SOME IRISH CUSTOMS 225 



The old lady was too well known and he was never 

 seen again. 



Still about the country people, here are a few 

 stories of their ideas of royalty when at rare 

 intervals it flashes before their eyes. 



Long ago two women down here were waiting 

 to see Queen Victoria pass. 



It was evident that they fully expected her to 

 wear a golden crown and red velvet and ermine, 

 but presently a little homely figure in black was 

 hailed as the Queen. 



A gasp of sheer disappointment ; a look at 

 each other. 



" She . . . isn't she very ..." a gulp . . . 

 " respectable looking ? " said one at length, de- 

 termined to utter praise of some sort. 



When the present King and Queen were over 

 in Dubhn two women were waiting near the 

 corner of Grafton Street, one wildly expectant ; 

 the other clearly bored, or pretending to be, and 

 looking down, as if the procession did not interest 

 her. 



" Biddy, I hear thim. Did ye see the Queen 

 of England yet ? My heart is wove for a look at 

 her." 



" I don't care to see any Queen but the Queen 

 of Heaven, Kate." 



" An' ye'll see her, ma'am, sooner than even 

 you expect, if you don't stand back," uttered a 

 big member of the Dublin Metropolitan as the 

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