IRISH IMPUDENCE. 175 



" * Thank you, but I am not going to try the experi- 

 ment. I'm stiff enough as it is; and one fall in the 

 day is ample for the present.' 



" ' Fall ! What fall ? Sure ye only jumped off the 

 car.' 



" ' All the same, I shall walk, fall or no fall,' returned 

 his late passenger. 



"'You are a good mile off it yet,' expostulated 

 Larry. ' How will you get there ? ' 



'"On foot.' 



" ' And your bag. Is that going on foot as well ?' 



" ' Perhaps you would leave it as you pass.' 



" ' Indeed and I will. Of course you are only 

 English, and what could ye expect ; but, at the first go 

 off, you were stout as any lady that ever sat on a car.' 



" ' Stout ? ' she echoed in supreme amazement. But 

 perhaps in Ireland things had different names. 



" ' I mane stout-hearted ! And now, after all, you 

 are going to walk ! To walk ! ' he reiterated, with 

 indescribable scorn, 



" ' Yes,' she replied, 'and you will take the bag — it 

 has no neck to break.' 



" ' To be sure ; I'll lave it with pleasure. But ' 



and here he paused rather significantly. 



" ' Of course I'll pay you,' she said, fumbling for 

 her purse. ' How much ? ' 



" ' Oh, well, sure — nothing at all ! I would not be 

 charging the likes of you. 'Twas an honour to drive 

 such a beautiful young lady.' 



" ' How much ? ' she repeated, with a stamp of her 

 little foot. 



" ' Well, then, miss, since you are so detarmined, we 

 won't quarrel over two half-crowns ; and if you would 

 like me to drink your health in the best that was,' 



