Isawthatthetwogirlslookedatmeverysharply，butIstoodatthebackofanarm—chairsothatnoonecouldseemyfeet。ButthatlittleimpTizzywalkedrounddeliberately，lookedatmyheels，andthenwalkedbackagain。Itwasclearthatshewasinthesecret。
　　Therewereeightortenpeopleintheroom，butIwastoomuchflutteredtonoticewellwhotheywere。
　　"Mamma，"saidMissO’Conor，"letmeintroduceMr。Greentoyou。"
　　ItluckilyhappenedthatMrs。O’Conorwasonthesamesideofthefireasmyself，andIwasabletotakethehandwhichsheofferedmewithoutcomingroundintothemiddleofthecircle。Mrs。O’Conorwasalittlewoman，apparentlynotofmuchimportanceintheworld，but，ifonemightjudgefromfirstappearance，verygood—natured。
　　"AndmyauntDie，Mr。Green，"saidKate，pointingtoaverystraight—
　　backed，grim—lookinglady，whooccupiedacornerofasofa，ontheoppositesideofthehearth。IknewthatpolitenessrequiredthatI
　　shouldwalkacrosstheroomandmakeacquaintancewithher。ButundertheexistingcircumstanceshowwasItoobeythedictatesofpoliteness？Iwasdeterminedthereforetostandmyground，andmerelybowedacrosstheroomatMissO’Conor。InsodoingImadeanenemywhoneverdesertedmeduringthewholeofmyintercoursewiththefamily。Butforher，whoknowswhomighthavebeensittingoppositetomeasInowwrite？
　　"Uponmyword，Mr。Green，theladieswillexpectmuchfromanAdoniswhotakessolongoverhistoilet，"saidTomO’Conorinthatcrueltoneofbanterwhichheknewsowellhowtouse。
　　"Youforget，father，thatmeninLondoncan’tjumpinandoutoftheirclothesasquickaswewildIrishmen，"saidJack。
　　"Mr。Greenknowsthatweexpectagreatdealfromhimthisevening。
　　Ihopeyoupolkwell，Mr。Green，"saidKate。
　　Imutteredsomethingaboutneverdancing，butIknewthatthatwhichIsaidwasinaudible。
　　"Idon’tthinkMr。Greenwilldance，"saidTizzy；"atleastnotmuch。"Theimpudenceofthatchildwas，Ithink，unparalleledbyanythatIhaveeverwitnessed。
　　"Butinthenameofallthat’sholy，whydon’twehavedinner？"AndMr。O’Conorthunderedatthedoor。"Larry，Larry，Larry！"hescreamed。
　　"Yes，yerhoner，it’llbeallrightintwoseconds，"answeredLarry，fromsomebottomlessabyss。"Tarean’ages；what’llIdoatall，"I
　　heardhimcontinuing，ashemadehiswayintothehall。Ohwhataclatterhemadeuponthepavement，——foritwasallstone！AndhowthedropsofperspirationstooduponmybrowasIlistenedtohim！
　　Andthentherewasapause，forthemanhadgoneintothedining—
　　room。IcouldseenowthatMr。O’Conorwasbecomingveryangry，andJacktheeldestson——oh，howoftenheandIhavelaughedoverallthissince——leftthedrawing—roomforthesecondtime。ImmediatelyafterwardsLarry’sfootstepswereagainheard，hurryingacrossthehall，andthentherewasagreatslither，andanexclamation，andthenoiseofafall——andIcouldplainlyhearpoorLarry’sheadstrikeagainstthestonefloor。
　　"Ochone，ochone！"hecriedatthetopofhisvoice——"I’mmurtheredwith’emnowintirely；andd——’emforboots——St。Peterbegoodtome。"
　　Therewasageneralrushintothehall，andIwascarriedwiththestream。ThepoorfellowwhohadbrokenhisheadwouldbesuretotellhowIhadrobbedhimofhisshoes。Thecoachmanwasalreadyhelpinghimup，andPetergood—naturedlylentahand。
　　"Whatonearthisthematter？"saidMr。O’Conor。
　　"Hemustbetipsy，"whisperedMissO’Conor，themaidensister。
