the old one at once kindled to fever heat. "Thim was
times, your honour. Niver a week but we killed two sheep, or a month
that we didn't kill a baste. And pigs, your honour. If we didn't kill
a pig every day, as your honour says, we killed a matther of four
score every sayson. And there was lashings and lavings of mate for
every one. And the ould masther said, says he, 'As long as it's
there,' says he, 'all are welcome to a bite and a sup at my house. As
long as it's there,' says he. And he was the good man, your honour."

This was it. The present tenant's Celticised predecessor, whose glory
still fills the land, lived the life of an African chief. When ox,
sheep, or pig was slain, the choice morsels of the animal were perhaps
reserved for the chieftain's table, and the remainder of the carcase
was distributed among the tribe assembled in that part of the kraal
called the kitchen. Odds and ends of food were always on hand; and if
there was not much to eat at home there was always something to be had
at the chieftain's tent. Outside of the kitchen door was the stable
yard, knee deep in the accumulated filth of years, and the garden was
a wilderness. "But, your honour," said the Retainer, "it was the foine
gentleman he was, and it tuk three waggons to carry away the empty
champagne bottles when the new masther came, and long life to him and
to your honour; and I wish your honour safe home and welcome back."

Thus far the Retainer, who is fairly well cared for, and ought to be
satisfied whether he is or not; but it is otherwise with the
surrounding public. As the old order changes and gives place to the
new, the poorer tenants have seen one privilege depart from them after
the other. To the new occupant, however much inclined he may be to
deal liberally, nay, generously with the country folk, it appears
preposterous that a score or more of loafers should assist his
servants in "eating up his mutton." The new comer is prepared to deal
handsomely with the people, who with all their faults have endearing
qualities almost impossible to resist; but the fact is that he does
not understand the situation till it is too late. A good Scotch or
English housewife going into her kitchen and finding it so
inexpressibly dirty that her feet are literally rooted to the ground,
is apt to express a very decided opinion, despite the presence of a
dozen or more of gossips smoking their pipes round the fire; but her
remarks are hardly likely t