Assistant was open on the table, among paper and implements of writing. The library consisted of a dozen or two of old and odd volumes, most probably procured on easy terms from some itinerant bibliopolist since the elevation of the enlightened owner. A fowling-piece, fishing-rod, and dog-couples, were suspended above the chimney-piece. On the opposite wall, and exhibited to the very best advantage, hung the military accoutrements of his honour, who was first lieutenant in the Cultimaugh Cavalry; while boots, breeches, and all sorts of garments, occupied sundry pegs in the apartment. This chamber seemed also to be the refectory of the mansion, for the table was covered with the necessary apparatus for eating, and a tea-kettle simmering on the fire, associated with a black bottle and sugar-bowl, intimated that Justices of the Peace were, like other mortals, liable to occasional thirstiness.

The visit of the young stranger seemed to have created a mighty confusion throughout the edifice-loud and earnest whisperings were heard in the hall-at last the door burst open, and in rushed Paddy Pheahen; he flew to a

press, but exclaiming-" Holy Bridget! the more ye haste, the worse ye'll speed," disappeared; but soon returned with a fork, with which he attacked the door of the cupboard, dashed it violently open, and from this repository extracted the usual implements for shaving-applied the box to the pipe of the teakettle, and proceeded in raising a lather with due diligence. Henry stared with amazement at the oddity of the scene, when Pat with great composure requested that " as his Honour was brave and lengthy, he would lift him down the leathers."

The boon was granted. Pat threw the breeches across his arm, tore down a pair of top-boots from a peg, and exclaiming, "The Justice will be with you in a shake," bolted out of the apartment.

After a considerable delay, Mr. Scanlan, fully attired, entered, and with respect and cordiality welcomed the visiter to his house, and congratulated him on his improved and altered appearance. He protested he never had a more constant and punctual customer, he. meant friend, than his father, and concluded

his speech by entreating him to take pot-luck, in a bachelor's way, with him on Tuesday. Henry accepted the invitation, and after a few desultory observations on the game-laws, and the advantage of planting potatoes in drills, instead of riggs (ridges), the visiter took leave of the magistrate, and rode slowly from the door.

Rockland, the seat of his friend "the Captain," (as Mr. Nugent was called by the country people) lay on the opposite side of Ballycarnaney (the name of Mr. Scanlan's chateau.) It was necessary to pass by the Justice's hayyard to reach the cross-road leading to the commander's, and from an enclosure the voice of Pat Pheahen was heard singing with great spirit, although his notes were frequently lost among the screams of alarmed poultry. Pat was too intent on his music and the business which then occupied him, to perceive that he was not alone; he held a hen in his grasp, and from the attitude of the bird and the presence of a knife, Henry conjectured that deliberate murder was about to ensue. Pat, all unmoved, sang gaily on

My love, says I, you're Venus fair-
No, sir, says she, I'm Norah Creena.

66

When the voice of Molly Corr arrested the harmony. Drap her, Pat Pheahen, drap her; he'll not stop, thank God, for dinner. Agh! if we were but over Tuesday; and its the yalla hin that's sittin, ye have a hauld of. Oh, ye natarel!"

the

Pat Pheahen flung the hen at Molly Corr, bid the devil bother her for an ould monosyllable was luckily lost in the confusion, and as it probably might not have been flattering to Mrs. Corr's character, we will omit conjecturing what the epithet was. Pat clapped his hands in his pockets, whistled a loud and lively air, and danced gaily to his own music.

Rockland at a little distance appeared to have been formerly insular; a flat marshy country, in many places covered with water, surrounded it on every side. The eminence arising from those morasses, on which the house stood, had for a century back been the residence of the Nugents, and yet it was but imperfectly reclaimed. When Henry had last been in the country, Mr. Nugent was commencing a large addition to the mansion, and he had afterwards understood that this, added to his former embarrassments, had severely

injured the 'Squire's property, already loaded with incumbrances. As he approached Rockland, every thing looked as it had always done. The entrance-gate was off its hinges, and many practicable breaches were visible in the parkwall, but the present appearance of the mansion was most singular: it was what an Irish artist would term of the true "Composite order;" for, being the handywork of several of the Captain's progenitors, each man seemed merely to have consulted his own taste, unprejudiced by that of his predecessor. The wings and additions were as different as they were numerous-some were built of brick, others were constructed of stone. The interior was still more curious; for the numerous additions had their several lobbies and staircases, and to reach some of the "Wee-set-offs," (as the domestics of the family entitled these outshots,) short turns, ascents and descents, were so numerous, that the whole edifice seemed to be built pretty nearly on the plan of the Cretan Labyrinth.

A person who acted as porter joined Henry at the gate, and accompanied him to the man