two o'clock
The two persons pitched on for decoying Mat were Dolan and Traynor , who accordingly set out , full of glee at the singularity and drollness of their undertaking . It is unnecessary to detail the ingenuity with which they went about it , because , in consequence of Kavanagh 's love of drink , very little ingenuity was necessary . One circumstance , however , came to light , which gave them much encouragement , and that was a discovery that Mat by no means relished his situation . In the meantime , those who stayed behind in the glen felt their patience begin to flag a little , because of the delay made by the others , who had promised , if possible , to have the schoolmaster in the glen before two o'clock . But the fact was , that Mat , who was far less deficient in hospitality than in learning , brought them into his house , and not only treated them to plenty of whiskey , but made the wife prepare a dinner , for which he detained them , swearing , that except they stopped to partake of it , he would not convoy them to the place appointed . Evening was , therefore , tolerably far advanced , when they made their appearance at the glen , in a very equivocal state of sobriety -- Mat being by far the steadiest of the three , but still considerably the worse for what he had taken . He was now welcomed by a general huzza ; and on his expressing surprise at their appearance , they pointed to their horses , telling him that they were bound for the fair of Clansallagh , for the purpose of selling them .