I bid you and quickly. I
am away to London. I have had my plenty of you and your mad ladies."

We started bravely to London, but we only went to another and quieter
inn, seeking peace and the absence of fear. I may say we found it,
and, in a chair before a good fire, I again took my comfort. Paddy sat
on the floor, toasting his shins. The warmth passed him into a
reflective mood.

"And I know all I need of grand ladies," he muttered, staring into the
fire. "I thought they were all for riding in gold coaches and smelling
of beautiful flowers, and here they are mad to be chasing Irishmen in
inns. I remember old Mag Cooligan fought with a whole regiment of
King's troops in Bantry, and even the drums stopped beating, the
soldiers were that much interested. But, sure, everybody would be
knowing that Mag was no grand lady, although Pat Cooligan, her
brother, was pig-killer to half the country-side. I am thinking we
were knowing little about grand ladies. One of the soldiers had his
head broke by a musket because the others were so ambitious to destroy
the old lady, and she scratching them all. 'Twas long remembered in
Bantry."

"Hold your tongue about your betters," said I sharply. "Don't be
comparing this Mag Cooligan with a real Countess."

"There would be a strange similarity any how," said he. "But, sure,
Mag never fought in inns, for the reason that they would not be
letting her inside."

"Remember how little you are knowing of them, Paddy," said I. "'Tis
not for you to be talking of the grand ladies when you have seen only
one, and you would not be knowing another from a fish. Grand ladies
are eccentric, I would have you to know. They have their ways with
them which are not for omadhauns like you to understand."

"Eccentric, is it?" said he. "I thought it would be some such
devilment."

"And I am knowing," said I with dignity, "of one lady so fine that if
you don't stop talking that way of ladies I will break your thick
skull for you, and it would matter to nobody."

"'Tis an ill subject for discussion, I am seeing that," said Paddy.
"But, faith, I could free Ireland with an army of ladies like one I've
seen."

"Will you be holding your tongue?" I cried wrathfully.

Paddy began to mumble to himself,--"Bedad, he was under the bed fast
enough without offering her a stool by the fire and a small drop of
drink which would be no more than decent with him so fond of her. I am
not knowing the ways of these peopl