they overtook the rollicking _cortege_ of the Alderman
of Skinner's Alley upon the Dublin road, all singing and hallooing, and
crowing and shouting scraps of banter at one another, in which
recreations these professional mourners forthwith joined them; and they
cracked screaming jokes, and drove wild chariot races the whole way into
town, to the terror of the divine, whose presence they forgot, and whom,
though he shrieked from the window, they never heard, until getting out,
when the coach came to a stand-still, he gave Mr. Tressels a piece of
his mind, and that in so alarming a sort, that the jolly undertaker,
expressing a funereal concern at the accident, was obliged to explain
that all the noise came from the scandalous party they had so
unfortunately overtaken, and that 'the drunken blackguards had lashed
and frightened his horses to a runaway pace, singing and hallooing in
the filthy way he heard, it being a standing joke among such roisterers
to put quiet tradesmen of his melancholy profession into a false and
ridiculous position.' He did not convince, but only half puzzled the
ecclesiastic, who muttering, 'credat Judaeus,' turned his back upon Mr.
Tressels, with an angry whisk, without bidding him good-night.

Dr. Walsingham, with the aid of his guide, in the meantime, had reached
the little garden in front of the old house, and the gay tinkle of a
harpsichord and the notes of a sweet contralto suddenly ceased as he did
so; and he said--smiling in the dark, in a pleasant soliloquy, for he
did not mind John Tracy,--old John was not in the way--'She always hears
my step--always--little Lily, no matter how she's employed,' and the
hall-door opened, and a voice that was gentle, and yet somehow very
spirited and sweet, cried a loving and playful welcome to the old man.

CHAPTER III.

MR. MERVYN IN HIS INN.

The morning was fine--the sun shone out with a yellow splendour--all
nature was refreshed--a pleasant smell rose up from tree, and flower,
and earth. The now dry pavement and all the row of village windows were
glittering merrily--the sparrows twittered their lively morning gossip
among the thick ivy of the old church tower--here and there the village
cock challenged his neighbour with high and vaunting crow, and the bugle
notes soared sweetly into the air from the artillery ground beside the
river.

Moore, the barber, was already busy making his morning circuit, servant
men and maids were dropping i