　　"Iainttipsyatallthin，"saidLarry，gettingupandrubbingthebackofhishead，andsundryotherpartsofhisbody。"Tipsyindeed！"Andthenheaddedwhenhewasquiteupright，"Thedinnerissarved——atlast。"
　　Andheboreitallwithouttelling！"I’llgivethatfellowaguineato—morrowmorning，"saidItomyself——"ifit’sthelastthatIhaveintheworld。"
　　IshallneverforgetthecountenanceoftheMissO’ConorsasLarryscrambledupcursingtheunfortunateboots——"Whatonearthhashegoton？"saidMr。O’Conor。
　　"Sorrowtake’emforshoes，"ejaculatedLarry。Buthisspiritwasgoodandhesaidnotawordtobetrayme。
　　Weallthenwentintodinnerhowwebestcould。Itwasuselessforustogobackintothedrawing—room，thateachmightseekhisownpartner。Mr。O’Conor"themasther，"notcaringmuchforthegirlswhowerearoundhim，andbeingalreadyhalfbesidehimselfwiththeconfusionanddelay，ledthewaybyhimself。IasastrangershouldhavegivenmyarmtoMrs。O’Conor；butasitwasItookhereldestdaughterinstead，andcontrivedtoshufflealongintothedining—roomwithoutexcitingmuchattention，andwhenthereIfoundmyselfhappilyplacedbetweenKateandFanny。
　　"Ineverknewanythingsoawkward，"saidFanny；"IdeclareIcan’tconceivewhathascometoouroldservantLarry。He’sgenerallythemostprecisepersonintheworld，andnowheisnearlyanhourlate——
　　andthenhetumblesdowninthehall。"
　　"IamafraidIamresponsibleforthedelay，"saidI。
　　"ButnotforthetumbleIsuppose，"saidKatefromtheotherside。I
　　feltthatIblusheduptotheeyes，butIdidnotdaretoenterintoexplanations。
　　"Tom，"saidTizzy，addressingherfatheracrossthetable，"Ihopeyouhadagoodrunto—day。"ItdidseemoddtomethatyoungladyshouldcallherfatherTom，butsuchwasthefact。
　　"Well；prettywell，"saidMr。O’Conor。
　　"AndIhopeyouwereupwiththehounds。"
　　"YoumayaskMr。Greenthat。Heatanyratewaswiththem，andthereforehecantellyou。"
　　"Oh，hewasn’tbeforeyou，Iknow。NoEnglishmancouldgetbeforeyou；——Iamquitesureofthat。"
　　"Don’tyoubeimpertinent，miss，"saidKate。"Youcaneasilysee，Mr。Green，thatpapaspoilsmysisterEliza。"
　　"Doyouhuntintop—boots，Mr。Green？"saidTizzy。
　　TothisImadenoanswer。Shewouldhavedrawnmeintoaconversationaboutmyfeetinhalfaminute，andtheslightestallusiontothesubjectthrewmeintoafitofperspiration。
　　"Areyoufondofhunting，MissO’Conor？"askedI，blindlyhurryingintoanyothersubjectofconversation。
　　MissO’Conorownedthatshewasfondofhunting——justalittle；onlypapawouldnotallowit。WhenthehoundsmetanywherewithinreachofCastleConor，sheandKatewouldrideouttolookatthem；andifpapawasnottherethatday，——anomissionofrareoccurrence，——theywouldrideafewfieldswiththehounds。
　　"ButheletsTizzykeepwiththemthewholeday，"saidshe，whispering。
　　"AndhasTizzyaponyofherown？"
　　"Ohyes，Tizzyhaseverything。She’spapa’spet，youknow。"
　　"Andwhosepetareyou？"Iasked。
　　"Oh——Iamnobody’spet，unlesssometimesJackmakesapetofmewhenhe’sinagoodhumour。Doyoumakepetsofyoursisters，Mr。Green？"
　　"Ihavenone。ButifIhadIshouldnotmakepetsofthem。"
　　"Notofyourownsisters？"
　　"No。Asformyself，I’dsoonermakeapetofmyfriend’ssister；agreatdeal。"
　　"Howveryunnatural，"saidMissO’Conor，withtheprettiestlookofsurpriseimaginable。
