314 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



yet had the consolation to know that I was the most 

 unpopular being in the province. I was usually 

 described as a ' dry devil,' or a ' dark* dirty, little man; ' 

 while upon Drusilla blessings rained,and she was admitted 

 to be ' the best sowl that ever laid leg below mahogany ! ' 

 " I was weary of this state. Marc Antony was in 

 regular possession of an apartment, which was duly 

 termed by the servants ' Mr. Bodkin's room.' Summer 

 passed, and so did autumn and its host of grouse shooters. 

 I foolishly hoped that, considering the locality of Castle 

 Toole, my locusts would banish with the butterflies ; 

 but the only difference a rainy day made was, that the 

 visitor who arrived never dreamed of departing till the 

 morrow, and the numbers by no means abated. Some 

 heavy bills came in, and I seized that opportunity of 

 remonstrating with Drusilla. I told her my health was 

 breaking, my fortune unequal to my expenses ; that 

 common prudence required a certain limitation to our 

 irregular hospitality ; hinted that, though an occasional 

 visit from Mr. Marc Antony Bodkin would be agreeable, 

 yet that an everlasting abode would rather be a bore. 

 I would have continued, but my lady had listened, she 

 thought, too long already. She fired at the very idea 

 of retrenchment ; and as to Mr. Marc Antony Bodkin, 

 we were, it appeared, too much honoured by his society. 

 He, a third cousin of Clanricarde, condescended to 

 take my place, and entertain my company. He rode my 

 horses and drank my wine, neither of which feats, as 

 she opined, nature had designed me for doing in proper 

 person ; in short, by Herculean efforts on his part, he 

 enabled me to hold my place among gentlemen. As 



* " Dark," in the kingdom of Connaught, is frequently used 

 synonymously with " unsocial." 



