir 

 Shawn O'Dogherty held on his knee the little Down- 

 shire Lass ; and as the vehicle dashed up to the door 

 in Meri'ion Square^ Patrick Mooney opened the coach 

 door, and, struck with astonishment, cried, ' Mother of 

 God, another Miss Jenkinson, and Master is ruined for 

 ever. — Lord have mercy upon us, all round 1 ' 



end of chapter XX. 



