384 THE BREAKING UP OF THE PARTY. 



mystery to the whole party. He had nothing 

 to do, he associated with no one, he took no 

 interest in the fishing, he could not abide 

 whisky-punch, and he professed not to un- 

 derstand one word of the brogue. He had 

 lived at Ballyshannon the life of a chrysalis ; 

 but now, his time of probation past, he 

 emerged, like the butterfly fluttering its 

 wings on its renewed existence. Too well 

 pleased even to swear, he looked with an 

 eye of compassionate benevolence on the 

 provoking blunders of the eager volunteers, 

 mildly restraining their vehemence, and 

 blandly correcting their well-intentioned but 

 mistaken efforts to force the imperial under 

 the carriage-seat. 



The Squire himself, who, whenever it 

 suited his purpose, assumed the privileges of 

 age, was bestowing upon pretty Sally some 

 excellent advice, together with an extra 

 sovereign and a paternal kiss. Indeed, all 

 that morning his sovereigns had been rapidly 

 melting into silver, and oozing away from 

 both hands. 



At that morning's breakfast the Scholar's 

 place had known him not ; new cares were 

 already occupying his mind ; pink flies, and 



