here were great names and great fortunes
in the land. The influence of the country neither flowed from Roman
rescripts nor priestly denunciations. The Lions of Judah and the Doves
of Elphin were as yet unknown to our political zoology; and, with all
their faults and shortcomings, we had at least a national gentry party,
high-spirited, hospitable, and generous, and whose misfortunes were
probably owing to the fact that they gave a too implicit faith to the
adaptiveness of English laws to a people who have not, in their habits,
natures, or feelings, the slightest analogy to Englishmen! and that,
when at length they began to perceive the error, it was already too late
to repair it.

The Viceroy's arrival at Castle Carew was fixed for a Tuesday, and on
Monday evening Mr. Barry Rutledge drove up to the door just as my father
and mother, with Dan Mac-Naghten, were issuing forth for a walk. He
had brought with him a list of those for whom accommodation should be
provided, and the number considerably exceeded all expectation. Nor was
this the only disconcerting event, for my father now learned, for the
first time, that he should have taken his Grace's pleasure with regard
to each of the other guests he had invited to meet him,--a piece of
etiquette he had never so much as thought of. "Of course it's not much
matter," said Rutledge, laughing easily; "your acquaintances are all
known to his Grace."

"I'm not so sure of that," interposed my father, quickly; for he
suddenly remembered that Polly Fagan was not likely to have been
presented at Court, nor was she one to expect to escape notice.

"He never thinks of politics in private life; he has not the smallest
objection to meet every shade of politician."

"I 'm quite sure of that," said my father, musing, but by no means
satisfied with the prospect before him.

"Tell Rutledge whom you expect," broke in Dan, "and he'll be able to
guide you, should there be any difficulty about them."

"Ma foi!" broke in my mother, half impatiently, in her imperfect
language. "If dey are of la bonne societe, what will you have more?"

"Of course," assented Rutledge. "The names we are all familiar
with,--the good houses of the country." Carelessly as he spoke,
he contrived to dart a quick glance towards my mother; but, to his
astonishment, she showed no sign of discomfort or uneasiness.

"Egad! I think it somewhat hard that a man's company should not be of
his own choosing!" said MacNaghten