human
It was a very nice party, Mrs. D'Arcy,
gpt
Was there a supper?
human
There was plenty to eat and drink, if you mean that, but we did not waste our time sitting down. I hate having to sit down opposite to a great ham when I am in the full tide of my emotions.
gpt
There were emotions then?
human
Of course there were. What's the good of a ball without them? Fancy Captain Butler and no emotions, or Captain Clayton! Ask Ada if there were not. But as far as we were concerned, it was I who had the best of it. Captain Butler was my special man for the evening, and he had on a beautiful red jacket with gold buttons. You never saw anything so lovely. But Captain Clayton had just a simple black coat. That is so ugly, you know.
gpt
Is Captain Clayton Ada's special young man?
human
Most particularly special, is he not, Ada?
gpt
What nonsense you do talk, Edith. He is not my special young man at all. I'm afraid he won't be any young woman's special young man very long, if he goes on as he does at present. Do you hear what he did over at Ardfry? There was some cattle to be seized for rent, and all the people on that side of the country were there. Ever so many shots were fired, and poor Hunter got wounded in his shoulder.
human
He just had his skin raised,
gpt
And Captain Clayton got terribly mauled in the crowd. But he wouldn't fire a pistol at any of them. He brought some ringleader away prisoner,--he and two policemen. But they got all the cattle, and the tenants had to buy them back and pay their rent. When we try to seize cattle at Ballintubber they are always driven away to County Mayo. I do think that Captain Clayton is a real hero.
human
Of course he is, my dear; that's given up to him long ago,--and to you.
gpt
Upon my word, he said,
human
I think that this is hardly a fit time for giving balls.
gpt
Ginger should not be hot in the mouth,
human
You may put it in what language you like, but that is about what I mean. The people who go to the balls cannot in truth afford it.
gpt
That's the officers' look out.
human
And they are here on a very sad occasion. Everything is going to ruin in the country.
gpt
I won't be put down by Pat Carroll, said Edith.
human
He shall not be able to boast to himself that he has changed the natural course of my life.
gpt
He has changed it altogether.
human
You know what I mean. I am not going to yield to him or to any of them. I mean to hold my own against it as far as I can do so. I'll go to church, and to balls, and I'll visit my friends, and I'll eat my dinner every day of my life just as though Pat Carroll didn't exist. He's in prison just at present, and therefore so far we have got the best of him.
gpt
But we can't sell a head of cattle without sending it up to Dublin. And we can't find a man to take charge of it on the journey. We can't get a shilling of rent, and we hardly dare to walk about the place in the broad light of day lest we should be shot at. While things are in this condition it is no time for dancing at balls. I am so broken-hearted at the present moment that but for my father and for you I would cut the place and go to America.
human
Taking Rachel with you?
gpt
Rachel just now is as prosperous as we are the reverse. Rachel would not go. It is all very well for Rachel, as things are prosperous with her. But here we have the reverse of prosperity, and according to my feelings there should be no gaiety. Do you ever realise to yourself what it is to think that your father is ruined?
human
We ought not to have gone,
gpt
Never say die, said Edith, slapping her little hand down on the gunwale of the boat.
human
Morony Castle and Ballintubber belong to papa, and I will never admit that he is ruined because a few dishonest tenants refuse to pay their rents for a time. A man such as Pat Carroll can do him an injury, but papa is big enough to rise above that in the long run. At any rate I will live as becomes papa's daughter, as long as he approves and I have the power. Discussing these matters they reached the quay near Morony Castle, and Edith as she jumped ashore felt something of triumph in her bosom. She had at any rate succeeded in her object.
gpt
I am sure we were right to go,
human
This will be the last holiday for me, he had said to Edith at the ball,
gpt
You have not to complain deeply of yourself on that head.
human
I have had my share of fun in the world, he said;
gpt
Do you think they will convict him?
human
I think they will? I do think they will. We have got one of the men who is ready to swear that he assisted him in pulling down the gates.
gpt
Which of the men?
human
I will tell you because I trust you as my very soul. His own brother, Terry, is the man. Pat, it seems, is a terrible tyrant among his own friends, and Terry is willing to turn against him, on condition that a passage to America be provided for him. Of course he is to have a free pardon for himself. We do want one man to corroborate your brother's evidence. Your brother no doubt was not quite straight at first.
gpt
He lied, said Edith.
human
When you and I talk about it together, we should tell the simple truth. We have pardoned him his lie;--but he lied.
gpt
We have now the one man necessary to confirm his testimony.
human
But he is the brother.
gpt
No doubt. But in such a case as this anything is fair to get at the truth. And we shall employ no falsehoods. This younger Carroll was instigated by his brother to assist him in the deed. And he was seen by your brother to be one of those who assisted. It seems to me to be quite right.
human
It is very terrible,
gpt
Yes; it is terrible. A brother will have to swear against a brother, and will be bribed to do it. I know what will be said to me very well. They have tried to shoot me down like a rat; but I mean to get the better of them. And when I shall have succeeded in removing Mr. Pat Carroll from his present sphere of life, I shall have a second object of ambition before me. Mr. Lax is another gentleman whom I wish to remove. Three times he has shot at me, but he has not hit me yet.
human
He and I are equally eager, or at any rate equally anxious; he had said to Edith, speaking of her brother, when he had met her subsequent to the ball.
gpt
But the time is coming soon, and we shall know all about it in another six weeks.
human
Fashionable people always go out of town, father,
gpt
Then let us be fashionable.
human
Fashionable people go to Scotland, but they won't take one in there without money. We shan't have £50 left when our debts are paid. And £50 would do nothing for us.
gpt
They've stopped me altogether, said Mr. O'Mahony.
human
At any rate they have stopped the money-making part of the business. They have threatened to take the man's license away, and therefore that place is shut up.
gpt
Isn't that unjust, father?
human
Unjust! Everything done in England as to Ireland is unjust. They carried an Act of Parliament the other day, when in accordance with the ancient privileges of members it was within the power of a dozen stalwart Irishmen to stop it. The dozen stalwart Irishmen were there, but they were silenced by a brutal majority. The dozen Irishmen were turned out of the House, one after the other, in direct opposition to the ancient privileges; and so a Bill was passed robbing five million Irishmen of their liberties. So gross an injustice was never before perpetrated--not even when the bribed members sold their country and effected the accursed Union.
gpt
I know that was very bad, father, but the bribes were taken by Irishmen. Be that as it may, what are we to do with ourselves next autumn?
human
The only thing for us is to seek for assistance in the United States.
gpt
They won't lend us £100.
human
We must overrun this country by the force of true liberal opinion. The people themselves will rise when they have the Americans to lead them. What is wanted now are the voices of true patriots loud enough to reach the people.
gpt
And £100, said she, speaking into his ear,
human
For myself, I have been invited to come into Parliament. The County of Cavan will be vacant.
gpt
Is there a salary attached?
human
One or two leading Irish members are speaking of it, said Mr. O'Mahony, carried away by the grandeur of the idea,