88 ENNIS NA SHIA. 



In few cases they do mischief intentionally, 

 except in defence of their privileges or their 

 property, in none maliciously ; hut since on 

 that day the upper air is deprived of their 

 presence and influence, on that day their 

 gifts and their curses alike must lose their 

 power." 



" Indeed ! " said the Squire. " Well, that 

 is a curious piece of history, and, no douht, 

 just as true as any history whatever, and 

 much more entertaining. Are the Peris' 

 feelings affected on Friday, too ?" 



"Really," said the Parson, "I cannot say 

 that I have any very extensive acquaintance 

 with the Eastern branches ; with the Irish 

 fairies I am quite on familiar terms, and I 

 am well acquainted, also, with some of the 

 best Devonshire and Cornish families. I 

 have even had the honour of an introduc- 

 tion to the great Nyssen of Norway, and to 

 his sister, the Lady of the Lake. But it so 

 happens that I have never met with a Peri 

 in all my travels, and I am, therefore, unable 

 to tell you whether they embraced the reli- 

 gion of Mahomet, along with their earthly 

 compatriots, or whether they are Parsees, 

 Manichseans, or Gnostics." 