　　"NotatallunnaturalIthink，"saidI，lookingtenderlyandlovinglyintoherface。Wheredoesonefindgirlssopretty，soeasy，sosweet，sotalkativeastheIrishgirls？Andthenwithalltheirtalkingandalltheireasewhoeverhearsoftheirmisbehaving？Theycertainlyloveflirting，astheyalsolovedancing。Buttheyflirtwithoutmischiefandwithoutmalice。
　　Ihadnowquiteforgottenmymisfortune，andwasbeginningtothinkhowwellIshouldliketohaveFannyO’Conorformywife。InthisframeofmindIwasbendingovertowardsherasaservanttookawayaplatefromtheotherside，whenasepulchralnotesoundedinmyear。
　　ItwaslikethemementomorioftheoldRoman；——asthoughsomeonepointedinthemidstofmyblisstotheswordhungovermyheadbyathread。ItwasthevoiceofLarry，whisperinginhisagonyjustabovemyhead—
　　"They’sdisthroyingmypoorfeetintirely，intirely；sotheyis！I
　　can’tbearitmuchlonger，yerhoner。"IhadcommittedmurderlikeMacbeth；andnowmyBanquohadcometodisturbmeatmyfeast。
　　"Whatisithesaystoyou？"askedFanny。
　　"Ohnothing，"Ianswered，oncemoreinmymisery。
　　"ThereseemstobesomepointofconfidencebetweenyouandourLarry，"sheremarked。
　　"Ohno，"saidI，quiteconfused；"notatall。"
　　"Youneednotbeashamedofit。HalfthegentlemeninthecountyhavetheirconfidenceswithLarry；——andsomeoftheladiestoo，Icantellyou。Hewasborninthishouse，andneverlivedanywhereelse；
　　andIamsurehehasalargercircleofacquaintancethananyoneelseinit。"
　　Icouldnotrecovermyself—possessionforthenexttenminutes。
　　WheneverLarrywasonoursideofthetableIwasafraidhewascomingtomewithanotheragonisedwhisper。Whenhewasopposite，I
　　couldnotbutwatchhimashehobbledinhismisery。Itwasevidentthatthebootsweretootightforhim，andhadtheybeenmadethroughoutofirontheycouldnothavebeenlesscapableofyieldingtothefeet。Ipitiedhimfromthebottomofmyheart。AndIpitiedmyselfalso，wishingthatIwaswellinbedupstairswithsomefeignedmalady，sothatLarrymighthavehadhisownagain。
　　AndthenforamomentImissedhimfromtheroom。Hehaddoubtlessgonetorelievehistorturedfeetintheservants’hall，andashedidsowascursingmycruelty。Butwhatmatteredit？Lethimcurse。
　　Ifhewouldonlystayawayanddothat，Iwouldappeasehiswrathwhenwewerealonetogetherwithpecuniarysatisfaction。
　　Buttherewasnosuchrestinstoreforme。"Larry，Larry，"shoutedMr。O’Conor，"whereonearthhasthefellowgoneto？"Theywereallcousinsatthetableexceptmyself，andMr。O’Conorwasnotthereforerestrainedbyanyfeelingofceremony。"Thereissomethingwrongwiththatfellowto—day；whatisit，Jack？"
　　"Uponmyword，sir，Idon’tknow，"saidJack。
　　"Ithinkhemustbetipsy，"whisperedMissO’Conor，themaidensister，whoalwayssatatherbrother’slefthand。Butawhisperthoughitwas，itwasaudiblealldownthetable。
　　"No，ma’am；itaintdhrinkatall，"saidthecoachman。"Itishisfeetasdoesit。"
　　"Hisfeet！"shoutedTomO’Conor。
　　"Yes；Iknowit’shisfeet，"saidthathorridTizzy。"He’sgotongreatthicknailedshoes。Itwasthatthatmadehimtumbledowninthehall。"
　　Iglancedateachsideofme，andcouldseethattherewasacertainconsciousnessexpressedinthefaceofeachofmytwoneighbours；——onKate’smouththerewasdecidedlyasmile，orrather，perhaps，theslightestpossibleinclinationthatway；whereasonFanny’spartI
　　thoughtIsawsomethinglikearisingsorrowatmydistress。SoatleastIflatteredmyself。
