IshallneverforgetmyfirstintroductiontocountrylifeinIreland，myfirstday’shuntingthere，orthemannerinwhichI
　　passedtheeveningafterwards。NorshallIeverceasetobegratefulforthehospitalitywhichIreceivedfromtheO’ConorsofCastleConor。Myacquaintancewiththefamilywasfirstmadeinthefollowingmanner。ButbeforeIbeginmystory，letmeinformmyreaderthatmynameisArchibaldGreen。
　　IhadbeenforafortnightinDublin，andwasabouttoproceedintocountyMayoonbusinesswhichwouldoccupymethereforsomeweeks。
　　Myhead—quarterswould，Ifound，beatthetownofBallyglass；andI
　　soonlearnedthatBallyglasswasnotaplaceinwhichIshouldfindhotelaccommodationofaluxuriouskind，ormuchcongenialsocietyindigenoustotheplaceitself。
　　"Butyouareahuntingman，yousay，"saidoldSirP—C—；"andinthatcaseyouwillsoonknowTomO’Conor。Tomwon’tletyoubedull。
　　I’dwriteyoualettertoTom，onlyhe’llcertainlymakeyououtwithoutmytakingthetrouble。"
　　Ididthinkatthetimethattheoldbaronetmighthavewrittentheletterforme，ashehadbeenafriendofmyfather’sinformerdays；
　　buthedidnot，andIstartedforBallyglasswithnootherintroductiontoanyoneinthecountythanthatcontainedinSirP—’spromisethatIshouldsoonknowMr。ThomasO’Conor。
　　Ihadalreadyprovidedmyselfwithahorse，groom，saddleandbridle，andtheseIsentdown，enavant，thattheBallyglassiansmightknowthatIwassomebody。Perhaps，beforeIarrivedTomO’Conormightlearnthatahuntingmanwascomingintotheneighbourhood，andI
　　mightfindattheinnapolitenoteintimatingthatabedwasatmyserviceatCastleConor。IhadheardsomuchofthefreehospitalityoftheIrishgentryastoimaginethatsuchathingmightbepossible。
　　ButIfoundnothingofthekind。HuntinggentlemeninthosedayswereverycommonincountyMayo，andonehorsewasnogreatevidenceofaman’sstandingintheworld。MenthereasIlearntafterwards，aresoughtforthemselvesquiteasmuchastheyareelsewhere；andthoughmygroom’stop—bootswereneat，andmyhorseaverytidyanimal，myentryintoBallyglasscreatednosensationwhatever。
　　Inaboutfourdaysaftermyarrival，whenIwasalreadyinfinitelydisgustedwiththelittlePot—houseinwhichIwasforcedtostay，andhadmadeupmymindthatthepeopleincountyMayowereachurlishset，Isentmyhorseontoameetofthefox—hounds，andfollowedaftermyselfonanopencar。
　　Noonebutanerraticfox—huntersuchasIam，——afox—hunter，Imean，whoselotithasbeentowanderaboutfromonepackofhoundstoanother，——canunderstandthemelancholyfeelingwhichamanhaswhenhefirstintrudeshimself，unknownbyanyone，amonganentirelynewsetofsportsmen。Whenastrangerfallsthusasitwereoutofthemoonintoahunt，itisimpossiblethatmenshouldnotstareathimandaskwhoheis。Anditissodisagreeabletobestaredat，andtohavesuchquestionsasked！ThisfeelingdoesnotcomeuponamaninLeicestershireorGloucestershirewherethenumbersarelarge，andastrangerortwowillalwaysbeoverlooked，butinsmallhuntingfieldsitissopainfulthatamanhastopluckupmuchcouragebeforeheencountersit。
　　WemetonthemorninginquestionatBingham’sGrove。Therewerenotabovetwelveorfifteenmenout，allofwhom，ornearlyallwerecousinstoeachother。TheyseemedtobeallToms，andPats，andLarrys，andMicks。Iwasdoneupveryknowinglyinpink，andthoughtthatIlookedquitethething，butfortwoorthreehoursnobodynoticedme。
