The Penn's Grove record., 1886-03-20
COUSIN LUCY.

Snow then, Darcy said | to my
companion, as we sat together IN ouI
rooms, overlooking the grounds of old
Trinity itself. "make up your mind at
once, man. The post won't wait for
us, and l must let them have yes OF
mo- in this letter. Say yes"
''I'm afraid L can't, Fitz," replied
Darcy thoughtfully, "You see there's
that examination coming on so soon;
and, if l go down to Lisnaree, It'll
throw me back a fortnight"
''Oh, bother the examination l
cried pettishly. you're quite safe for
that, l tell you. Why, man alive, a
little fresh air will make your head
clearer and help your chance! You've
got as much stuffed into that Uranium
of yours as you can well get into it for
awhile. You must give it rest if you
mean the seed to take root"
"There's something in that, Fitz-
gerald, replied Darcy, as he plucked
doubtingly on the few hairs that had
gathered on his chin. "But you see"
81 see that if you don't come this
time I'll never ask you again. Besides
I've promised Lucy l will bring you"
"WelI, as you've promised, and as it
might be a disappointment to your
cousin, why III go. But you must not
keep me over the fortnight, old fellow. :"
"All right" l replied as I wound up
my note to uncle with the news that
Darcy-of whom l had often talked
was coming with me to Lisnaree at
last.
"He's a capital fellow" I added by
way Of remark, "and Pm sure Lucy
will like him."
When the letter was finished, Darcy
and l strolled out towards Sackville
street to post it, and on the way l de-
scrlbed to him, as well as l could, the
kind Of a place he would find Lisnaree.
sit is the quietest little spot you
ever set foot in, old man." said |.
''The village contains about twenty
houses, stretched along the shore of a
small bay closed in by cliffs as high as
any in all Mayo. About a mile from
the village, looking down over a smaller
bay, lies Lisnaree House-the happiest
little place in the world"
swell, that will be something to
see," replied Darcy, with just a tinge
of bitterness in his tone. Happy
houses are few and far between"
81 don't know that" l ~rejoIned.
sat any rate, you'll find one at Lisna-
rec. And wait till Lucy begins to tease
you'll She'll soon rouse you out of your
misanthropy, 1 can tell youl'
"You mustn't call truth misanthropy,
o1I fa1IOuy - ha ranIiaA with a Dniaf
smile. "But here we are at the post
Office. Toss in your letter. and come
along and help me to buy a few of those
things no young gentleman should be
without-gloves and necktles. I do
believe l haven't a tie in all the world,
except the n Pm wearing; and, as for
gloves, the only pair | possess have lain
SC long in my tail pocket that l must
have grown out of them"
swell, l believe, if you bought as
rev books as you do ties, you'd be able
to save half your allowance" 1 replied,
with a laugh, as / tossed my letter into
the box and turned with him to pro-
cure the articles he required.
Two days later Darcy and | had left
Dublin far behind, and were rolling
away to the west, through the rich
pastures and fat lands that bound the
greater part of the way until long after
the Shannon is passed. When Castle
bar was reached, we had a hurried
luncheon, and then, too impatient to
wait TIL the morrow, we hired a car
and started off for Lisnaree.
1t was long after midnight when we
reached Llsnaree, to find the whole
village In darkness. Soon however we
found the onepublic-house i'll the place,
and reused its inmates. When we had
refreshed ourselves we determined to
stay there for the night and walk over
to the house in the morning,
To this at first the landlord objected
but, when he learned that 1 was the
masters" nephew, he was willing to
place all the beds in the house at my
service.
"Ah, sure then an it's meself that'd
give the very clothes off me back to
wan of the Fitzgeraldsp' he exclaimed.
"'Deed an every bed in the house is at
your service. Then, raising his voice
-''Biddy, Mary, get up an stir your
selves. Here's a nephew of the mas
ter's come to stay with us tonight.
Get the big bed in the front room ready
at wanst."
After breakfast, in which a fish just
dragged from the sea before the door
played no unimportant part, we shook
hands with the landlord and set out to
walk to the house.
At a point halfway between the viii
lage and the house, and where both
were visible at once, we paused a mo-
ment or two.
Look here, old fellow, " said Darcy,
as he gripped my hand tightly with bis
while his face shone with pleasure-"I
feel as if | could fly! I'll never forget
this mornings walk as long as l live I"
''Oh. YES. you Willlp [ replied laugh