　　"Sendhimbackintotheroomimmediately，"saidTom，wholookedatmeasthoughhehadsomeconsciousnessthatIhadintroducedallthisconfusionintohishousehold。WhatshouldIdo？Woulditnotbebestformetomakecleanbreastofitbeforethemall？Butalas！I
　　lackedthecourage。
　　Thecoachmanwentout，andwewereleftforfiveminuteswithoutanyservant，andMr。O’Conorthewhilebecamemoreandmoresavage。I
　　attemptedtosayawordtoFanny，butfailed。Voxfaucibushaesit。
　　"Idon’tthinkhehasgotanyothers，"saidTizzy——"atleastnoneothersleft。"
　　OnthewholeIamgladIdidnotmarryintothefamily，asIcouldnothaveenduredthatgirltostayinmyhouseasasister—in—law。
　　"Wherethed——hasthatotherfellowgoneto？"saidTom。"Jack，dogooutandseewhatisthematter。Ifanybodyisdrunksendforme。"
　　"Oh，thereisnobodydrunk，"saidTizzy。
　　Jackwentout，andthecoachmanreturned；butwhatwasdoneandsaidIhardlyremember。Thewholeroomseemedtoswimroundandround，andasfarasIcanrecollectthecompanysatmute，neithereatingnordrinking。PresentlyJackreturned。
　　"It’sallright，"saidhe。IalwayslikedJack。Atthepresentmomenthejustlookedtowardsmeandlaughedslightly。
　　"Allright？"saidTom。"Butisthefellowcoming？"
　　"WecandowithRichard，Isuppose，"saidJack。
　　"No——Ican’tdowithRichard，"saidthefather。"Andwillknowwhatitallmeans。WhereisthatfellowLarry？"
　　Larryhadbeenstandingjustoutsidethedoor，andnowheenteredgentlyasamouse。Nosoundcamefromhisfootfall，norwasthereinhisfacethatlookofpainwhichithadwornforthelastfifteenminutes。Buthewasnotthelessabashed，frightenedandunhappy。
　　"Whatisallthisabout，Larry？"saidhismaster，turningtohim。"I
　　insistuponknowing。"
　　"Ochthin，Mr。Green，yerhoner，Iwouldn’tbeafthertellingaginyerhoner；indeedIwouldn’tthin，av’themastherwouldonlyletmehouldmytongue。"Andhelookedacrossatme，deprecatingmyanger。
　　"Mr。Green！"saidMr。O’Conor。
　　"Yes，yerhoner。It’sallalongofhishoner’sthickshoes；"andLarry，steppingbackwardstowardsthedoor，liftedthemupfromsomecorner，andcomingwellforward，exposedthemwiththesolesuppermosttothewholetable。
　　"Andthat’snotall，yerhoner；butthey’vesquozetheverytoesofmeintoajelly。"
　　Therewasnowaloudlaugh，inwhichJackandPeterandFannyandKateandTizzyalljoined；astoodidMr。O’Conor——andIalsomyselfafterawhile。
　　"Whosebootsarethey？"demandedMissO’Conorsenior，withherseveresttoneandgrimmestaccent。
　　"’Deedthenandthedivilmayhavethemforme，Miss，"answeredLarry。"TheywarMr。Green’s，butthelikesofhimwon’twearthemaginaftherthelikesofme——barringhewantedthemveryparticular，"
　　addedhe，rememberinghisownpumps。
　　Ibeganmutteringsomething，feelingthatthetimehadcomewhenI
　　musttellthetale。ButJackwithgreatgoodnature，tookupthestoryandtolditsowell，thatIhardlysufferedinthetelling。
　　"Andthat’sit，"saidTomO’Conor，laughingtillIthoughthewouldhavefallenfromhischair。"Soyou’vegotLarry’sshoeson——"
　　"Andverywellhefillsthem，"saidJack。
　　"Andit’shishonerthat’swelcometo’em，"saidLarry，grinningfromeartoearnowthathesawthat"themasther"wasoncemoreinagoodhumour。
　　"Ihopethey’llbeniceshoesfordancing，"saidKate。
　　"Onlythere’sonedownattheheelIknow，"saidTizzy。
