第26章 Volume 1(26)

'Why,let me see,'he replied,'not so hollow a thin,,either.Let me see,we'll say about four to one against you;you may chance to throw doublets like him I told you of,and then what becomes of the odds I'd like to know?But let things go as they will,I'll give and take four to one,in pounds and tens of pounds.There,M'Donough,there's a GET for you;b--t me,if it is not.Poh!the fellow is stolen away,'he continued,observing that the object of his proposal had left the room;'but d--it,Purcell,you are fond of a SOFTTHING,too,in a quiet way--I'm sure you are --so curse me if I do not make you the same offer-is it a go?'

I was too much disgusted to make any reply,but I believe my looks expressed my feelings sufficiently,for in a moment he said:

'Well,I see there is nothing to be done,so we may as well be stirring.M'Donough,myself,and my brother will saddle the horses in a jiffy,while you and Purcell settle anything which remains to be arranged.'

So saying,he left the room with as much alacrity as if it were to prepare for a fox-hunt.Selfish,heartless fool!I have often since heard him spoken of as A CURSEDGOOD-NATURED DOG and a D--GOOD FELLOW;but such eulogies as these are not calculated to mitigate the abhorrence with which his conduct upon that morning inspired me.

The chill mists of night were still hovering on the landscape as our party left the castle.It was a raw,comfortless morning --a kind of drizzling fog hung heavily over the scene,dimming the light of the sun,which had now risen,into a pale and even a grey glimmer.As the appointed hour was fast approaching,it was proposed that we should enter the race-ground at a point close to the stand-house--a measure which would save us a ride of nearly two miles,over a broken road;at which distance there was an open entrance into the race-ground.Here,accordingly,we dismounted,and leaving our horses in the care of a country fellow who happened to be stirring at that early hour,we proceeded up a narrow lane,over a side wall of which we were to climb into the open ground where stood the now deserted building,under which the meeting was to take place.Our progress was intercepted by the unexpected appearance of an old woman,who,in the scarlet cloak which is the picturesque characteristic of the female peasantry of the south,was moving slowly down the avenue to meet us,uttering that peculiarly wild and piteous lamentation well known by the name of 'the Irish cry,'accompanied throughout by all the customary gesticulation of passionate grief.This rencounter was more awkward than we had at first anticipated;for,upon a nearer approach,the person proved to be no other than an old attached dependent of the family,and who had her-self nursed O'Connor.She quickened her pace as we advanced almost to a run;and,throwing her arms round O'Connor's neck,she poured forth such a torrent of lamentation,reproach,and endearment,as showed that she was aware of the nature of our purpose,whence and by what means Iknew not.It was in vain that he sought to satisfy her by evasion,and gently to extricate himself from her embrace.She knelt upon the ground,and clasped her arms round his legs,uttering all the while such touching supplications,such cutting and passionate expressions of woe,as went to my very heart.

At length,with much difficulty,we passed this most painful interruption;and,crossing the boundary wall,were placed beyond her reach.The O'Gradys damned her for a troublesome hag,and passed on with O'Connor,but I remained behind for a moment.The poor woman looked hopelessly at the high wall which separated her from him she had loved from infancy,and to be with whom at that minute she would have given worlds,she took her seat upon a solitary stone under the opposite wall,and there,in a low,subdued key,she continued to utter her sorrow in words so desolate,yet expressing such a tenderness of devotion as wrung my heart.

'My poor woman,'I said,laying my hand gently upon her shoulder,'you will make yourself ill;the morning is very cold,and your cloak is but a thin defence against the damp and chill.Pray return home and take this;it may be useful to you.'

So saying,I dropped a purse,with what money I had about me,into her lap,but it lay there unheeded;she did not hear me.

'Oh I my child,my child,my darlin',' she sobbed,'are you gone from me?are you gone from me?Ah,mavourneen,mavourneen,you'll never come back alive to me again.The crathur that slept on my bosom--the lovin'crathur that I was so proud of--they'll kill him,they'll kill him.

Oh,voh!voh!'

The affecting tone,the feeling,the abandonment with which all this was uttered,none can conceive who have not heard the lamentations of the Irish peasantry.It brought tears to my eyes.I saw that no consolation of mine could soothe her grief,so I turned and departed;but as I rapidly traversed the level sward which separated me from my companions,now considerably in advance,I could still hear the wailings of the solitary mourner.

As we approached the stand-house,it was evident that our antagonists had already arrived.Our path lay by the side of a high fence constructed of loose stones,and on turning a sharp angle at its extremity,we found ourselves close to the appointed spot,and within a few yards of a crowd of persons,some mounted and some on foot,evidently awaiting our arrival.

The affair had unaccountably taken wind,as the number of the expectants clearly showed;but for this there was now no remedy.