IRISH SERVANTS 149 



was a rumour that the German fleet was off Bere- 

 haven and all the available regiments had dashed 

 down there. 



Seeing Cloghessy in the garden I told him. 



" "WTiat war ? " he said magnificently. " I never 

 mixes meself up in thim things, ma'am, at all." 



Later when I had persuaded him that we might 

 all starve he was faintly impressed, but not much. 



" With two sacks of flour in and a pair of 

 bonhams^ below in the house, what could war 

 mather to anyone," he decided at last. 



I had an understrapper some years ago who 

 was very dark and never looked trim going out 

 with the horses, so I directed Cuthbert to see to it. 



" Is it Michael, ma'am ? " said Cuthbert. " Sure 

 you might be washin' him an' washin' him an' 

 he'd be the same colour still." 



My cousin once had an extraordinary groom 

 whom we always remember as the cheerful man. 



We were all at dinner with a flood of melody 

 to be heard from the kitchen regions whenever 

 the door was opened, so she told the maid to ask 

 Birmingham to be more silent. 



After dinner a note was brought in. She opened 

 it. From Birmingham . . . what has happened ? 



** Madam, 



I regret that my desire to be cheerful should 

 have offended you. Through Hfe I have been of a 

 cheerful nature, pleasing all those around me by it. 



^ Young pigs. 



