in. Oh, I know all this country;
I knew it well whin ayther of you wa'n't born!"

"God be thanked, you did, sir!" responded the gossoon, with fervent
admiration. He was a pleasant-looking lad in a ragged old coat and an
absolutely roofless hat, through which his bright hair waved in the
summer wind. "Och, but the folks 'll be looking out of all the doors
to see you come. I 'll be afther saying I never drove anny party with
so rich a heart; there ain't a poor soul that asked a pinny of us since
we left Bantry but she's got the shillin'. Look a' the flock coming
now, sir, out of that house. There's the four-legged lady that pays
the rint watchin' afther them from the door, too. They think you 're a
gintleman that's shootin', I suppose. 'T is Tom Flaherty's house, poor
crathur; he died last winter, God rest him; 'twas very inconvanient for
him an' every one at the time, wit' snow on the ground and a great dale
of sickness and distress. Father Daley, poor man, had to go to the
hospital in Dublin wit' himself to get a leg cut off, and we 'd nothing
but rain out of the sky afther that till all the stones in the road was
floatin' to the top."

"Son of old John Flaherty, I suppose?" asked the traveler, with a
knowing air, after he had given the eager children some pennies and
gingerbread, out of a great package. One of the older girls knew Nora
and climbed to the spare seat at her side to join the company. "Son of
old John Flaherty, I suppose, that was there before? There was
Flahertys there and I l'aving home more than thirty-five years ago."

"Sure there 's plinty Flahertys in it now, glory be to God!" answered
the charioteer, with enthusiasm. "I 'd have no mother meself but for
the Flahertys." He leaped down to lead the stumbling horse past a deep
rut and some loose stones, and beckoned the little girl sternly from
her proud seat. "Run home, now!" he said, as she obeyed: "I 'll give
you a fine drive an' I coming down the hill;" but she had joined the
travelers with full intent, and trotted gayly alongside like a little
dog.

The old passenger whispered to his companion that they 'd best double
the gossoon's money, or warm it with two, or three shillings extra, at
least, and Nora nodded her prompt approval. "The old folks are all
getting away; we 'd best give a bitteen to the young ones they 've left
afther them," said Uncle Patsy, by way of excuse. "Och, there's more
beggars between here and Queenstown t