6 Arthur, who rarely dined out, handed the ladies into the carriage. Mrs. Barton was beautifully dressed in black satin. Eve was lost in a mass of teal. Alice wore a black silk trend with Puss Montree and red ribbons. Behind the clear mountains the pale transitory colors of the hour faded, and the women, their bodies and their thoughts swayed together by the motion of the vehicle, listened to the irritating barking of the cottage dog. Surly a peasant, returning from his work, his freeze coat swung over one shoulder, stepped aside.  But tell me, Mama, said Olive, after a long silence. How much champagne I ought to drink at dinner? You know, it's a long time since I have tasted it. Indeed, I don't remember that I ever did taste it. Mrs. Barton laughed softly. Well, my dear, I don't think that two glasses could do you any harm, but I would not advise you to drink any more. And what shall I say to the man who takes me down to dinner? Shall I have to begin the conversation, or will he? He will be sure to say something. You need not trouble yourself about that. I think we'll shall meet some nice men tonight. Captain Hibbert will be there. He is very handsome and well connected. I hope he will take you down. Then there will be the Honorable Mr. Burke. He is a nice little man, but there's not much in him, and he hasn't a penny. His brother is Lord Kilkarni, a confirmed bachelor. Then there will be Mr. Adair. He is very well off. He has at least four thousand a year in the country, but it would seem that he doesn't care for women. He is very clever. He writes pamphlets. He used to sympathize with the land-league, but the outrage has went against his conscience. You never know what he really does think. He admires Gladstone and Gladstone says he can't do without him. They had now passed the lodge gates and were driving through the park. Herds of fallow deer moved away, but the broad buff forms of the red deer gazed steadfastly as lions from the crest of a hill. Did you ever meet Lady Dungary, Mama? asked Alice. Is she dead? No, dear, she is not dead, but it would be better, perhaps, if she were. She behaved very badly. Lord Dungary had to get a separation. No one ever speaks of her now. Mind, you are warned. At this moment the carriage stopped before a modern house, built between two massive Irish towers entirely covered with huge ivy. I am afraid we are a little late, said Mrs. Barton to the servant, as he relieved them of their sorties to ball. Eight o'clock has just struck, ma'am. The two old things will make faces at us, I know, murmured Mrs. Barton, as she ascended the steps. On either side there were cases of stuffed birds. A fox lay in wait for a pheasant on the right, an otter devoured a trout on the left. These attested to the sporting tastes of a former generation. The white marble statues of nymphs sleeping in the shadows of the different landings and the oriental draperies with which each cabinet was hung suggested the dilettantism of the present owner. Mrs. Barton walked in front. The girls drew together like birds. They were amazed at the stateliness of the library, and they marveled at the richness of the chandeliers and the curiously assorted pictures. The company was assembled in a small room at the end of the suite. Too tall, bony, high-nosed women advanced and shook hands menacingly with Mrs. Barton. They were dressed alike in beautiful gowns of gold-brown plush.  Lord Dungery whispered something to Mrs. Barton. Weave passed across the room, the black coats gave way, and as the white rose in a blood-colored glass, her shoulders rose out of the red teal. Captain Hibbert twisted his brown-gold mustache, and, with the critical gaze of the connoisseur, examined the undulating lines of the arms, the delicate waist, and the sloping hips. Her skirt seemed to fall before his looks. Immediately after, the roaring of a gong was heard, and the form of the stately butler was seen approaching. Lord Dungery and Lady Jane exchanged looks. The former offered his arm to Mrs. Gould. The latter, her finger on her lips, in a moment expressive of profound meditation, said, Mr. Ryan, will you take down Mrs. Barton? Mr. Scully, will you take Miss Olive Barton? Mr. Adair, will you take Miss Gould? Mr. Lynch, will you take Miss Alice Barton? Mr. Burke, will you take my sister?" Then smiling at the thought that she had check-mated her father, who had ordered that Olive Barton should go down with Captain Hibbert, she took Captain Hibbert's arm, and followed the dinner party. About the marble statues and stuffed birds on the staircase float a murmur of amiability, and during a pause, skirts were settled amid the chairs, which the powdered footmen drew back ceremoniously to make way for the guests to pass. A copy of Morellio's Madonna presenting the divine child who St. Joseph hung over the fireplace. Between the windows another Madonna stood on a half-moon, and when Lord Dungery said, For what are we going to receive? The Lord would make us truly thankful. These pictures helped the company to realize a suitable, although momentary, emotion. Turtle soup was handed round. The soft steaming fragrance mixed with the fresh perfume of the roses that bloomed in a silver vase beneath the light of the red shaded wax candles. A tree covered with azaleas spread notes of delicate color over the gold screen that hid the door by which the servants came and went. Oh, Lady Sarah, exclaimed Mrs. Gould, I do not know how you have such beautiful flowers, and in this wretched climate. Yes, it is very trying, but then we have a great deal of glass. Which do you prefer, roses or azaleas? asked Mrs. Barton. Les roses sont les flores en corsage. Mais les azalees sont les flores en peignoir. Lady Sarah and Lady Jane, who had both overheard the remark, leveled indignant glances at their father, scornful looks at Mrs. Barton, and to avoid any further amateury illusions, Lady Sarah said, I do not think we shall soon have bread, much less flowers to place on our tables, if the government do not step in and put down the revolution that is going on in this country. Everyone, except the young girls, looked questioningly at each other, and the mutuality of their interests on this point became at once apparent. Ah, Lord Dungaree, do you think we shall be able to collect our rents this year? What reduction do you intend to give? Lord Dungaree, who had no intention of showing his hand, said, the land-league has, I believe, advised the people to pay no more than Griffith's valuation. I do not know if your lands are let very much above it. If you have not seen the evening mail, you have probably not heard of the last terrible outrage, said Captain Hibbard, and amid a profound silence he continued. I do not know if anybody here is acquainted with a Mr. McNamara. He lives in Mith. Oh, you do not say anything has happened to him? I knew his cousin, exclaimed Mrs. Gould. Captain Hibbard looked round with his bland good-looking stare, and