Fox Hunting in Ireland 251 



dozen times in her life. "Quietest mare in the world," 

 said the owner, as the mare was led up to be mounted, "not 

 a trick or vice, and never was sick or sorry since she was 

 foaled." 



The mare proved, as we expected, thoroughly green but 

 she seemed to have the making of a good one. 



"How much?" "And is it the price o' her that yer asking? 

 Faith I'm thinking o' keeping her for the Dublin show, she'll 

 win first prize there to be sure ; come away and don't be tempt- 

 ing me with money." 



"What do you ask for her?" "Oh, now ye haven't the heart 

 to be coaxing the likes o' that away from me. She's the best 

 mare in Ireland, and she cost me a clean hundred guineas and 

 was the cheapest mare at the money I ever bought. But yer 

 a dacent sort, so yer are, and a good judge of horseflesh. Make 

 me an offer and if I can live by it and have a bit of corn for 

 my pig, ye shall have her." "Eighty pounds." "Eighty 

 pounds! wh}^ man dear, yer only joking! Eighty pounds, and 

 her with a pedigree the length of a yardstick. JNIake it a hun- 

 dred and you can have her. No! Well, now don't be hard, 

 say ninetj^-five ; there now, I can't say more, can I? Shure 

 and yer not going away without the mare, call it ninety pounds 

 and have finished with it. She'll bring me two hundred at the 

 Dublin show the week after next. Wait a minute, sure man, 

 yer not going away without giving me the pleasure of drink- 

 ing to yer health. Now then, come along in and don't be shy 

 of a bit of good Irish whiskey. Plain water or soda? Soda, 

 right you are, and now sure, man, ye'll not be leaving the best 

 mare in Ireland. Make it ninety guineas. No! bedad, I'll 

 say pounds just to please you. It's a bargain, do you say? No, 

 well I know yer a man of rare sense and a good judge, make it 

 the ninety pounds and I'll put in a good halter and a rug, so 

 I will. Eighty-five, is that j^our very best? Ah! There's my 

 hand, she's yours. Faith and ye are a lucky man. No ! Well, 



