r in the world. 'Tis what I mean. If
you have a head like that, you can go along blundering into ditches
and tumbling over your own shins, and still hold confidence in
yourself. 'Tis not very handsome for other men to see; but devil a bit
care you, for you are warm inside with complacence."

"Here is a philosopher, in God's truth," I cried. "And where were you
learning all this? In Ireland?"

"Your honour," said Paddy firmly, "you yourself are an Irishman. You
are not for saying there is no education in Ireland, for it educates a
man to see burning thatches and such like. One of them was my aunt's,
Heaven rest her!"

"Your aunt?" said I. "And what of your aunt? What have the English to
do with your aunt?"

"That's what she was asking them," said Paddy; "but they burned her
house down over a little matter of seventeen years' rent she owed to a
full-blooded Irishman, may the devil find him!"

"But I am for going on without an account of your burnt-thatch
education," said I. "You are having more than two opinions about the
English, and I would be hearing them. Seldom have I seen a man who
could gain so much knowledge in so short a space. You are interesting
me."

Paddy seemed pleased. "Well, your honour," said he confidentially,
"'tis true for you. I am knowing the English down to their toes."

"And if you were an Englishman, what kind of an Englishman would you
like to be?" said I.

"A gentleman," he answered swiftly. "A big gentleman!" Then he began
to mimic and make gestures in a way that told me he had made good use
of his eyes and of the society of underlings in the various inns.
"Where's me man? Send me man! Oh, here you are! And why didn't you
know I wanted you? What right have you to think I don't want you?
What? A servant dead? Pah! Send it down the back staircase at once and
get rid of it. Bedad!" said Paddy enthusiastically, "I could do that
fine!" And to prove what he said was true, he cried "Pah!" several
times in a lusty voice.

"I see you have quickly understood many customs of the time," said I.
"But 'tis not all of it. There are many quite decent people alive
now."

"'Tis strange we have never heard tell of them," said Paddy musingly.
"I have only heard of great fighters, blackguards, and beautiful
ladies, but sure, as your honour says, there must be plenty of quiet
decent people somewhere."

"There is," said I. "I am feeling certain of it, although I am not
knowing exactly where to lay my