　　"Theservant’sshoes！"Thiswasanexclamationmadebythemaidenlady，andintendedapparentlyonlyforherbrother’sear。Butitwasclearlyaudiblebyalltheparty。
　　"Betterthatthannodinner，"saidPeter。
　　"Butwhatareyoutodoaboutthedancing？"saidFanny，withanairofdismayonherfacewhichflatteredmewithanideathatshedidcarewhetherIdancedorno。
　　InthemeantimeLarry，nowashappyasanemperor，wastrippingroundtheroomwithoutanyshoestoencumberhimashewithdrewtheplatesfromthetable。
　　"Andit’shishonerthat’swelcometo’em，"saidheagain，ashepulledoffthetable—clothwithaflourish。"Andwhywouldn’the，andheabletofollythehoundsbetthernoranyEnglishmanthativerwarinthesepartsbefore，——anywayssoMicksays！"
　　NowMickwasthehuntsman，andthislittletaleofeulogyfromLarrywentfartowardseasingmygrief。Ihadriddenwelltothehoundsthatday，andIknewit。
　　Therewasnothingmoresaidabouttheshoes，andIwassoonagainatmyease，althoughMissO’ConordidsaysomethingabouttheimproprietyofLarrywalkingaboutinhisstockingfeet。Theladieshoweversoonwithdrew，——tomysorrow，forIwasgettingonswimminglywithFanny；andthenwegentlemengatheredroundthefireandfilledourglasses。
　　Inabouttenminutesaverylighttapwasheard，thedoorwasopenedtotheextentofthreeinches，andafemalevoicewhichIreadilyrecognisedcalledtoJack。
　　Jackwentout，andinasecondortwoputhisheadbackintotheroomandcalledtome——"Green，"hesaid，"juststepheremoment，there’sagoodfellow。"Iwentout，andthereIfoundFannystandingwithherbrother。
　　"Herearethegirlsattheirwits’ends，"saidhe，"aboutyourdancing。SoFannyhasputaboyupononeofthehorseandproposesthatyoushouldsendanotherlinetoMrs。MeehanatBallyglass。It’sonlytenmiles，andhe’llbebackintwohours。"
　　IneedhardlysaythatIactedinconformitywiththisadvice，IwentintoMr。O’Conor’sbookroom，withJackandhissister，andtherescribbledanote。IwasdelightfultofeelhowintimateIwaswiththem，andhowanxioustheyweretomakemehappy。
　　"Andwewon’tbegintilltheycome，"saidFanny。
　　"Oh，MissO’Conor，praydon’twait，"saidI。
　　"Oh，butwewill，"sheanswered。"Youhaveyourwinetodrink，andthenthere’sthetea；andthenwe’llhaveasongtwo。I’llspinitout；seeifIdon’t。"Andsowewenttothefrontdoorwheretheboywasalreadyonhishorse——herownnagasIafterwardsfound。
　　"AndPatsey，"saidshe，"rideforyourlife；andPatsey，whateveryoudo，don’tcomebackwithoutMr。Green’spumps——hisdancing—shoesyouknow。"
　　Andinabouttwohoursthepumpsdidarrive；andIdon’tthinkIeverspentapleasantereveningorgotmoresatisfactionoutofapairofshoes。TheyhadnotbeentwominutesonmyfeetbeforeLarrywascarryingatrayofnegusacrosstheroominthosewhichIhadwornatdinner。
　　"TheDillongirlsaregoingtostayhere，"saidFannyasIwishedhergoodnightattwoo’clock。"Andwe’llhavedancingeveryeveningaslongasyouremain。"
　　"ButIshallleaveto—morrow，"saidI。
　　"Indeedyouwon’t。Papawilltakecareofthat。"
　　Andsohedid。"YouhadbettergoovertoBallyglassyourselfto—
　　morrow，"saidhe，"andcollectyourownthings。There’snoknowingelsewhatyoumayhavetoborrowofLarry。"
　　Istayedtherethreeweeks，andinthemiddleofthethirdIthoughtthateverythingwouldbearrangedbetweenmeandFanny。Buttheauntinterfered；andinaboutatwelvemonthaftermyadventuressheconsentedtomakeamorefortunatemanhappyforhislife。