f popular feeling; for now they all chimed in
with--

"Arrah, he's a good man after all; sure 'tis only a way he
has"--sentiments which increased in fervency as Sir Archibald took a
tolerably well-filled purse from his pocket, and drew out some silver
into his hand, many exclaiming--

"'Tis the kind heart often has the hard word; and sure ye can see in his
face he isn't cruel.'

"Hear till me," cried Sir Archy aloud, as he held up a shilling before
their wistful eyes, "there's mony a ane among ye, able to earn siller.
Which o' ye now will step down to Killarney, and tell the docter he's
wanted up here wi a' despatch? Ye maun go fast and bring him, or send
him here to-night; and if ye do, I'll gie ye this piece o' siller money
when ye come back."

A general groan from that class whose age and infirmities placed them
out of the reach of competitorship, met this speech, while from the
more able section, a not less unequivocal expression of discontent broke
forth.

"Down to Killarney," cried one; "begorra, I wonder ye didn't say Kenmare
when ye war about it--the devil a less than ten miles it is."

"Eyah! I'll like to see my own four bones going the same road; sorra a
house the whole way where there's a drop of milk or a pratie."

"That's the charity to the poor, I suppose," said the fat fellow of the
night-cap. "'Tis wishing it I am, the same charity."

"We wor to bring the doctor on our back, I hope," said a cripple in a
bowl.

"Did ever man hear or see the like o' this?" exclaimed M'Nab, as with
uplifted hands he stared in wonderment around him. "One wad na believe
it."

"True for you, honey," joined in one of the group. "I'm fifty-three
years on the road, and I never heerd of any one askin' us to do a hand's
turn, afore."

"Out of my sight, ye worthless ne'er-do-weels; awa wi ye at once and for
ever. I'll send twenty miles round the country, but I'll hae a mastiff
here, 'ill worry the first o' ye that dares to come near the house."

"On my conscience, it will push you hard to find a wickeder baste nor
yourself."

"Begorra, he won't be uglier any how."

And with these comments, and the hearty laughter that followed, the
tattered and ragged group defiled out of the yard with all the honours
of war, leaving Sir Archy alone, overwhelmed with astonishment and
anger.

A low chuckling laugh, as the sash was closed over head, made him look
up, and he just caught a glimpse of O'Donoghue as he retired from th