as no near relative appeared to be present he resumed his story. He was, it seems, sitting smoking after dinner, when suddenly two shots were fired through the windows. At this moment a champagne cork slipped through the butler's fingers and went off with a bang. Oh, goodness me! What's that? exclaimed Mrs. Gould. And to pass off their own fears, everyone was glad to laugh at the old lady. It was not until Captain Hibbard told that Mr. McNamara had been so severely wounded that his life was despaired of, that the chewing faces became grave again. And I hear that McNamara had the finest horses in Mith, said Mr. Ryan. I very nearly sold him one last year at the horse show. Mr. Ryan was the laughing stock of the country and a list of the grotesque sayings he was supposed, on different occasions to have been guilty of, was constantly in progress of development. He lived with his cousin Mr. Lynch, and in conjunction they farmed large tracts of land. After Ryan was short and thick, Mr. Lynch was taller and larger, and a pair of mutton-chop whiskers made his bloated face look bigger still.  They were, nevertheless, received everywhere, and pothry, as Mr. Ryan was called by his friends, was permitted the licenses that are generally granted to the buffoon. Or, he said, I wouldn't moin the league being hard on them who lives out of the country, spendin' their cash on liquor and theaters in London, but what can they have again us who stops at home, mindin' our properties and ridin' our horses? This criticism of justice, as administered by the league, did not, however, seem to meet with the entire approval of those present. After a dare-look grave, he evidently thought it was based on a superficial notion of political economy. Mr. Burke, a very young man with a tiny red mustache and a curious habit of wriggling his long weak neck, feeling his amusements were being unfairly attacked, broke the silence he had till then preserved, and said, I havin' an acre of land in the world, but if my brother chooses to live in London, I don't see why he should be deprived of his rents. For my part, I like the Gayate Theatre, and so does my brother. Have you seen the forty thieves, Lady Jane? Capital peace, I saw it twenty times. I think that Pathry, me cousin, means to say, said Mr. Lynch, declining the venison the servant offered him, is that there are many in the country who don't deserve much consideration. I am alluding to those who acquired their property in the landcourts, and the Cromwellians, and the, I mean the rack-rinters. The sudden remembrance that Lord Dungary dated from the time of James so upset Mr. Lynch that he called back the servant and accepted the venison, which he failed, however, to eat. I do not see, said Lord Dungary, with an air of a man whose words were conclusive, why we should go back to the time of Cromwell to discuss the rights of property, rather than to that of the early kings of Ireland. If there is to be a returning, why not at once put in a claim on the part of the Irish Elk? No, there must be finality in human affairs. And on this phrase the conversation came to a pause. But if the opinions of those present were not in accord concerning the rights of property, their tastes in conversation certainly differed as widely.  Alice looked up in a sort of mild despair as she strove to answer Mr. Lynch's questions. May had fallen into a state of morose lassitude. If Mr. Adair would only cease to explain to her how successfully he had employed concrete in the construction of his farm-buildings, she felt that if he started again on a new saw-mail she must faint. And Olive's senses, too, were swimming. But just as she thought she was going off, Captain Hibbert looked so admiringly at her that she recovered herself. And at the same time Mr. Scully succeeded in making May understand that he would infinitely prefer to be near her than Lady Sarah. In return for this expression of feeling, the young lady determined to risk a remark across the table, but she was cut short by Mrs. Gould, who pithily summed up the political situation in the words, "'The way I look at it is like this. Will the government help us to get our rents, or will it not?' Mr. Forester's Act does not seem to be able to do that. There's May there who has been talking all the morning of Castle Seasons and London Seasons, and I don't know what. Really I don't see how it is to be done if the land-league, and Mr. Parnell's a gentleman, too. I wonder how he can ally himself with such black guards, gently insinuated Mrs. Barton, who saw a husband lost in the politician. But the difficulty the government finds themselves in is that the land-league is apparently a legal organization," said Lord Dungery in the midst of a profound silence. A society legal that exists and holds its power through an organized system of outrage. Mind you, as I have always said, the landlords have brought all their misfortunes upon themselves. They have often behaved disgracefully. But I would, nevertheless, put down the outrages. Yes, I would put down the outrages at any cost. "'And what would you do?' asked Mr. Ryan. "'Do you know the herds are being coerced now? We'd get on well enough were it not for that." In the beginning of this year Mr. Forrester asked Parliament for special powers. How has he used those powers? Without trial, five hundred people have been thrown into prison, and each fresh arrest is answered by fresh outrage. And when the warrant is issued, and I suppose it will be issued sooner or later, for the arrest of Mr. Parnell, I should not be surprised to hear of a general strike being made against rent. The consequences of such an event will be terrific. But let these consequences, I say, rest on Mr. Forrester's head. I shall have no word of pity for him. His government is a disgrace to liberalism, and I fear he has done much to prejudice our ideal in the eyes of the world. Lord Dungery and Lady Jane exchange smiles, and poor crotchety Mr. Adair lean forward his large, bald brow, obscured by many obscure ideals. After a pause he continued. But I was speaking of Flanders. From the time of Charles V the most severe laws were enacted to put down the outrages. But there was an undercurrent of sympathy with the outrage monger which kept the system alive until 1840. Then the government took the matter in hand, and treated outrage mongering as what it is, an act of war, and quartered troops on the inhabitants and stamped the disease out in a few years. Of course I could not, and would not, advocate for the employment of such drastic measures in Ireland. But I would put down the outrages with a firm hand, and I would render them impossible in the future by the creation of peasant proprietors. Then, amid the juicy odors of cut pineapple, and the tepid flavors of burgundy, Mr. Adair warmed to his subject, and proceeded to explain that absolute property did not exist in land in Ireland before 1600. And, illustrating his arguments with