LIFE IN IRELAND 273 



CHAPTER XXIII 



A country excursion — The cream-coloured charger — A royal 

 present— Darby Pheely's mansion— A horse laundry— Politeness 

 — The house and company assembled— A cock fight, Bob Tough- 

 rags and Bill Bleareye— A curse for a Viceroy — The bear bait 

 — Brian Boru commences the milling system — Battle with a 

 Kilkenny Boy — Comes off victorious — Loses his clothes — 

 Mounts a dead man's rigging — Brian discovers a tight-rope 

 dancer and a friend in Mrs. Pheely— A tender scene — A back 

 view of a bedroom — Darby Pheely in a fit of jealousy — A woman's 

 explanation — A cure for horns — The grey mare the better horse 

 —A thrashing machine — The invitation — A start for Dublin- 

 Character of a Lord Luff— Highland soldier and the Viceroy 

 — The tea service, and saucy shopwomen under a mistake — 

 Anecdote at the porter's lodge — The dinner party — Pipe water 

 committee — A break up. 



CONVIVIALITY prevailed, the viands were, like 

 the host, of the best description, and Brl\n 

 now felt quite at home, even in the presence of Vice- 

 Royalty. 



The repast was no sooner ended, than a proposition 

 was made by his Excellency to adjourn to a cock fight 

 at Darby Pheely's — sure everybody knows old Darby, 

 that keeps the Pit on the road to Richmond, just by 

 where the swings are standing, and the round-abouts 

 going by the round dozen, two at a time. 



No sooner said than done ; the horses were ordered, 

 and away they all galloped, the Lord Luff leading the 

 s 



