take it."

[FOOTNOTE 35: meering--a well-marked boundary, such as a ditch or
fence, between farms, fields, bogs, etc]

"How far'll you go yourself, Armstrong? Faith, I believe it's few of
the crack nags'll beat the old black pony at a long day."

"Is it I?" said the Parson, innocently. "As soon as I've heard the dogs
give tongue, and seen them well on their game, I'll go home. I've land
ploughing, and I must look after that. But, as I was saying, if the fox
breaks well away from the gorse, you'll have the best run you've seen
this season; but if he dodges back into the plantation, you'll have
enough to do to make him break at all; and when he does, he'll go away
towards Ballyhaunis, through as cross a country as ever a horse put a
shoe into."

And having uttered this scientific prediction, which was listened to
with the greatest deference by Peter Dillon, the Rev. Joseph Armstrong
turned his attention to the ham and tea.

The three ladies were all smiles to meet their guests; Mrs O'Kelly,
dressed in a piece of satin turk, came forward to shake hands with
the General, but Sophy and Guss kept their positions, beneath the
coffee-pot and tea-urn, at each end of the long table, being very
properly of opinion that it was the duty of the younger part of the
community to come forward, and make their overtures to them. Bingham
Blake, the cynosure on whom the eyes of the beauty of county Mayo were
most generally placed, soon found his seat beside Guss, rather to
Sophy's mortification; but Sophy was good-natured, and when Peter
Dillon placed himself at her right hand, she was quite happy, though
Peter's father was still alive, and Bingham's had been dead this many a
year and Castletown much in want of a mistress.

"Now, Miss O'Kelly," said Bingham, "do let me manage the coffee-pot;
the cream-jug and sugar-tongs will be quite enough for your energies."

"Indeed and I won't, Mr Blake; you're a great deal too awkward, and a
great deal too hungry. The last hunt-morning you breakfasted here you
threw the coffee-grouts into the sugar-basin, when I let you help me."

"To think of your remembering that!--but I'm improved since then. I've
been taking lessons with my old aunt at Castlebar."

"You don't mean you've really been staying with Lady Sarah?"

"Oh, but I have, though. I was there three days; made tea every night;
washed the poodle every morning, and clear-starched her Sunday
pelerine, with my own