quotations from Arthur Young, he spoke of the plantation of Ulster, the leases of the eighteenth century, the Protestants in the North, the employment of labour, until at last inebriated with theory, he asked the company what was the end of government. This was too much, and seeing the weary faces about him, Lord Dungary determined to change the subject of conversation. The end of government, he said. I am afraid that you would get many different answers to that question. Ask these young ladies, they will tell you, probably, that it is to have this bohema et des yeuses amore, and I am not sure that they are not right. Mrs. Barton's coaxing laugh was heard, and then reference was made to the detachment of the Connacht Ranger stationed at Galway, and the possibility of their giving a dance was eagerly discussed. Mr. Ryan had a word to say Annette, the hunting prospect, and, when May Gould declared she was going to ride straight and not miss a meet, she completed the conquest of Mr. Scully, and encouraging glances were exchanged between them until Lady Sarah looked inquiringly round the table, then she pushed back her chair. All rows and a moment after, through the twilight of the drying room, colour and nudity were scattered in picturesque confusion. Every mind was occupied by one thought. How the pleasure of the dinner party had been spoiled by that horrible land-league discussion. All wondered who had introduced the subject, and the blame was fixed upon Mr. Adair. Mrs. Gould, in her homely way, came to the point at once. People say he is so clever, but I am sure I can't see it. He has spent a fortune in building farm-yards in concrete, and a sawmill I hear costs him twenty pounds a month dead loss, and he is always writing letters to the papers. I can never think much of a man who writes to the papers. A most superior man, said Lady Sarah, who, notwithstanding her thirty-five years, had not entirely given up hope. He took honors at Trinity. Then Mr. Burke and Lord Kilcarnie were spoken of, and some new anecdotes were told of Mr. Ion. The famous one, how he had asked a lady to show him her docket at the Galway Ball, when she told him that she was engaged for all the dances, excited as it never failed to do, a good deal of laughter. Mrs. Barton did not, however, join in the conversation. She knew, if she did, that the lady's callin' would be as rude as the absence of Milford, and the fact that she was a guest in their house would allow them to be. Mrs. Barton's mind was now occupied with one thought, and leaning back in her chair, she yielded herself entirely to it. Although the dinner party had been spoiled by Mr. Adair's uncontrollable desire to impart information, she had nevertheless noticed that Captain Hibbert had very much been struck with always beauty. She was aware that her daughter was a beautiful girl, but whether men would want to marry her, Mrs. Barton did not know. Captain Hibbert's conduct would help her to arrive at a decision. She certainly dreamed of a title for Olive. Lord Kilkarny was, alas, not to be thought of. Ah, if Mr. Burke were only Lord Kilkarny! But he was not. However, Captain Hibbert would be a fairly good match. He was of excellent family, had two thousand a year, and a place in the country and in England, too. Why snatch up the very first fish that came by? There was no sane whom they would meet at the castle. Still, to encourage a flirtation could be no harm. If they met anything better it could be broken off. If they did not, it would be a very nice match indeed. Besides, there was no denying that Olive was a little too naive in her manner. Captain Hibbert's society would brush that off, and Olive would go up to the castle with the reputation of having made a conquest. Such were Mrs. Barton's thoughts as she sat, her hands laid like china ornaments on her lap, her feet were tucked under the black pleated skirt, and she sometimes raised her grooves like eyes and looked at her daughter. The girls were grouped round a small table, on which stood a feather-shaded lamp. In clear voices and clear laughs they were talking of each other's dresses. May had just stood up to show off her skirt.  And to think she is going to waste her time with that dissipated young man Mr. Scully, thought Mrs. Barton. Then Olive stood up. She was all rose, and when laughing, with the delicious movement of the arms, she hitched back her bustle, she lost her original air, and looked as mine have done the foreign arena when not sitting in immortality. It was the battle of blonde tints. Olive with primrose as in corn, May with a cadmium yellow and red gold. And now, Alice, get up and let's see you, she cried, catching hold of her sister's arm.  And how different we all look from what we did at the convent! Do you remember our white frocks? Alice's face lit up with a sudden remembrance, and she said, But why, Lady Sarah, haven't we seen Cecilia? I've been thinking of her during dinner. I hope she is not ill. Oh, dear me, no! But poor Cecilia does not care to come down when there is company. But can I not see her? Oh, certainly! You will find her in her room. But you do not know the way. I will ring for my maid. She will show you. At this moment men's voices were heard on the staircase. The ladies all looked up, the light defining the corner of a forehead, the outline of a nose and chin, bathing a neck in warm shadow, modeling a shoulder with gray tints, sending a thousand rays flashing through the diamonds on the bosom, touching the finger-rings, and lastly dying away amid the folds of the dresses that trailed on the soft carpet. Mr. Ryan, walking with his habitual roll and his hands in his pockets, entered. His tie was under his left ear. Mr. Lynch, haunted by the idea that he had not made himself agreeable to Alice during dinner, sat down beside her. Mr. Scully made a rush for May. Tall, handsome Captain Hibbert, with his air of conventional high style, quitted Lord Dungary and asked Olive what they had been saying since they left the dining-room. Mr. Burt tried to join in the conversation, but Mr. Ryan, thinking it would be as well not to let the occasion slip of speaking of a certain Bay-Hoss who jumped anything, took him confidentially by the sleeve. Now look here, will you, he began. The rest of his remarks were lost in the hum of conversation, and by well-bred transitions observations were made on the dancing and hunting prospects of the season. Mr. Adair took no interest in such subjects, and to every one's relief he remained silent. May and Fred Scully had withdrawn to a corner of the room where they could talk more at their ease. Captain Hibbert was conscious of nothing but Olive and her laughter, which rippled and tinkled through an odor of coffee. Little by little she was gaining the attention of the room. Mr. Adair ceased to listen to Lord Dungary, who was explaining why Leonardo da Vinci was a greater painter than Titan. Mr. Lynch left off talking to Alice. The little-blonde Honorable looked sillier and sillier as his admiration grew upon him. Mrs. Barton, to hide her emotion, engaged in an ardent discussion concerning the rearing of calves with Mrs. Gould. Lady Sarah bit her lip, and unable to endure her enemy's triumph any longer.  