"A most excellent and witty letter. Ah, madam, God has endowed you with a deep insight into, and a high understanding of human nature," said the President, as he read the letter.

66

Pray, remember, sir," said Mrs. Jephson, " that women have vanity; and as this may become a vice when too much fostered, it may not be safe to say more on the subject; but, as this letter seems to please you, allow me to point out to you that it is not by flattering this lady's vanity, but exciting her love as a parent, that I hope for success. Yes, sir, women have vanity, but they possess stronger, higher, nobler feelings; and he who wins the heart of a woman that is worth the winning"-here she looked over to her husband-" must employ nobler and brighter weapons than those of empty flattery." After this fine speech, which was very well delivered, the lady walked off, with the majesty of a young queen.

"Jephson, you are a happy fellow," said the knight.

Jephson looked delighted, for he was proud of his noble and high-minded young wife.

"Well," continued the President, "about this letter. How shall we forward it? I had better

order Maurice to saddle his horse, and ride out to Dhuhallow."

"Maurice!" said Captain Jephson.

"He may

be allowed to enter Dhuhallow, but, like the mouth

of Hell, he will never get out again :

"Facilis descensus Averni.

Noctes atque dies patet atri janua Ditis,

Sed revocare gradum superasque evadere ad auras,
Hoc opus, hic labor est.''

"How shall we manage, then ?"

"I will send a gorsoon."
"A gorsoon! What's that?"

"A wild country lad."

66

66

Will he deliver it safely ?"

Perfectly. These are the messengers we always employ, when corresponding with the wild people in the west."

VOL. II.

с

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"Of a straunge man I can you tidings tell,
That wasteth all this countrie, farre and neare.'
'Of such,' saide he, 'I chiefely doe inquere,
And shall thee well rewarde to shew the place
In which that wicked wight his dayes doth weare;
For to all knighthood it is foule disgrace,
That such a cursed creature lives so long a space.'

"Far hence,' quoth he, 'in wasteful wildernesse,
His dwelling is, by which no living wight
May ever pass but thorough great distresse.""

SPENSER.

"An outlaw in a castle keeps. Gathering unto him all the scatterlings and outlaws out of the woods and mountains, he marched forth into the English pale."-IDEM.

THE Barony of Dhuhallow is a wild and uncultivated district, which lies on the line of railway between Mallow and Killarney. This part of the country is called, to the present day, the "Country of the Mac Carthys." In this district, on the banks of the Blackwater, about twenty miles from Mallow, rose an old castellated house,* the bay windows of

* In writing this chapter, the author had his mind's eye upon the romantic residence of Henry Chinnery Justice, Esq.,

which overhung the river, but the building was well concealed from view by thick foliage, of shrubs and trees, growing from the bank and hanging from the rock, through the fissures of which they had insinuated their roots.

To this place Florence Mac Carthy often repaired, for relaxation, during the heat of summer, and safety in the day of trouble. It was a sort of halfway house between Cork and Tralee, the chief centres of military operations, during the period of which our story treats; it therefore afforded this wily chieftain many facilities for aiding his friends, for distressing his enemies, as occasion required: it was also near Killarney and the high mountains of Kerry, which were to Irish rebels a "munition of rocks."

Here, on the side of the river, lurked Florence Mac Carthy, like a badger waiting to gulp down whatever the tide of fortune might bring to the mouth of his cave.

The house was not large: it was not the "big house," as family mansions are called in this coun

called Dhuarigil Castle, one of the most interesting spots on the banks of the Blackwater, connected with which are some old legends. He believes the old castle once belonged to the Mac Carthys More. The modernized building is a beautiful structure.

try; but it was not devoid of beauty of scenery, or wanting in accommodation and good cheer.

A number of idle, bare-legged men, women, and children, were loitering about, whose curiosity was excited by the gilly or gorsoon from Mallow.

A

"Blood-an-ouns, here comes Mick from Mallow! Mick, what news ?--What brought you down here, Mick? What's in the wind now, Mick? message for the Mac Carthy, or her ladyship? Can't you speak? Haven't you a tongue, you omedhawn?" These were a few of the questions put to Mick, in the Irish language, as he passed through the crowd; but Mick preserved a solemn silence, as he walked up to the castle, not deigning to notice any one of them, or any of their questions. "Mick has a sacret: how grand he looks!" "What can it be ?"

"How the mischief should I know ?"

"It's a letther, I see him take it out, as he went in."

66

"A letther!-Blessed saints, what can it be about?" "A letther from Mallow."

"From Mallow! Who did he ax for?"

"Who did he ax for? Who would he ax for but the masther?"

"No, he didn't, then; it was the misthress, her ladyship ;-a letther for the misthress."