future."

They then bent their steps homewards, each sufficiently fatigued and
exhausted after the sports of the day to require both food and rest.
Woodward went early to bed, but Barney, who was better accustomed to
exercise, having dined heartily in the kitchen, could not, for the
soul of him, contain within his own bosom the awful and supernatural
adventure which had just occurred. He assumed, as before, a very solemn
and oracular air; spoke little, however, but that little was deeply
abstracted and mysterious. It was evident to the whole kitchen that
he was brimful of something, and that that something was of more than
ordinary importance.

"Well, Barney, had you and Masther Harry a pleasant day's sport? I see
you have brought home five hares," said the cook.

"Hum!" groaned Barney; "but no matther; it's a quare world, Mrs. Malony,
and there's strange things in it. Heaven bless me! Heaven bless me, and
Heaven bless us all, if it comes to that! Masther Harry said he'd send
me down a couple o' glasses of------O, here comes Biddy wid them; that's
a girl, Bid--divil sich a kitchen-maid in Europe!"

Biddy handed him a decanter with about half a pint of stout whiskey in
it, a portion of which passed into a goblet, was diluted with water, and
drunk off, after which he smacked his lips, but with a melancholy air,
and then, looking solemnly and meditatively into the fire, relapsed into
silence.

"Did you meet any fairies on your way?" asked Nanse, the housemaid. For
about half a minute Barney did not reply; but at length, looking about
him, he started--

"Eh? What's that? Who spoke to me?"

"Who spoke to you?" replied Nanse. "Why, I think you're beside yoursel'--I
did."

"What did you say, Nanse? I am beside myself."

There was now a sudden cessation in all the culinary operations, a
general pause, and a rapid congregating around Barney, who still sat
looking solemnly into the fire.

"Why, Barney, there's something strange over you," said the cook.
"Heaven help the poor boy; sure, it's a shame to be tormentin' him this
way; but in the name of goodness, Barney, and as you have a sowl to be
saved, will you tell us all? Stand back, Nanse, and don't be torturin'
the poor lad this way, as I said."

"Biddy," said Barney, his mind still wandering, and his eyes still fixed
on the fire--"Biddy, darlin', will you hand me that de-canther agin; I
find I'm not aquil to it. Heaven presarve us! Heaven presarve us! that's
it