tant view of chimneys apprised us we were approaching Ennis.
Notwithstanding all my wishes to get on as fast as might be, I found it
impossible to resist an invitation to dine that day with the Rooneys,
who had engaged a small select party at the Head Inn, where Mrs.
Rooney's apartments were already awaiting her.

It was dusk when we arrived, and I could only perceive that the gloomy
and narrow streets were densely crowded with country-people, who
conversed together in groups. Here and there a knot of legal folk were
congregated, chatting in a louder tone; and before the court-house stood
the carriage of the chief-justice, with a guard of honour of the county
yeomanry, whose unsoldierlike attitudes and droll equipments were
strongly provocative of laughter. The postillions, who had with true
tact reserved a 'trot for the town,' whipped and spurred with all their
might; and as we drove through the thronged streets a changed impression
fled abroad that we were the bearers of a reprieve, and a hearty cheer
from the mob followed us to our arrival at the inn door--a compliment
which Mrs. Paul, in nowise attributing to anything save her own peculiar
charms and deserts, most graciously acknowledged by a smile and a wave
of her hand, accompanied by an unlimited order for small beer--which
act of grace was, I think, even more popular than their first impression
concerning us.

'Ah, Captain,' said the lady, with a compassionate smile, as I handed
her out of the carriage, 'they are so attached to the aristocracy!'

CHAPTER XLIII. THE ASSIZE TOWN

When I had dressed, I found that I had above an hour to spare before
dinner; so taking my hat I strolled out into the town. The streets were
even more crowded now than before. The groups of country-people were
larger, and as they conversed together in their native tongue, with
all the violent gesticulation and energetic passion of their nature, an
inexperienced spectator might well have supposed them engaged in active
strife. Now and then a kind of movement, a species of suppressed murmur
from the court-house, would turn every eye in that direction; and then
every voice was hushed, not a man moved. It was evident that some trial
of the deepest interest was going forward, and on inquiry I learned that
it was a murder case, in which six men were concerned. I heard also that
the only evidence against them was from one of their own party, who
had turned, as the lawyers term it, 'appr