　　Ihadmyeyesaboutme，however，andsoonfoundoutwhichofthemwasTomO’Conor。Hewasafine—lookingfellow，thinandtall，butnotlargelymade，withapiercinggrayeye，andabeautifulvoiceforspeakingtoahound。Hehadtwosonstherealso，short，slightfellows，butexquisitehorsemen。IalreadyfeltthatIhadakindofacquaintancewiththefather，butIhardlyknewonwhatgroundtoputinmyclaim。
　　Wehadnosportearlyinthemorning。ItwasacoldbleakFebruaryday，withoccasionalstormsofsleet。Werodefromcovertocover，butallinvain。"Iamsorry，sir，thatwearetohavesuchabadday，asyouareastrangerhere，"saidonegentlemantome。ThiswasJackO’Conor，Tom’seldestson，mybosomfriendformanyayearafter。PoorJack！IfearthattheEncumberedEstatesCourtsenthimaltogetheradriftupontheworld。
　　"WemaystillhavearunfromPoulnaroe，ifthegentlemanchoosestocomeon，"saidavoicecomingfrombehindwithasharptrot。ItwasTomO’Conor。
　　"Whereverthehoundsgo，I’llfollow，"saidI。
　　"ThencomeontoPoulnaroe，"saidMr。O’Conor。Itrottedonquicklybyhisside，andbeforewereachedthecoverhadmanagedtoslipinsomethingaboutSirP。C。
　　"Whatthedeuce！"saidhe。"What！afriendofSirP—’s？Whythedeucedidn’tyoutellmeso？Whatareyoudoingdownhere？Whereareyoustaying？"&c。&c。&c。
　　AtPoulnaroewefoundafox，butbeforewedidsoMr。O’ConorhadaskedmeovertoCastleConor。Andthishedidinsuchawaythattherewasnopossibilityofrefusinghim——or，Ishouldrathersay，ofdisobeyinghim。Forhisinvitationcamequiteinthetoneofacommand。
　　"You’llcometousofcoursewhenthedayisover——andletmesee；
　　we’renearBallyglassnow，buttherunwillberightawayinourdirection。JustsendwordforthemtosendyourthingstoCastleConor。"
　　"Butthey’reallabout，andunpacked，"saidI。
　　"Nevermind。Writeanoteandsaywhatyouwantnow，andgoandgettherestto—morrowyourself。Here，Patsey！——Patsey！runintoBallyglassforthisgentlemanatonce。Nowdon’tbelong，forthechancesareweshallfindhere。"Andthen，aftergivingsomefurtherhurriedinstructionsheleftmetowritealineinpenciltotheinnkeeper’swifeonthebackofaditch。
　　ThisIaccordinglydid。"Sendmysmallportmanteau，"Isaid，"andallmyblackdressclothes，andshirts，andsocks，andallthat，andaboveallmydressingthingswhichareonthelittletable，andthesatinneck—handkerchief，andwhateveryoudo，mindyousendmyPUMPS；"andIunderscoredthelatterword；forJackO’Conor，whenhisfatherleftme，wentonpressingtheinvitation。"Mysistersaregoingtogetupadance，"saidhe；"andifyouarefondofthatkindofthingsperhapswecanamuseyou。"NowinthosedaysIwasveryfondofdancing——andveryfondofyoungladiestoo，andthereforegladenoughtolearnthatTomO’Conorhaddaughtersaswellassons。
　　OnthisaccountIwasveryparticularinunderscoringthewordpumps。
　　"Andhurry，youyoungdivil，"JackO’ConorsaidtoPatsey。
　　"Ihavetoldhimtotaketheportmanteauoveronacar，"saidI。
　　"Allright；thenyou’llfinditthereonourarrival。"
　　Wehadanexcellentrun，inwhichImaymakeboldtosaythatIdidnotacquitmyselfbadly。Istuckveryclosetothehounds，asdidthewholeoftheO’Conorbrood；andwhenthefellowcontrivedtoearthhimself，ashedid，Ireceivedthosecomplimentsonmyhorse，whichisthemostapprovedpraisewhichonefox—hunterevergivestoanother。
　　"We’llbuythatfellowofyoubeforeweletyougo，"saidPeter，theyoungestson。
　　"Iadviseyoutolooksharpafteryourmoneyifyousellhimtomybrother，"saidJack。
　　AndthenwetrottedslowlyofftoCastleConor，which，however，wasbynomeansneartous。"Wehavetenmilestogo；——goodIrishmiles，"saidthefather。"Idon’tknowthatIeverrememberafoxfromPoulnaroetakingthatlinebefore。"
