142 LADIES ON HOKSEBACK. 



sighing for the patient suffering of my dearly- 

 loved steed, I made the observation that the 

 miles were very long indeed. " They are long, 

 my lady," said the man, who was walking 

 before me with a lanthorn ; ** but, shure and 

 faith, if they're long they're narra' ! " And 

 with this most intelligent observation he 

 closed his mouth, and left me to ponder upon 

 it undisturbed until we arrived at the station. 



One more anecdote, and I have done with 

 them. 



On one of last season's hunting-days the 

 hounds met at Courtown, and great excitement 

 was abroad, for the Imperial lady was expected 

 to join the chase. She was, however, pre- 

 vented through indisposition from attending, 

 but Prince Liechtenstein and a very dis- 

 tinguished company came over from Summer- 

 hill. As we were trotting to the covert the 

 country-folks were all on the alert, for not 

 having heard of the disappointment respecting 

 the Empress they were anxiously expecting 

 her, and many were the surmises respecting 

 her identity. I was riding close to the front, 

 escorted by Lord Cloncurry, and as we swept 



