f hawthorn, that were dotted about the
park, between the kennels and the river, were sending forth the
fragrance of their whiteness; the new green had come into the grass,
though it was almost smothered in the snow of daisies; primroses and
wild hyacinths had strayed from the little wood, and straggling down
the hillside, had joined hands and agreed, the first, to linger, the
latter, to hasten into blow, and so to share the month between them.
Just below, on the turn of the hill, was a big thicket of furze
bushes, more golden than gold, sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb. From Larry's woods across the Ownashee, the cuckoo's voice
came, as melodiously monotonous and as full of associations as the
bell of a village church. Silvery clouds were sailing very high in a
sky of thinnest, sweetest blue; little jets of sparkling sound, rising
and falling in it, bespoke the invisible, rapturous larks, tireless as
a playing fountain; and the sun blazed down on the boy and the girl
and the two little dogs seated there in the full of it.

Larry rolled over and over on the grass like a young colt.

"Oh, murder-in-Irish!" he groaned, in sheer ecstasy, "isn't it
gorgeous! I always forget how entirely stunning Ireland is, till I
come back to it!"

He could say no more, as both dogs had sprung from Christian's arms,
and were feverishly licking his face.

"Your own fault!" said Christian, answering his expostulations. "Kind
little things, they thought you asked for it."

"I repeat," said Larry, lying on his back, and holding off his
assailants with difficulty, "eliminating badly brought-up dogs, that
Ireland is the finest country in the world, and--listen to this,
Christian!--the Irish are the finest people, _and_ the worst
governed!"

"'The foinest pisanthry in Europe'!" said Christian, in gibing
exaggeration. "Larry, you've got awfully English!" Larry rolled over
and came into play again, sitting bolt upright; "I'm a Home Ruler!"

"Don't be absurd," said Christian, tranquilly.

"I'm not the least absurd," returned Larry. "I _mean_ it. If not
a Republican!" he added, ostentatiously, and began to chant:

"And Ireland shall be free,
From the centre to the sea,
And huzza for Libertee,
Says the Shan Van Voght!"

"I say, you remember the old companions of Finn? Well they're rolling
up again! I've started them at Oxford. Six members already! Two men in
my college, and--"

"English, of course!" interrupted Christia