HUNTING. 157 



hostess, and numerous guests staying at the 

 castle, went out to see the fan, and greatly 

 was I struck with the gallant appearance ol 

 the old barn, so gaily decorated with corn, 

 and the fiddler fiddling away upon a beer- 

 barrel! A mighty cheer was raised for us 

 when we all, in full evening dress, joined the 

 motley company of revellers, and the lord of 

 the soil led off a country dance with a blushing 

 mountain-lass, followed by her ladyship with 

 an equally humble partner. The blacksmith 

 was an Irishman, and looked very shy, as 

 Irishmen invariably do in presence of the 

 fair sex (?) I knew him as a workman upon 

 the estate — I knew also that his wife, a very 

 ugly woman, was a terribly jealous shrew — 

 and, actuated by a spirit of mischief, I went 

 and asked him to dance ; but he only grinned, 

 blushed, and said, <* No, thank you, ma'am ; 

 I'm a married man / " My husband, who was 

 standing by, said laughingly, " Why, Brian, 

 you ought to feel flattered to be asked. Give 

 Mrs. O'Donoghue your arm, and take your 

 place for the dance." " 0, faix," said Brian, 

 hastening to obey, '*if you have no objection, 