　　"Hewasn’taPoulnaroefox，"saidPeter。
　　"Idon’tknowthat；"saidJack；andthentheydebatedthatquestionhotly。
　　Ourhorseswereverytired，anditwaslatebeforewereachedMr。
　　O’Conor’shouse。Thatgettinghomefromhuntingwithathoroughlywearyanimal，whohasnolongersympathyorexampletocarryhimon，isverytediouswork。InthepresentinstanceIhadcompanywithme；
　　butwhenamanisalone，whenhishorsetoesateverytensteps，whenthenightisdarkandtherainpouring，andthereareyeteightmilesofroadtobeconquered，——atsuchtimeamanisalmostapttoswearthathewillgiveuphunting。
　　AtlastwewereintheCastleConorstableyard；——forwehadapproachedthehousebysomebackway；andasweenteredthehousebyadoorleadingthroughawildernessofbackpassages，Mr。O’Conorsaidoutloud，"Now，boys，rememberIsitdowntodinnerintwentyminutes。"Andthenturningexpresslytome，helaidhishandkindlyuponmyshoulderandsaid，"IhopeyouwillmakeyourselfquiteathomeatCastleConor，andwhateveryoudo，don’tkeepuswaitingfordinner。Youcandressintwentyminutes，Isuppose？"
　　"Inten！"saidI，glibly。
　　"That’swell。JackandPeterwillshowyouyourroom，"andsoheturnedawayandleftus。
　　Mytwoyoungfriendsmadetheirwayintothegreathall，andthenceintothedrawing—room，andIfollowedthem。Wewerealldressedinpink，andhadwadeddeepthroughbogandmud。IdidnotexactlyknowwhitherIwasbeingledinthisguise，butIsoonfoundmyselfinthepresenceoftwoyoungladies，andofagirlaboutthirteenyearsofage。
　　"Mysisters，"saidJack，introducingmeverylaconically；"MissO’Conor，MissKateO’Conor，MissTizzyO’Conor。"
　　"MynameisnotTizzy，"saidtheyounger；"it’sEliza。Howdoyoudo，sir？Ihopeyouhadafinehunt！Waspapawellup，Jack？"
　　Jackdidnotcondescendtoanswerthisquestion，butaskedoneoftheeldergirlswhetheranythinghadcome，andwhetheraroomhadbeenmadereadyforme。
　　"Ohyes！"saidMissO’Conor；"theycame，Iknow，forIsawthembroughtintothehouse；andIhopeMr。Greenwillfindeverythingcomfortable。"AsshesaidthisIthoughtIsawaslightsmilestealacrossherremarkablyprettymouth。
　　Theywerebothexceedinglyprettygirls。Fannytheelderworelongglossycurls，——forIwrite，ohreader，ofbygonedays，aslongagoasthat，whenladiesworecurlsifitpleasedthemsotodo，andgentlemendancedinpumps，withblackhandkerchiefsroundtheirnecks，——yes，longblack，ornearlyblacksilkencurls；andthenshehadsucheyes；——Ineverknewwhethertheyweremostwickedormostbright；andherfacewasalldimples，andeachdimplewasladenwithlaughterandladenwithlove。Katewasprobablytheprettiergirlofthetwo，butonthewholenotsoattractive。Shewasfairerthanhersister，andworeherhairinbraids；andwasalsosomewhatmoredemureinhermanner。
　　InspiteofthespecialinjunctionsofMr。O’Conorsenior，itwasimpossiblenottoloiterforfiveminutesoverthedrawing—roomfiretalkingtothesehouris——moreespeciallyasIseemedtoknowthemintimatelybyintuitionbeforehalfofthefiveminuteswasover。
　　Theyweresoeasy，sopretty，sograceful，sokind，theyseemedtotakeitsomuchasamatterofcoursethatIshouldstandtheretalkinginmyredcoatandmuddyboots。
　　"Well；dogoanddressyourselves，"atlastsaidFanny，pretendingtospeaktoherbrothersbutlookingmoreespeciallyame。"Youknowhowmadpapawillbe。AndrememberMr。Green，weexpectgreatthingsfromyourdancingto—night。YourcomingjustatthistimeissuchaGodsend。"Andagainthatsoupconofasmilepassedoverherface。
