36 Rambles with a Fishing-Rod. 



son of these remarks would be fully obvious 

 if the reader would place himself for a moment 

 by the writer's elbow. The room contains a 

 somewhat rickety deal-table ; a fireplace, which 

 at this hour of the evening is full of brightly 

 burning and fragrant peat. There are algp two 

 queer-looking beds, upon one of which the 

 ceiling threatens shortly to descend in frag- 

 ments ; and two tables, to which it is diffi- 

 cult to assign a specific name. They can 

 scarcely be called side-tables, though they con- 

 tain a few odd glasses and a plate or two, not 

 to mention the whisky-bottle of the establish- 

 ment. Nor yet can they be termed dressing- 

 tables ; for though they bear a looking-glass 

 and some few pieces of crockeryware, the ele- 

 ments of the sideboard must not be left out of 

 consideration. It is needless to add that the 

 floor is uncovered by a carpet ; that the once 

 white walls would be all the better for a new 

 coat of whitewash ; and that a few chairs, some 

 fishing-tackle, and portmanteaus complete the 

 furniture of the room. Another function still 

 does this room fulfil; for unless the door, open- 

 ing to the road, is securely locked, it forms the 

 entrance-hall to the little Irish cottage, half 



