rest on Mr. Forster's head. I shall have no word of
pity for him. His government is a disgrace to Liberalism, and I fear he
has done much to prejudice our ideal in the eyes of the world.'

Lord Dungory and Lady Jane exchanged smiles; and poor crotchety Mr.
Adair leaned forward his large, bald brow, obscured by many obscure
ideals. After a pause he continued:

'But I was speaking of Flanders. From the time of Charles the Fifth the
most severe laws were enacted to put down the outrages, but there was an
undercurrent of sympathy with the outrage-monger which kept the system
alive until 1840. Then the Government took the matter in hand, and
treated outrage-mongering as what it is--an act of war; and quartered
troops on the inhabitants and stamped the disease out in a few years. Of
course I could not, and would not, advocate the employment of such
drastic measures in Ireland; but I would put down the outrages with a
firm hand, and I would render them impossible in the future by the
creation of peasant-proprietors.'

Then, amid the juicy odours of cut pineapple, and the tepid flavours of
Burgundy, Mr. Adair warmed to his subject, and proceeded to explain that
absolute property did not exist in land in Ireland before 1600, and,
illustrating his arguments with quotations from Arthur Young, he spoke
of the plantation of Ulster, the leases of the eighteenth century, the
Protestants in the North, the employment of labour; until, at last,
inebriated with theory, he asked the company what was the end of
government?

This was too much, and, seeing the weary faces about him, Lord Dungory
determined to change the subject of conversation:

'The end of government?' he said; 'I am afraid that you would get many
different answers to that question. Ask these young ladies; they will
tell you, probably, that it is to have _des beaux amants et des joyeuses
amours_, and I am not sure that they are not right.'

Mrs. Barton's coaxing laugh was heard, and then reference was made to
the detachment of the Connaught Rangers stationed at Galway, and the
possibility of their giving a dance was eagerly discussed. Mr. Ryan had
a word to say anent the hunting prospect, and, when May Gould declared
she was going to ride straight and not miss a meet, she completed the
conquest of Mr. Scully, and encouraging glances were exchanged between
them until Lady Sarah looked inquiringly round the table--then she
pushed back her chair. All rose, and a moment af