　　Ihurrieduptomyroom，PeterandJackcomingwithmetothedoor。
　　"Iseverythingright？"saidPeter，lookingamongthetowelsandwater—jugs。"They’vegivenyouadecentfireforawonder，"saidJack，stirringuptheredhotturfwhichblazedinthegrate。"Allrightasatrivet，"saidI。"Andlookalivelikeagoodfellow，"
　　saidJack。Wehadscowledateachotherinthemorningasveryyoungmendowhentheyarestrangers；andnow，afterafewhours，wewereintimatefriends。
　　Iimmediatelyturnedtomywork，andwasgratifiedtofindthatallmythingswerelaidoutreadyfordressing；myportmanteauhadofcoursecomeopen，asmykeyswereinmypocket，andthereforesomeoftheexcellentservantsofthehousehadbeenabletosavemeallthetroubleofunpacking。Therewasmyshirthangingbeforethefire；myblackclotheswerespreaduponthebed，mysocksandcollarandhandkerchiefbesidethem；mybrusheswereonthetoilettable，andeverythingpreparedexactlyasthoughmyownmanhadbeenthere。Hownice！
　　Iimmediatelywenttoworkatgettingoffmyspursandboots，andthenproceededtoloosenthebuttonsatmyknees。IndoingthisI
　　satdowninthearm—chairwhichhadbeendrawnupforme，oppositethefire。Butwhatwastheobjectonwhichmyeyesthenfell；——theobjectsIshouldrathersay！
　　Immediatelyinfrontofmychairwasplaced，justreadyformayfeet，anenormouspairofshooting—boots——half—bootsmadetolaceuproundtheankles，withthickdoubleleathersoles，andeachbearinghalfastoneofironintheshapeofnailsandheel—pieces。IhadsuperintendedthemakingoftheseshoesinBurlingtonArcadewiththegreatestdiligence。Iwasneveragoodshot；and，likesomeothersportsmen，intendedtomakeupformydeficiencyinperformancebytheexcellenceofmyshootingapparel。"Thosenailsarenotlargeenough，"Ihadsaid；"nornearlylargeenough。"Butwhenthebootscamehometheystruckevenmeasbeingtooheavy，toometalsome。
　　"He，he，he，"laughedthebootboyasheturnedthemupformetolookat。Itmaythereforebeimaginedofwhatnaturewerethearticleswhichwerethussetoutfortheevening’sdancing。
　　Andthenthewayinwhichtheywereplaced！WhenIsawthistheconvictionflewacrossmymindlikeaflashoflightningthatthepreparationhadbeenmadeunderothereyesthanthoseoftheservant。
　　Theheavybigbootswereplacedsoprettilybeforethechair，andthestringsofeachweremadetodangledownatthesides，asthoughjustreadyfortying！Theyseemedtosay，thebootsdid，"Now，makehaste。Weatanyrateareready——youcannotsaythatyouwerekeptwaitingforus。"Nomereservant’shandhadeverenabledapairofbootstolaughatonesocompletely。
　　ButwhatwasItodo？Irushedatthesmallportmanteau，thinkingthatmypumpsalsomightbethere。Thewomansurelycouldnothavebeensuchafoolastosendmethosetonsofironformyeveningwear！But，alas，alas！nopumpswerethere。Therewasnothingelseinthewayofcoveringformyfeet；notevenapairofslippers。
　　AndnowwhatwasItodo？Theabsolutemagnitudeofmymisfortuneonlyloomeduponmebydegrees。ThetwentyminutesallowedbythatsternoldpaterfamiliaswerealreadygoneandIhaddonenothingtowardsdressing。AndindeeditwasimpossiblethatIshoulddoanythingthatwouldbeofavail。Icouldnotgodowntodinnerinmystockingfeet，norcouldIputonmyblackdresstrousers，overapairofmud—paintedtop—boots。Asforthoseiron—soledhorrors——；
　　andthenIgaveoneofthemakickwiththesideofmybarefootwhichsentithalfwayunderthebed。
