ed one of
the beauties of the county, though in many respects I doubt whether Tom
Pim would have looked upon her with the same eyes as he had done on Lucy
Talboys. Taking my partner, I led her prancing down the centre, and
proud enough I felt as I heard the remarks made upon us. Then we had to
come back and turn each couple, and so on in succession till we reached
the bottom. It was pretty hard work, though my fair partner seemed to
enjoy it amazingly. Of course, as was the custom of those days, I could
not take another partner, and I had every reason to congratulate myself
on having obtained so good a one. I suspect that many envied me. I was
naturally over head and ears in love with her before the evening was
over. There was very little rest between the dances. As soon as one
was over another was started, the musicians playing away with might and
main. We got through a few minuets, but such dances were too tame for
my fair countrywomen; indeed, but few of the men were able to perform
them, whereas all took to the country dances as if by instinct.

While we younger ones were thus amusing ourselves, the older people
passed the time playing cards, and afterwards did ample justice to the
supper. Indeed, very few of the young ladies were very backward at
that. Even Nora managed to discuss the wing and breast of a chicken,
with ham and a slice of beef, not to speak of tartlets and other
delicacies, without the slightest difficulty.

I saw her to her family coach, which conveyed her mamma, two sisters,
and a he cousin besides, of whom I felt prodigiously jealous. I could
think of nothing and talk of nobody but Nora O'Flaherty all the next
day, and proposed riding over to pay my respects to the family.

"You'll do nothing of the sort, Terence!" said my uncle. "I should be
the first to say `Go,' if I thought it would add to your happiness; but,
to the best of my belief, the young lady is engaged to her cousin; and
even supposing that she cared for you, and would consent to wait till
you became a post-captain, you would then only have your pay, and she
has not a stiver in the world, and you would thus be doing her a great
injustice. Talk of her as you like, think of her as a perfect angel;
but angels don't make good wives down here on earth, whatever they might
do in ethereal regions."

In fine, my uncle talked and laughed me out of my first love. Instead
of going over to Castle Moirty, I employed myself in fi