Well, really, Lady Sarah, I should be very glad. But I don't think, you know, I'm not sure I could manage without my music. I shall be very glad to accompany you. I think I know in the gloaming, and I have heard you sing that. Mollif, at a sign from her mother, entreated, and when the gallant Captain rolled from under the brown-gold mustache the phrase, O my darling, all strove not to look at her, and when he dropped his voice to a whisper, and sang of his aching heart, of feeling prevailed that all were guilty of an indiscretion in listening to such an intimate avowal. Then he sang two songs more, equally filled with reference to tears, blighted love, and the possibility of meeting in other years. And Ollef hung down her head, overcome by the fine sentiments which she felt were addressed to her. Meanwhile Alice became aware that her sister was the object of all eyes and thoughts, that she was gaining the triumph that men are agreed may be desired by women without impropriety. Alice was a healthy-bodied girl. Her blood flowed as warm as in her sister. The men about her did not correspond with her ideal, but this scarcely rendered the fact that they neglected her less bitter. She asked Lady Sarah again if she might go upstairs and see Cecilia. She found the little cripple leaning over the banisters listening to the sound of voices. O my dear, is it you? I expected you to come to see me when you left the gentleman in the dining-room. I couldn't come before, dear, said Alice, kissing her friend. Just as I was asking Lady Sarah the way to your room, we heard them coming. And how do you like the party? Which of the men do you think the nicest? I did not care for any of them. And oh, that odious Mr. Lynch! Cecilia's eyes flashed with a momentary gleam of satisfaction and spoke of a little excursion, a walk to the Brennan's, who lived two miles distant, that she had been planning for the last few days. CHAPTER VII The girls had given each other rendezvous at the gate of Dungary Castle. Lover was never more anxious to meet Mistress than this little deformed girl to see her friend, and Alice could see her walking hurriedly up and down the gravel sweep in front of the massive grazed-owned lodge. She will see me next time she turns, thought Alice, and immediately after Cecilia uttered a joyful cry and ran forward. Oh, so it is you, Alice! I am so glad! I thought you were going to disappoint me.  I don't know, I can't say, but I've fancied something would happen, and the great brown eyes began to melt with tears of delight. I had, you know, my heart set on this walk with you. I am sure the pleasure is much mine as yours, and now wither lies our way. Through the deer park, through the oak wood, across the fields into the high road, and then you are at the gate. Won't that be too far for you? Oh, not at all. It is not more than a mile and a half, but for you you had to come another mile and a half. It is fully that far from here to Brookfield. Tell me, dear, said Cecilia, clinging to her friend's arm, why have you not been over to see me before? It is not kind of you. We have been home from school now for over a fortnight, and except on the night of the dinner party I haven't seen you once. I was coming over to see you last week, dear, but to tell you the truth Mama prevented me. I cannot think why, but somehow she doesn't seem to care that I should go to Dungary Castle. But for the matter of that, why did you not come to see me? I've been expecting you every day. I couldn't come either. My sisters advise me, I mean insisted on my stopping at home. And why? I really can't say, replied Cecilia. And now Alice knew that the Lady's Collin hated Mrs. Barton for her intimacy with Lord Dungary. She longed to talk the matter out, but dared not, while Cecilia regretted she had spoken, for with the quickness of the deformed she knew that Alice had defined the truth of the family feud. The sun fell like lead upon the short grass of the deer park and the frizzled heads of the hawthorns. On the right the green masses of the oakwood shut in the view, and the stately red deer, lowling their high necks, marched away through the hillocks, as if offended at their solitude being disturbed. One poor crippled hind walked with the wretched, sidling movement, and Alice hopes Cecilia would not notice it, lest it should remind her of her own misfortune. I am sure, she said, we never knew finer weather than this in England. I don't think there could be finer weather, and still they say the tenants are worse off than ever, that no rent at all, at least nothing above Griffith's valuation, will be paid. Do they speak much of Griffith's valuation at Dungary Castle? Oh, they never cease, and I don't know whether I ought to say, but it won't matter with you, I suppose. Mind you, must not breathe a word of this at Brookfield. The fact is, my sister's school. You know they have a school and go in for trying to convert people. Well, this has got Papa into a great deal of trouble. The bishop has sent down another priest. I think they call it a mission. And we are going to be preached against, and Papa received a threatening letter this morning. He is going, I believe, to apply for police. And is this on the account of the proselytizing? Oh, no, not entirely. He has refused to give his tenants Griffith's valuation, but it makes one very unpopular to be denounced by the priest. I assure you, Papa is very angry. He told Sir and Jane this morning at breakfast that he'd have no more of it, that they had no right to go into the poor people's houses and pull the children from under the beds, and ask why they were not at school, that he didn't care of what religion they were as long as they paid the rent, and that he wasn't going to have his life endangered for such nonsense. There was an awful row at home this morning. For my own part, I must say I sympathize with Papa. Besides the school, Sarah has, you know, a shop, where she sells bacon, sugar, and tea at cost price. And it is well known that those who send their children to the school will never be asked to pay their bills. She wanted me to come and help to weigh out the meal, Jane being confined to her room with a sick headache, but I got out of it. I would not, if I could, convert those poor people. You know, I often fancy, I mean fear, I often sympathize too much with your creed. It was only at service last Sunday I was thinking of it. Our religion seems so cold, so cheerless compared to yours. You remember the convent church at St. Leonard's? The incense, the vestments, the white veiled congregation. Oh, how beautiful it was! We shall never be so happy again! Yes, indeed, and how cross we used to think