　　ButwhatwasItodo？Ibeganwashingmyselfandbrushingmyhairwiththishorridweightuponmymind。Myfirstplanwastogotobed，andsenddownwordthatIhadbeentakensuddenlyillinthestomach；thentoriseearlyinthemorningandgetawayunobserved。
　　ButbysuchacourseofactionIshouldloseallchanceofanyfurtheracquaintancewiththoseprettygirls！Thattheywerealreadyawareoftheextentofmypredicament，andwerenowenjoyingit——ofthatIwasquitesure。
　　WhatifIboldlyputontheshooting—boots，andclattereddowntodinnerinthem？WhatifItookthebullbythehorns，andmade，myself，themostofthejoke？Thismightbeverywellforthedinner，butitwouldbeabadjokeformewhenthehourfordancingcame。And，alas！IfeltthatIlackedthecourage。Itisnoteverymanthatcanwalkdowntodinner，inastrangehousefullofladies，wearingsuchbootsasthoseIhavedescribed。
　　ShouldInotattempttoborrowapair？This，alltheworldwillsay，shouldhavebeenmyfirstidea。ButIhavenotyetmentionedthatI
　　ammyselfalarge—bonedman，andthatmyfeetareespeciallywelldeveloped。IhadneverforamomententertainedahopethatIshouldfindanyoneinthathousewhosebootIcouldwear。ButatlastI
　　rangthebell。IwouldsendforJack，andifeverythingfailed，I
　　wouldcommunicatemygrieftohim。
　　Ihadtoringtwicebeforeanybodycame。Theservants，Iwellknew，wereputtingthedinneronthetable。Atlastamanenteredtheroom，dressedinrathershabbyblack，whomIafterwardslearnedtobethebutler。
　　"Whatisyourname，myfriend？"saidI，determinedtomakeanallyoftheman。
　　"Myname？WhyLarrysure，yerhoner。Andthemastherisoutofhissinsesinahurry，becaseyerhonerdon’tcomedown。"
　　"Ishethough？Wellnow，Larry；tellmethis；whichofallthegentlemeninthehousehasgotthelargestfoot？"
　　"Isitthelargestfoot，yerhoner？"saidLarry，altogethersurprisedbymyquestion。
　　"Yes；thelargestfoot，"andthenIproceededtoexplaintohimmymisfortune。Hetookupfirstmytop—boot，andthentheshooting—
　　boot——inlookingatwhichhegazedwithwonderatthenails；——andthenheglancedatmyfeet，measuringthemwithhiseye；andafterthishepronouncedhisopinion。
　　"Yerhonercouldn’twearamorselofleatherbelongingtoereaoneof’em，youngorould。ThereniverwasafootlikethatyetamongtheO’Conors。"
　　"Butaretherenostrangersstayinghere？"
　　"There’sthreeorfouron’emcomeintodinner；butthey’llbewantingtheirownbootsI’mthinking。Andthere’syoungMistherDillon；he’scometostay。ButLordloveyou——"andheagainlookedattheenormousextentwhichlaybetweentheheelandthetoeoftheshootingapparatuswhichhestillheldinhishand。"Iniverseesuchafootasthatinthewholebarony，"hesaid，"barringmyown。"
　　NowLarrywasalargeman，muchlargeraltogetherthanmyself，andashesaidthisIlookeddowninvoluntarilyathisfeet；orratherathisfoot，forashestoodIcouldonlyseeone。Andthenasuddenhopefilledmyheart。Onthatfootthereglitteredashoe——notindeedsuchasweremyownwhichwerenowrestingingloriouslyatBallyglasswhiletheyweresosorelyneededatCastleConor；butonewhichIcouldwearbeforeladies，withoutshame——andinmypresentframeofmindwithinfinitecontentment。
　　"Letmelookatthatoneofyourown，"saidItotheman，asthoughitweremerelyasubjectforexperimentalinquiry。Larry，accustomedtoobedience，tookofftheshoeandhandedittome。
　　Myownfootwasimmediatelyinit，andIfoundthatitfittedmelikeaglove。
　　"Andnowtheother，"saidI——notsmiling，forasmilewouldhaveputhimonhisguard；butsomewhatsternly，sothatthathabitofobedienceshouldnotdeserthimatthisperilousmoment。AndthenI
　　stretchedoutmyhand。
