d
Kilgobbin's portrait up there the last time I came through here.'

'Yes, indeed, sir,' said the man, smoothing down his hair and looking
apologetically. 'But the Goats and my lord, who was the Buck Goat, got into
a little disagreement, and they sent away his picture, and his lordship
retired from the club, and--and--that was the way of it.'

'A heavy blow to your town, I take it,' said the major, as he poured out
his beer.

'Well, indeed, your honour, I won't say it was. You see, sir, times
is changed in Ireland. We don't care as much as we used about the
"neighbouring gentry," as they called them once; and as for the lord,
there! he doesn't spend a hundred a year in Moate.'

'How is that?'

'They get what they want by rail from Dublin, your honour; and he might as
well not be here at all.'

'Can we have a car to carry us over to the castle?' asked Walpole, who did
not care to hear more of local grievances.

'Sure, isn't my lord's car waiting for you since two o'clock!' said the
host spitefully, for he was not conciliated by a courtesy that was to lose
him a fifteen-shilling fare. 'Not that there's much of a horse between the
shafts, or that old Daly himself is an elegant coachman,' continued the
host; 'but they're ready in the yard when you want them.'

The travellers had no reason to delay them in their present quarters, and
taking their places on the car, set out for the castle.

'I scarcely thought when I last drove this road,' said Walpole, 'that the
next time I was to come should be on such an errand as my present one.'

'Humph!' ejaculated the other. 'Our noble relative that is to be does not
shine in equipage. That beast is dead lame.'

'If we had our deserts, Lockwood, we should be drawn by a team of doves,
with the god Cupid on the box.'

'I'd rather have two posters and a yellow postchaise.'

A drizzling rain that now began to fall interrupted all conversation, and
each sank back into his own thoughts for the rest of the way.

Lord Kilgobbin, with his daughter at his side, watched the car from the
terrace of the castle as it slowly wound its way along the bog road.

'As well as I can see, Kate, there is a man on each side of the car,' said
Kearney, as he handed his field-glass to his daughter.

'Yes, papa, I see there are two travellers.'

'And I don't well know why there should be even one! There was no such
great friendship between us that he need come all this way to bid us
good-bye.'