med by many of those who were most enthusiastic in the cause
of political reform. He had not previously met anyone who was likely to
accept the teaching of either Voltaire or Rousseau. His eyes wandered
from the busts to the book-case on which they had stood. It was well
filled, crammed with books. Neal could see them standing in close rows,
books of all sizes and thicknesses, but he could not read the names on
their backs. Peg Macllrea returned with his breakfast on a wooden tray.
She put it down in front of him and then set herself to entertain him
while he ate.

"Thon was a brave coup you gave the soger in the street," she said. "You
gripped him fine, the ugly devil. But you did na hurt him much. He was
up and off when they got us dragged from him, as hard as ever he could
lift a foot. You'll be fond of fighting?"

"So far," said Neal, "I have generally got the worst of it when I have
fought."

"Ay, you would. Your way of fighting is no just the canniest, but I
like you no the worse for it. You might have got off without thon bloody
clout on the top of your head if ye'd just clodded stones and then run
like the rest of them. But that's no your way of fightin'. Did ye ever
fight afore?"

"Just two nights ago," said Neal, "and I got the scrape on the side of
my face then."

"And was it for a lassie you were fightin' thon time? I see well by the
face of you that it was. And she liked you for it. Did she no? She'd
be a quare one that didna. Did she give you a kiss to make the scrab on
your face better? I wouldna think twice about giving you one myself only
you wouldn't have kisses from the likes of me. Be quiet now, and sup up
your tea. I willna have you offering to slabber ower my hand if that's
what you're after."

Neal, who had felt himself goaded to some act of gallantry, returned
sheepishly to his tea and toast.

"You're no a Belfast boy?" said Peg.

"No," said Neal, "I'm from Dunseveric, right away in the north of the
county."

"Ay, are you? Do you mind the old rhyme--

'County Antrim, men and horses,
County Down for bonny lasses.'

Maybe your lassie, the one that kissed you, was out of the County Down?"

"She was not," said Neal, unguardedly.

Peg Macllrea laughed with delight and clapped her hands.

"I knew rightly there was a lassie, and that she kissed you. Now you've
tellt me yourself. But I willna split on you, nor I willna let on that
you tellt on her. But I hope she's bonny, tho