　　"Butyerhonercan’tkeep’em，youknow，"saidhe。"Ihaven’ttheghostofanothershoetomyfeet。"ButIonlylookedmoresternlythanbefore，andstillheldoutmyhand。Customprevailed。Larrystoopeddownslowly，lookingatmethewhile，andpullingofftheotherslipperhandedittomewithmuchhesitation。Alas！asIputittomyfootIfoundthatitwasold，andworn，andirredeemablydownatheel；——thatitwasinfactnocounterpartatalltothatotheronewhichwastododutyasitsfellow。ButneverthelessIputmyfootintoit，andfeltthatadescenttothedrawing—roomwasnowpossible。
　　"Butyerhonerwillgive’embacktoapoorman？"saidLarryalmostcrying。"Themasther’smadthisminutebecasethedinner’snotup。
　　GlorytoGod，onlylisthentothat！"Andashespokeatremendouspealrangoutfromsomebelldownstairsthathadevidentlybeenshakenbyanangryhand。
　　"Larry，"saidI——andIendeavouredtoassumealookofverygraveimportanceasIspoke——"Ilooktoyoutoassistmeinthismatter。"
　　"Och——wirrasthruethen，andwillyouletmego？justlisthentothat，"andanotherangrypealrangout，loudandrepeated。
　　"IfyoudoasIaskyou，"Icontinued，"youshallbewellrewarded。
　　Lookhere；lookattheseboots，"andIhelduptheshooting—shoesnewfromBurlingtonArcade。"Theycostthirtyshillings——thirtyshillings！andIwillgivethemtoyoufortheloanofthispairofslippers。"
　　"They’dbenouseatalltome，yerhoner；notthelaistuseinlife。"
　　"Youcoulddowiththemverywellforto—night，andthenyoucouldsellthem。Andherearetenshillingsbesides，"andIheldouthalfasovereignwhichthepoorfellowtookintohishand。
　　Iwaitednofurtherparleybutimmediatelywalkedoutoftheroom。
　　WithonefootIwassufficientlypleased。AsregardedthatIfeltthatIhadovercomemydifficulty。Buttheotherwasnotsosatisfactory。WheneverIattemptedtoliftitfromthegroundthehorridslipperwouldfalloff，oronlyjusthangbythetoe。Asfordancing，thatwouldbeoutofthequestion。
　　"Och，murther，murther，"sangoutLarry，asheheardmegoingdownstairs。"WhatwillIdoatall？Tareand’ounds；there，he’satitagin，asmadasblazes。"Thislastexclamationhadreferencetoanotherpealwhichwasevidentlytheworkofthemaster’shand。
　　IconfessIwasnotquitecomfortableasIwalkeddownstairs。InthefirstplaceIwasnearlyhalfanhourlate，andIknewfromthevigourofthepealsthathadsoundedthatmyslownesshadalreadybeenmadethesubjectofstrongremarks。Andthenmyleftshoewentflop，flop，oneveryalternatestepofthestairs。BynoexertionofmyfootinthedrawingupofmytoecouldIinduceittoremainpermanentlyfixeduponmyfoot。ButoverandaboveandworsethanallthiswastheconvictionstronguponmymindthatIshouldbecomeasubjectofmerrimenttothegirlsassoonasIenteredtheroom。
　　Theywouldunderstandthecauseofmydistress，andprobablyatthismomentwereexpectingtohearmeclatterthroughthestonehallwiththoseodiousmetalboots。
　　However，Ihurrieddownandenteredthedrawing—room，determinedtokeepmypositionnearthedoor，sothatImighthaveaslittleaspossibletodoonenteringandaslittleaspossibleingoingout。
　　ButIhadotherdifficultiesinstoreforme。IhadnotasyetbeenintroducedtoMrs。O’Conor；nortoMissO’Conor，thesquire’sunmarriedsister。
　　"UponmywordIthoughtyouwerenevercoming，"saidMr。O’Conorassoonashesawme。"Itisjustonehoursinceweenteredthehouse。
　　Jack，IwishyouwouldfindoutwhathascometothatfellowLarry，"
　　andagainherangthebell。Hewastooangry，oritmightbetooimpatienttogothroughtheceremonyofintroducingmetoanybody。