ss
any man of a suitable kind who wanted to marry her. She had, on the
other hand, met a large number of people who praised, and a few who
abused her. She liked the flattery, and was pleased to be pointed out
as a person of importance. She regarded the abuse as a tribute to the
value of her work, knowing that all true prophets suffer under the evil
speaking of a censorious world. Latterly she had begun to consider
whether she might not secure the praise, without incurring the blame,
by writing novels of a different kind. With a view to perfecting a new
story of adventure and perfectly respectable love, she determined to
isolate herself for a couple of months. As certain Irishmen played a
part in her story, she fixed upon Connacht as the place of her
retirement, intending to study the romantic Celt on his native soil. A
house advertised in the columns of _The Field_ seemed to offer her the
opportunity she desired. She took it and the fishing attached to it;
having bargained with her uncle, Sir Gilbert Hawkesby, that she was to
be relieved of the duty of catching salmon, and that he should pay a
considerable part of the heavy rent demanded by the local agent.

CHAPTER II.

These are a few things better managed in Ireland than in England, and
one of them is the starting of important railway trains. The
departure, for instance, of the morning mail from the Dublin terminus
of the Midland and Great Western Railway is carried through, day after
day, with dignity. The hour is an early one, 7 a.m.; but all the chief
officiate of the company are present, tastefully dressed. There is no
fuss. Passengers know that it is their duty to be at the station not
later than a quarter to seven. If they have any luggage they arrive
still earlier, for the porters must not be hustled. At ten minutes to
seven the proper officials conduct the passengers to their carriages
and pen them in. Lest any one of independent and rebellious spirit
should escape, and insist on loitering about the platform, the doors of
the compartments are all locked. No Irishman resents this treatment.
Members of a conquered race, they are meek, and have long ago given up
the hope of being able to resist the mandates of official people.

Strangers, Englishmen on tour, are easily recognised by their
self-assertive demeanour and ill-bred offences against the solemn
etiquette of the railway company. Since it is impossible to teach
these people manne