," said Fanny, brightening up a little, "that is some comfort."

It was soon after this conversation that the party ascended the old
crumbly stone steps of the great tower of the castle. After enjoying
the fine prospect from the summit for some time, Lord Clare inquired
for the famous Blarney Stone.

Rooney, the guide, a shrewd, smooth-tongued fellow, leaned over the
ruined parapet, and pointing to a stone, several feet below, replied,
"There it is, yer honor, the rale meraculous ould stone. Sure if your
lordship would so demane yourself as to kiss it, to-day, you would
never have any trouble in governing Irishmen at all. You would have
only to spake, and the spirit of fight and rebellion would leave them,
and they would be quiet as lambs."

"Indeed! that would be a miracle; but how am I to get at the stone?"

"Oh, that is aisy done. I'll hould your lordship by the heels and
swing you over just--all for half a crown, and as much more as yer
lordship is plased to give."

"O yes, I remember to have heard of your original way of showing up the
Blarney Stone," said Lord Clare, "but how can I be sure that you will
not raise your price before raising me. It strikes me that I have
heard of your once playing off that trick upon a tourist."

"Ah!" said Rooney, with a sly chuckle, "yer lordship alludes to a
mean-souled tailor, from London. He stood where yer lordship stands
for more nor an hour, beating me down from half a crown, my lawful fee,
to a shilling,--and me with seven children and the wife at home down
with the fever. At last, I gave in, and swung him over. He kissed the
stone, and then called to me to pull him up. 'Wait a bit, my man,'
says I, 'you gave me only a shilling for letting you down; it's a dale
harder job to pull you up. I must have half a crown for that same.'
With that, he began to swear and call me a chate, and threaten me with
the police. But I only said, 'my arms is givin' out, and I can't hold
on much longer, and if you won't pay me my just demand, I shall be
under the necessity of dropping yer acquaintance.' Then he began to
beg, for you see, he could look down and see the ugly rocks and the
black water more nor a hundred feet below him. But I told him he had
bothered so long, and given my arms such a strain, that I could not let
him up so aisy. At last, to save his neck, he promised me the half
guinea I asked, and paid it as soon as he set foot on the tower. I
know it was a big p