Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-14
The Irish Court.


Importation from home, and who-knowing
my intimacy with the household-ushered
me, abruptly and without notice, into the
drawing-room
The sight which there met my eyes was
striking and uncommon. Materfoniias, a
p0rtly dame, stood erect ID a ma jestic atti-
tuoe under a gas-lustre, courtesying and
smiling graciously but gravely at one of her
daughters. The stately condescension of her
manner seemed little exaggerated towards
her own child, who on her part, however,
seemed IN no degree less ceremonious, but
swept across the carpet, salaaming at every
stride, and keeping her full front assiduously
turned to the matron, just as the young May
moon may be observed to envisaQe the full
blown orb of day. The evolution was one
Of some difficulty, for the fair damsel's waist
was enclrcled IN an enormous counterpane,
which tralled at q great length along the
floor
| would have fancied that she had been
making an unwelc)me visit to the kitchen :,
ana that the cook, according to ancient usage,
had surreptitiously fastened s' dishclout,
to her tail -; but the size and weight Of the
appendage f0rbad such a surmise and
moreover, it was evident that she was not
conscious OF the Incumberance, for whilst
she moved, with her eyes still fixed deferen-
TALLY upon the mistress of ceremonies in the
middle OF the room, her right heel, " insid-
iously aside" employed itself in kicking the
quilt away to respectful distance, lest, be-
ing twisted about her limbs, it might i'm pede
the freedom of their course.
| Another blooming creature, SIMILARLY
equipped with what seemed an under-blank-
ct, stood at the opposite end of the room
q bor
| turn to take up the same ground and the
younger olive-plants, raised upon chairs by
the wall in mute admiration, contemplated
the whole proceeding through mouths and
eyes opened to the widest stretch of both.
Having heard in my younger days of Cata
lanl and her shawl dance it occur1 ed to me
that this might be a modern adaptation OF
that movement to an envelope OF another
and more familiar denomination. "Wh no
Knows quoth |, wittily to myself, Z. but
they may be doing Sir Roger de CouerIey in
a new figure ?''
So profoundly were the party absorbed in
| tie ceremonial, that | was able to take in
the whole OF 1t before the charming Dora
bella 1--WE called her Dolly in Tipperary) .,
finding her retreat cut short by a sudden
collision with my shins, uttered a little
shrek, and then, bursting into wild fit OF
laughter, appealed by an eloquent glance to
| her mother to explain the situation.
The matron did not accept the intrusion
quite as pleasantly as her daughter.
g Didn't tell you, Mick Rafferty," she
said, turning wrathtully upon the page,
50 that | wasn't at home to gentlemen any
day before three o'clock, and never to ladies,
till you got orders to pat on your button
jacket and wash your face ?''
The state of Mick's complexion was GER
tainly pri1'H (dcia evidence that he had not
been authorized to admit lady that morn
ing and | am bound to record that it want
ed a good hour and half of the time ap-
pointed for the other sex. He pleaded, how
ever, that there was - q difference between a
glntleman and a neighb0r; and be thought
Mr.. C0nnor (that's me) was free of the
house and welcome to run in and out at all
hours, az he knew me to do at Castle Brody
- 1t was my fault, my dear Mrs. Brody, >
! | exclaimed, willing to excuse the stammer-
ing youth, notwithstanding the Invidlous
distinction he had dawn between me and a
gentleman proper; 81 rushed by nv old
friend Mike, alter my thoughtless fashion,
without taking time to recollect that you are
a town lady now. But as l am here allow
me to ask, what new kind of a drill is this
at which find you employed p
Mrs. Brody was (and Is, am happy to
say) cheerful, good-tempered woman, with
no light perception OF the ridiculous: and
her brow being quickly smoothed of the an
cry wrinkle which had contracted it, she
broke out into hearty laugh.
- Why, ten, Rody Connor." she said
= since you must know, may as we'll tell
you, that the girls and myself are laid out to
be presented at the drawing-r00m tomorrow
evening. and I'm just now putting them
through their facinss, This drill. as you
say, is called kicking out the train -
. kicking out the train - [ cried in nv
ignorance - what. in the name of whatever
is courtly, is that, Mrs. Brody?''
& You must understands explained the
matron, g that lady has to appear in Dub
In Castle the same as at the Queens Court,
IN full dress, with as good as two yards of a
tail dragging after her over the carpet, into
: the roofu where the Lady Lift'nant stands tC
receive her company. But, my dear. that,
= not the worst Of it There is a circle, at
they call it, in that 1oom, only it is in th'
shape of half moon, drawn up on each sid,
OF her Excellency, composed of the Lore
Chancellor and his wife, the Primate anC
his lady, Judge and Juj re- ses to no end, IN,
|
with the Dean Of St. Patrick s, all the gran
J dees and little-ees who have the privilege O
the ongthree. There they stand one and all
winking and tttering among themselves, an,
staring at every young woman who passes II
at one door and out OF the other
" most trying ordeal | remarked. 60
s wish my young friends here safely over it.
o And what should hinder them, l.
70 IL Ia. IL.
D - They can do it as we'll as another, sup
pose. What did they learn dancing and de
, pertinent for, if they'd be afraid to wal
:, across the floor of the biggest room in Ire
: land -
Q q" My life on Miss Dorabella, at all events,
: said l. - After the stone wall she rode owe
at Coolairy, show me the bishop or the bish
e ops wife, either. that can stop her,
!, "Ah, but this is another place altogether
: Mr.. Connor,'' interjected the subject of IN
d prise. I'd sooner face the Pond at Bal
Y lnasloe on Mad Bess, than carry the tw
yards oil muslin ma was telling you of out {
( that ROOM
/. g Aye, that is the rub,' pursued the ma
It ron !; for when the gentleman at the doc
eff has spread out your train for you at the en-
Of of his stick, making it as wide as a peacock
Of tail, anybody might walk up to her Exec
" lency. or for that matter to her Majesty, wit
q, dignity and composure; but to get out
le that and vanish through the opposite doc
to without once showing your back to the pre-
Sc ence, or your profile to the carcle, and at tt
to same time not to tear off your skirt bodily
g or else trip up your own hees-that is VIII.
c. call the rub. 1t is not natural, but it mu
in be done; like many unnatural things ths
le people must do, who are determined to tax
y lead in this world
ID 81 now understand said |, 1" why your
a. ladies preparing for that presence must
D. instructed how to kick out their trains; ar
"a such was the exercise at which you We
at engaged when l so unseasonably broke
on upon you"
OK Yes, that was our mauoauvre," said Il