of those dear nuns. You remember Sister Mary, how she used to lecture Violet for getting up to look out of the windows. What used she to say? Do you want, Miss, to be taken for housemaid or scullerymaid, staring at people in that way as they pass? Yes, yes. That's exactly how she used to speak, exclaimed Cecilia, laughing. And, as the girls advanced through the oakwood, they helped each other through the briars and over the trunks of fallen trees, talking the while of their past life, which now seemed to them but one long, sweet joy. A reference to how Meg Gould used to gallop the pony around and round the field at the back of the convent was interrupted by the terrifying sound of a cock pheasant getting up from some bracken under their very feet, and amid the scurry of rabbits and couples and half dozens, modest allusion was made to the girls who had been expelled in seventy-five. Absorbed in the sweetness of the past, the girls mused, until they emerged from the shade of the woods into the glare and dust of the high-road. Then came a view of rocky country, with harvesters working in tiny fields, and then the great blue background of the clear mountains was suddenly unfolded.  The gate lodge was in ruins, and the weed-drone avenue was covered with cow dung. Which of the girls do you like best? said Alice, who wished to cease thinking of the poverty in which the spinsters lived. Emily, I think, she doesn't say much, but she is more sensible than the other two. Gladice worries me with her absurd affectations. Zoe is well enough, but what names? Yes, Emily has certainly the best of the names, Alice replied, laughing. Are the Miss Brennan's at home? said Cecilia when the maid opened the hall door. Yes, Miss, I'm in your ladieship. Will you walk in? You'll see. They'll keep us waiting a good half-hour while they put on their best frocks, said Cecilia, as she sat down in a faded armchair in the middle of the room. A piano was rolled close to the wall. The two rosewood cabinets were symmetrically placed on either side of the farther window. From brass rods the thick green curtains hung in stiff folds, and, since the hanging of some water-colors, done by Zoe before leaving school, no alterations except the removal of the linen covers from the furniture when visitors were expected had been made in the arrangement of the room. The Brennan family consisted of three girls, Gladice, Zoe, and Emily. 33, 31, and 30 were their respective ages. Their father and mother, dead some ten or a dozen years, had left them joint proprietors of a small property that gossip had magnified to three thousand. They were known as the three heiresses of Kinvara. Snub-noses and blue eyes betrayed their Celtic blood, and every year they went to spend a month at Shellbourne Hotel in Dublin, returning home with quite a little trousseau. Gladice and Zoe always dressed alike, from the bow around the neck to the bow on the little shoe that they so artlessly withdrew when in the presence of gentlemen. Gladice's formula for receiving visitors never varied. Oh, how do you do? It is really too kind of you to give yourself all this trouble to come and see us. Immediately after Zoe put out her hand, Hermannner was more jacuz. How do you do? We are, I am sure, delighted to see you. Will you have a cup of tea? I know you will. Emily, being considered too shy and silent, did not often come down to receive company. On her devolved the entire management of the house and servants. The two elder sisters killed time in a way they thought would give least offence to their neighbors. Being all sent Leonard's girls, the conversation immediately turned on convent life. Was Madame this there? Had Madame that left? Garden Chapel, school, hall, dormitory, refectory were visited. Every nun was passed in review, and in the likeness and gaiety of the memories invoked, even these maiden ladies flushed and looked fresh again. The conversation came to a pause and then allusion was made to the disturbed state of the country, and to a gentleman who, it was reported, was going to be married. But, as Alice did not know, the person whose antecedents were being called into question, she took an early opportunity of asking Gladys if she cared for writing. No, they never went to write now. They used to, but they came in so fatigued that they could not talk to Emily, so they had given up writing. Did they care for driving? Yes, pretty well, but there was no place to drive except into Gort, and as people had been unjust enough to say that they were always to be seen in Gort, they had given up driving, unless of course they went to call on friends. Then tea was brought in, and apropos of casual reference to the conventional buttered toast, the five girls talked until nearly six o'clock, of their girlhood, of things that would never have any further influence in their lives, of happiness they would never experience again. At last Alice and Cecilia pleaded that they must be going home. As they walked across the fields the girls only spoke occasionally. Alice strove to see clear, but her thoughts were clouded, scattered, diffused. Force herself as she would, still no conclusion seemed possible. All was vague and contradictory. She had talked to these Brennans, seen how they lived, could guess what their past was, what their future must be. In that neat little house their uneventful life dribbled away in maiden idleness, neither hope nor despair broke the triviality of their days, and yet was it their fault? No, for what could they do if no one would marry them? A woman could do nothing without a husband. There is a reason for the existence of a pack horse, but none for that of an unmarried woman. She can achieve nothing. She has no duty but, by blotting herself out, to shield herself from the attacks of ever-slandering friends. Alice had looked forward to a husband and a home as the certain accomplishment of years. Now she saw that a woman, independently of her own will, may remain single. I wonder, she said, forgetting for the moment that she was speaking to Cecilia. I wonder none of those Brennans married.  How dreadfully lonely they must be living there by themselves! I think they are far happier as they are, said Cecilia, and her brown eyes set in liquid blue look strangely at Alice as she helped her over the low wall. The girls walked in silence through the stillness of the silver furs, their thoughts as sharp as the needles that scratched the pale sky. It may seem odd of me to say so. Of course I would not say this to any one but you. But I assure you, even if I were as tall as you are, dear, nothing would induce me to marry. I never took the slightest pleasure in any man's conversation. Do you? But I know you do, she said, breaking off suddenly. I know you like men. I feel you do, don't you? Well, since you put it so plainly, I confess I should like to know nice men. I don't care for those I've met hitherto, particularly those I saw at dinner the other night, but I believe there are nice men in the world. Oh, no there aren't. Well, Cecilia, I don't see how you can speak so positively as that. You have seen as yet very little of the world. Ah, yes, but I know it. I can guess it all. I know instinctively, and I hate it. There is nothing else, so we must make the best of it. But there is something else. There is God, and the love of beautiful things. I spent all day yesterday playing box-passion music, and the hours passed like a dream until my sisters came in from walking and began to talk about marriage and men.  