irst time towards the magistrates delivered a flood of Irish, in which
we heard a word that sounded like _ullan_ often repeated.

"He says, yer worships," translated William, "why wouldn't he know her!
Hadn't she the _ullan_ on her! He says a poor man like him would know
one of the few sheep he has as well as yer worship'd know one o' yer own
gowns if it had sthrayed from ye."

It is probable that we looked some of the stupefaction that we felt at
this remarkable reference to Mr. Heraty's wardrobe.

"For the benefit of the general public," said Dr. Lyden, in his languid,
subtle brogue, with a side-glance at that body, "it may be no harm to
mention that the plaintiff is alluding to the Chairman's yearling calves
and not to his costume."

"Order now!" said Mr. Heraty severely.

"An' he says," continued William, warily purging his frog-countenance of
any hint of appreciation, "that Sweeny knew the _ullan_ that was on her
as well as himself did."

"_Ullan!_ What sort of English is that for an interpreter to be using!
Do ye suppose the general public knows what is an _ullan_?" interrupted
Mr. Heraty with lightning rapidity. "Explain that now!"

"Why, yer worship, sure anny one in the world'd know what the _ullan_ on
a sheep's back is!" said William, staggered by this sudden onslaught,
"though there's some might call it the _rebugh_."

"God help the Government that's payin' you wages!" said Mr. Heraty with
sudden and bitter ferocity (but did we intercept a wink at his
colleague?). "If it wasn't for the young family you're r'arin' in yer
old age, I'd commit ye for contempt of coort!"

A frank shout of laughter, from every one in court but the victim,
greeted this sally, the chorus being, as it were, barbed by a shrill
crow of whooping-cough.

"Mr. Byrne!" continued Mr. Heraty without a smile, "we must call upon
you again!"

Mr. Byrne's meek scholastic face once more appeared at the rood-screen.

"Well, I should say," he ventured decorously, "that the expression is
locally applied to what I may call a plume or a feather that is worn on
various parts of the sheep's back, for a mark, as I might say, of
distinction."

"Thank you, Mr. Byrne, thank you," said Mr. Heraty, to whose imagination
a vision of a plumed or feathered sheep seemed to offer nothing unusual,
"remember that now, William!"

Dr. Lyden looked at his watch.

"Don't you think Sweeny might go on with his defence?" he remarked.
"About the children, S