almost entirely
flayed from his shoulders to his haunches, his eyes being represented
by two globular masses, about the size of billiard-balls, and his tail
bearing some affinity to an overgrown bamboo, as it hung down, jointed
and knotted, but totally destitute of hair.

"The thief of the world," said Kerry, as he patted him playfully; "he
stripped a trifle of hair off him with kicking; but a little gunpowder
and butter will bring it on again, in a day or two." "Liar that thou
art, Kerry--it would take a cask of one, and a firkin of the other to
make up the necessary ointment!"

There are some evils which no anticipation can paint equal to their
severity, and these, in compensation perhaps, are borne for the most
part, without the same violent exuberance of sorrow lesser misfortunes
elicit. So it was--Roach spoke not a word: one menace of his clenched
hand towards Kerry, was the only token he gave of his malice, and he
left the stable.

"I've a note here for Doctor Roach," said a servant, in Sir Marmaduke's
livery, to Kerry, as he proceeded to close and lock the stable-door.

"I'm the person," said the Doctor, taking the billet and breaking the
seal. "Have you the carriage here now?" asked he, when he had finished
reading.

"Yes, sir, it's on the road. Sir Marmaduke desired me not to drive up,
for fear of disturbing the sick gentleman."

"I'm ready, then," said the Doctor; "and never casting a look backward,
nor vouchsafing another word, he passed out of the gate, and descended
towards the high road.

"I'll take good care of the baste till I see you, sir," shouted Kerry
after him; and then, as the distance widened, he added, "and may I never
see your ould yallow wig agin, I pray this day. Divil take me, but I
hope you've some of the slugs in ye, after all;" and with these pious
wishes, expressed fervently, Kerry returned to the house, his heart
considerably lightened by the Doctor's departure.

Scarcely was he seated beside the kitchen fire--the asylum he regarded
as his own--when, all fears for his misconduct and its consequences
past, he began speculating in a very Irish fashion, on the reasons of
the Doctor's sudden departure.

"He's off now to 'the Lodge'--devil fear him--faix if he gets in there,
they'll not get him out so asy--they'll have a pain for every day of the
week before he leaves them. Well, well, thanks be to God, he's out of
this."

"Is he gone, Kerry?" said Mrs. Branagan. "Did he leave a