It is the way we are brought back to earth, and forced to realize how vile and degraded we are. Society seems to me no better than a pigsty, but in the beautiful convent, that we shall, alas, never see again, it was not so. There at least, life was pure, yes, and beautiful.  They often seem to me like angels. I am sure that heaven must be very much like that, pure, desirous, contemplative. Amazed, Alice looked at her friend questioningly, for she had never heard her speak like this before. But Cecilia did not see her. The prominent eyes of the mystic were veiled with strange glamour, and with divine gourmandese, she savored the ineffable sweetness of the vision, and after long silence she said, I often wonder, Alice, how you can think as you do?  You are so good in all except that one point. But surely, dear, it isn't a merit to believe. It is hardly a thing that we can call into existence. You should pray for faith. I don't see how I can pray if I haven't faith. You are too clever, but I would ask you, Alice, you never told me. Did you never believe in God? I mean when you were little child. I suppose I must have, but, as well as I can remember, it was only in a very half-hearted way. I could never quite bring myself to credit that there was a being far away, sitting behind a cloud, who kept his eye on all the different worlds, and looked after them just as a station master looks after the arrival and departure of trains from some great terminus. Alice, how can you talk so? Aren't you afraid that something awful might happen to you for talking of the Creator of all things in that way? Why should I be afraid? And why should that being, if he exists, be angry with me for my sincerity? If he be all powerful, it rests with himself to make me believe. They had now accomplished the greater part of their journey, and a little tired, had sat down to rest on a portion of a tree left by the woodcutters. Gold rays slanted through the glades, enveloping and rounding off the tall smooth trunks that rolls branchless to a height of 30 even 40 feet, and the pink clouds, seen through the arching dome of green, were vague as the picture on some dim cathedral roof. In places like these, I wonder you don't feel God's presence. On the contrary, the charm of nature is broken when we introduce a ruling official. Alice, how can you, you who are so good, speak in that way. At that moment a dead leaf rustled through the silence. And do you think that we shall die like that leaf? That like it, we shall become part of the earth and be forgotten as utterly. I'm afraid I do. That dead, fluttering thing was once a bud. It lived the summer life of a leaf. Now it will decay through the winter, and perhaps the next, until it finally becomes part of the earth. Everything in nature I see pursuing the same course. Why should I imagine myself in exception to the general rule? What then is the meaning of life? That I'm afraid we shall never learn from listening to the rustling of leaves. The short sharp cry of a bird broke the mild calm of the woods, and Alice said, Perhaps the same thought that troubles us is troubling that bird. The girls walked on in silence, and when they came to the end of the path and their parting was inevitable. There was something of the passion of the lover in Cecilia's voice. Promise me you will come to see me soon again. You'll not leave me so long. You will write, I shall not be able to live if I don't hear from you. The sound of hooves was heard, and a pair of cream-colored ponies, with a floored woman driving determinedly, came sweeping around the corner. What a strange person, said Alice, watching the blue veil and brightly dyed hair. Don't you know who she is? said Cecilia. That's your neighbor, Mrs. Lawler. Oh, is it really? I have been so long at school that I know nobody. I have been anxious to see her. Why, I wonder, do people speak of her so mysteriously. You must have heard that she isn't visited. Well, yes, but I didn't quite understand. Your father was saying something the other day about Mr. Lawler's shooting parties. Then Mama looked at him. He laughed and spoke of Le Calom des Sétères. I intended to ask Mama what he meant, but somehow I forgot. She was one of those women that walk about the streets by night. Oh, really? said Alice, and the conversation came to a sudden pause. They had never spoken upon such a subject before, and the presence of the deformed girl rendered it a doubly painful one. In her embarrassment Alice said, Then I wonder Mr. Lawler married her. Was it his fault that? Oh, I don't think so, Cecilia replied scornfully. But what does it matter? She was quite good enough for him. At every moment a new Cecilia was revealing herself, the existence of whom Alice had not even suspected in the old, and as she hurried home she wondered if the minds of the other girls were the same as they were at school. Olive? She could see but little change in her sister, and may she had hardly spoken to since they left school. Violet she hadn't met since they parted at Athenry for their different homes. But Cecilia, she entered the house still thinking of her, and heard Olive telling her mother that Captain Hebert had admired her new hat. He told me that I'd be the handsomest girl at the drawing-room. And what did you say, dear? I asked him how he knew. Was that right? Quite right, and what did he say then? He said, because he had never seen anybody so handsome, and as she had seen everybody in London, he supposed, I forget the exact words, but they were very nice. I am sure he admired my new hat, but you haven't told me how he liked it. Do you think I should wear it down on my eyes or a bit back? I think it very becoming as it is, but tell me more about Captain Hebert. He told me he was coming to meet us at Mass. You know he is a Roman Catholic. I know he is, dear, and I'm very glad. If he weren't, he wouldn't be able to meet us at Mass. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jennifer Painter. Muslim by George Moore. Chapter 8 According to old established custom, on the arrival of his family, Arthur had turned his nudities to the wall, and now sitting, one leg tucked under him on the sofa, throwing back from time to time, his long blonde locks, he hummed an Italian air. How tired you look, Alistair. You have a cup of tea.  