ind you exchange no words with her," said I, "for 'tis that
which seems to work most wrongfully upon her."

"Never a word out of me," said he. "I'll be that busy getting up the
road."

There was another tumult in the corridor, with the same screeches by
one and the same humble protests by a multitude. The disturbance
neared us with surprising speed. Suddenly I recalled that when the
servant had retired after bringing food and drink I had neglected to
again bar the door. I rushed for it, but I was all too late. I saw the
latch raise. "Paddy!" I shouted wildly. "Mind yourself!" And with that
I dropped to the floor and slid under the bed.

Paddy howled, and I lifted a corner of the valance to see what was
transpiring. The door had been opened, and the Countess stood looking
into the room. She was no longer in a fiery rage; she was cool, deadly
determined, her glittering eye fixed on Paddy. She took a step
forward.

Paddy, in his anguish, chanted to himself an Irish wail in which he
described his unhappiness. "Oh, mother of me, and here I am caught
again by the old hell-cat, and sure the way she creeps toward me is
enough to put the fear of God in the heart of a hedge-robber, the
murdering old witch. And it was me was living so fine and grand in
England and greatly pleased with myself. Sorrow the day I left
Ireland; it is, indeed."

She was now close to him, and she seemed to be preparing for one
stupendous pounce which would mean annihilation to Paddy. Her lean
hands were thrust out, with the fingers crooked, and it seemed to me
that her fingers were very long. In despair Paddy changed his tune and
addressed her.

"Ah, now, alanna. Sure the kind lady would be for doing no harm? Be
easy, now, acushla."

But these tender appeals had no effect. Suddenly she pounced. Paddy
roared, and sprang backward with splendid agility. He seized a chair.

Now I am quite sure that before he came to England Paddy had never
seen a chair, although it is true that at some time in his life he may
have had a peep through a window into an Irish gentleman's house,
where there might be a chair if the King's officers in the
neighbourhood were not very ambitious and powerful. But Paddy handled
this chair as if he had seen many of them. He grasped it by the back
and thrust it out, aiming all four legs at the Countess. It was a fine
move. I have seen a moderately good swordsman fairly put to it by a
pack of scoundrelly drawers who assailed hi