pologise.'

'Then there's nothing for it but a meeting.'

'My mare is saddled and ready,' says I; 'where's the meeting, and who's
the Captain's second?'

'Your cousins go out with him,' answered Mr. Fagan.

'I'll ring for my groom to bring my mare round,' I said, 'as soon as you
have rested yourself.' Tim was accordingly despatched for Nora, and I
rode away, but I didn't take leave of Mrs. Barry. The curtains of
her bedroom windows were down, and they didn't move as we mounted and
trotted off... BUT TWO HOURS AFTERWARDS, you should have seen her as she
came tottering downstairs, and heard the scream which she gave as she
hugged her boy to her heart, quite unharmed and without a wound in his
body.

What had taken place I may as well tell here. When we got to the ground,
Ulick, Mick, and the Captain were already there: Quin, flaming in red
regimentals, as big a monster as ever led a grenadier company. The party
were laughing together at some joke of one or the other: and I must say
I thought this laughter very unbecoming in my cousins, who were met,
perhaps, to see the death of one of their kindred.

'I hope to spoil this sport,' says I to Captain Fagan, in a great rage,
'and trust to see this sword of mine in yonder big bully's body.'

'Oh! it's with pistols we fight,' replied Mr. Fagan. 'You are no match
for Quin with the sword.'

'I'll match any man with the sword,' said I.

'But swords are to-day impossible; Captain Quin is--is lame. He knocked
his knee against the swinging park-gate last night, as he was riding
home, and can scarce move it now.'

'Not against Castle Brady gate,' says I: 'that has been off the hinges
these ten years.' On which Fagan said it must have been some other
gate, and repeated what he had said to Mr. Quin and my cousins, when, on
alighting from our horses, we joined and saluted those gentlemen.

'Oh yes! dead lame,' said Ulick, coming to shake me by the hand, while
Captain Quin took off his hat and turned extremely red. 'And very lucky
for you, Redmond my boy,' continued Ulick; 'you were a dead man else;
for he is a devil of a fellow--isn't he, Fagan?'

'A regular Turk,' answered Fagan; adding, 'I never yet knew the man who
stood to Captain Quin.'

'Hang the business!' said Ulick; 'I hate it. I'm ashamed of it. Say
you're sorry, Redmond: you can easily say that.'

'If the young FELLER will go to DUBLING, as proposed'--here interposed
Mr. Quin.

'I am NOT sorry--I'll NOT apol