You have been walking yourself to death. Thanks, Mama. I will have a cup of tea. Cecilia and I went to see the Brennans. And are any of them going to be married yet? said Oliver. I really don't know. I didn't ask them. Well, they ought to be doing something with themselves. They have been trying it on long enough. They've been going up to the shellborn for the last 10 years. Did they show you the dresses they brought down this season? They haven't worn them yet. They keep them wrapped up in silver paper. And how did you hear all that? She asked, Oh, one hears everything.  That was all very well in the convent. But what have I done that you should speak to me in that way? Now, Alistair, said Mrs Barton, coaxing me, don't get angry. I assure you, Olive means nothing. No, indeed, I didn't. Olive exclaimed and she forced her sister back into the chair. Arthur's attention had been too deeply absorbed in the serenade in Don Pasquale to give heed to the feminine bickering with which his studio was ringing until he was startled suddenly from his musical dreaming by an angrily exclamation from his wife. The picture of the bathers, which Alice had seen begun, had been only partially turned to the wall. And after examining it for a few moments, Mrs Barton got up and turned the picture around. The two naked creatures that were taking a dip in the quiet sunlit pool were Olive and Mrs Barton. And so grotesque were the likenesses that Alice could not refrain from laughing. This is monstrous. This is disgraceful, sir.  And your daughter too? And just as she is coming out? Do you want to ruin us? I should like to know what anyone would think if and unable to complete her sentence, either mentally or allowed, Mrs Barton wheeled the easel on which a large picture stood into the full light of the window. If Arthur had wounded the susceptibilities of his family before, he had outraged them now. The great woman who had gathered to her bosom one of the doves, her naked son Cupid, had shot out of the trees with his bow and arrow, was Olive. The white face and its high nose, beautiful as a head by Canova is beautiful. The corn like tresses piled on the top of the absurdly small head were, beyond mistaking, Olive. Mrs Barton stammered for words, Olive burst into tears. Could you disgrace me in that way? I am disgraced. There is no use in my going to the drawing room now. My dear, my dear, I assure you I can change it with a flick of the brush. Admiration carried away by idea. I promise you I'll change it. Come away, Olive, come away, said Mrs Barton, casting a look of burning indignation at her husband. If you cry like that, Olive, you won't be fit to be looked at. And Captain Hibbert is coming here tonight. When they had left the room, Arthur looked inquiringly at Alice. This is very disagreeable. He said, I really didn't think the likeness was so marked as all that. I assure you I didn't. I must do something to alter it. I might change the color of the hair. But no, I can't do that. The entire scheme of color depends upon that. It is a great pity, for it is one of my best things, the features I might alter. And yet it is very hard to do so without losing the character. I wonder if I were to make the nose straighter. Alice, dear, would you mind turning your head this way? Oh, no, no, no, Papa, dear. You aren't going to put my face upon it. And she ran from the room, smothered with laughter. When this little quarrel was over and done, and Olive had ceased to consider herself a disgraced girl. The illusion that had been made to mass as a means of meeting Captain Hibbert remained like a sting in Alice's memory. It surprised her at all sorts of odd moments, and often forced her, under many different impulses of mind, to reconsider the religious problem more passionately and intensely than she had ever done before. She asked herself if she had ever believed. Perhaps in very early youth, in a sort of vague, half-hearted way, she had taken for granted the usual traditional ideas of heaven and hell. But even then she remembered, she used to wonder how it was that time was found for everything else but God. If he existed, it seemed to her that monks and nuns, or Puritans of the sternist type, were alone in the right. And yet she couldn't quite feel that they were right. She had always been intensely conscious of the grotesque contrast between a creed like that of the Christian, and having dancing and French lessons, and going to garden parties. Yes, and making wreaths and decorations for churches at Christmas time. If one only believed and had but a shilling, surely the only logical way of spending it was to give it to the poor or a missionary. And yet nobody seemed to think so. Priests and bishops did not do so. She herself did not want to do so. Still, so long as Alice believed, she was unable to get rid of the idea. Teachers might say what they pleased, but the creed they taught spoke for itself and prescribed an impossible ideal, an unsatisfactory ideal which aspired to know more than saving oneself after all. Lies and all kinds of subterfuge were strictly against her character, but it was impossible for her to do or say anything when by so doing she knew she might cause suffering or give pain to anyone, even an enemy. And this defect in her character forced her to live up to what she deemed a lie. She had longed to tell the truth and thereby besaved the mummery of attending at Mass. But when she realised the consternation, the agony of mind, it would cause the nuns she loved. She held back the word. But since she had left the convent, she had begun to feel that her life must correspond to her ideas and she had determined to speak to her mother on this, for her, all important subject, the conformity of her outer life to her inner life. The power to prevail upon herself to do what she thought wrong, merely because she did not wish to wound other people's feelings, was dying in her. Sooner or later she would have to break away. And as the hour approached when they should go to Mass to meet Captain Hibbert, the desire to be allowed to stay away became almost irresistible. And at the last moment it was only a foolish fear that such a declaration might interfere with her sister's prospects that stayed the words as they rose to her lips. She picked up her gloves and a moment after found herself in the broom, packed into it, watching the expressionless church going faces of her family. From afar the clanging of a high swinging bell was heard and the harsh reverberations traveling over the rocky townlands summoned the cottages to God. The peasants stepped aside to let the carriage pass. Peasants and landlords were going to worship in the same chapel, but it would seem from the proclamations pasted on the gateposts that the House of Prayer had gone over into the possession of the tenor tree. Now Arthur, do you hear? You mustn't look at those horrid papers. Mrs Barton whispered to her husband, we must pretend not to see them. I wonder how Father Shannon can allow such a thing, making the House of God into, into I don't know what, for the purpose of preaching robbery and murder. Just look at the country people, how sour and wicked they look. Don't they, Alice? Goodness me, said Olive, who in the world can those people be in our pew? Mrs Barton trembled a little. Had the peasants seized the religious possessions of their oppressors? Dismissing the suspicion, she examined the backs indicated by Olive. Why, my dear, it is the ghouls. What can have brought them all this way? The expected boredom of the service was forgotten and Olive shook hands warmly with Mrs Gould and May. Why, you must have driven 15 miles, where are your horses? We took the liberty of sending the carriage on to Brookfield and we are coming on to lunch with you. That is to say, if you will let us, cried May. Of course, of course, but how nice of you. Oh, we have such news, but it was courageous of us to come all this way. You've seen those terrible proclamations? Indeed, we have. Just fancy a priest allowing his chapel to be turned into a political, political watch, shall I call it? Dear garden, suggested May, and Father Shannon is going to take the chair at the meeting. He wouldn't get his dues if he didn't. Hush, hush, they may hear you, but you were saying something about news. Oh, don't ask me, said Mrs Gould. That's May's affair, such work. So quickly, what is it May?  That is to say, all the young girls are going to subscribe. It will only cost us about three pounds a piece. That is to say, if we can get 40 subscribers, we've got 20 already and we hope you will join us. It's going to be called the Spinster's Ball, but there is such a lot to be done. The supper to be got together, the decorations of the room, splendid room, the old schoolhouse, you know. We are going to ask you to let us take Alice away with us.   A great tramping of feet was heard and the peasants came into the church, coughing and grunting with monotonous animal-like voices. And the sour odour of cabin smoke freeze arose. It was almost visible in the great beams of light that poured through the eastern windows.  Just behind Alice a man groaned and cleared his throat with loud guffaws. She listened to hear the saliva fall. It splashed on the earthen floor. Farther away a circle of dried and yellowing faces bespoke centuries of damp cabins. They moaned and sighed, a prey to the gross superstition of the moment.  The women of 40, with cloaks drawn over their foreheads and trailing on the ground in long black folds, crouched until only the lean, hard-worked hands that held the rosary were seen over the bench rail. The sermon came in the middle of mass and was a violent denunciation of the lady's cullum, who, it was stated, had pursued one poor boy until he took refuge in an empty house, the door of which he was fortunately enabled to fasten against them. They had sent a sick woman blankets in which they had not neglected to enclose some tracks, amateur shopkeeping, winter clothing, wood, turf, presents of meal, wine and potatoes, were all vigorously attacked as the wiles of the evil one to lead the faithful from the true church. End of chapter eight. Chapter nine of Muzzlin. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Jennifer Painter. Muzzlin by George Moore. Chapter nine. As they returned from church a horseman was seen riding rapidly towards them. It was Captain Hibbert. The movement of his shoulders as he reigned in his Metalson Bay was picturesque and he was coaxingly and gushingly upgraded for neglect of his religious duties. During lunch curiosity rendered May and Mrs Gould nearly speechless but their carriage had not turned into the high road on its way home when the latter melted into a shower of laudatory words and phrases. What a charming man Captain Hibbert is. No wonder you young ladies like the military. He's so good looking and such good manners. Don't you think so Alice dear? I think the Captain a very handsome man indeed. I believe that there are not two opinions on the subject. And Olive I do not remember that I ever saw a more beautiful girl such hair and her figures so self-like. I do not know what the young ladies will do. She will cut everybody out at the castle. I don't know about that said May jauntily. What one man will turn his nose up another will go wand after. Mrs Gould did not answer but her lips twitched and Alice guessed she was annoyed that May could not express herself less emphatically. In a few moments the conversation was continued. At any rate Captain Hibbert seems to think there is no one like Olive and they'd make a handsome couple. What do you think Alice? Is there any chance of there being a match? I really can't tell you Mrs Gould. Olive as you say is a very beautiful girl and I suppose Captain Hibbert admires her. But I don't think that it either has up to the present thought of the matter more seriously. Just admit Alice that he seems a bit gone on her. Said May with a direct determination to annoy her mother. May dear you shouldn't talk in that slangy way you never used to. You have picked it up from Mr Scully. Do you know Mr Scully Alice? While it's brother. Yes I met him the night we dined at Lord Dungore's. Oh of course you did. Well I admit I don't like him. But May does. They go out training horses together. I don't mind that but I wish she wouldn't imitate his way of talking. He has been a very wild young man.   The acerbity of this remark was softened by May's manner and throwing her arms on her mother's shoulders. She commenced to coax and cajole her. The ghouls were of an excellent county family. They had for certainly three generations lived in comfortable idleness watching from their big square house the different collections of hamlets toiling and moiling and paying their rents every day. It was said that some ancestor whose portrait still existed had gone to India and come back for the money that had purchased the greater part of the property. But be this as it may in ghoul way three generations of landlordism are considered sufficient repentance for shopkeeping in ghoul not to speak of Calcutta. Since then the family history had been stainless. Father and son had in turn put their horses out to grass in April. Had begun to train them again in August. Had boasted at the Dublin horse show of having been out cub hunting. Had ridden and drunk hard from the age of 20 to 70. But by dying at 55 the late squire had deviated slightly from the regular line and the sun and air being only 12 a pause had come in the hereditary life of the ghouls. In the interim however May had apparently resolved to keep up the traditions so far as her sex was supposed to allow her. They lived in one of those box-like mansions so many of which were built in Ireland under the Georges. On either side trees had been planted and they stretched to the right and left like the wings of a theater. In front there was a green lawn at the back the sloppy stable yard. The latter was May's special delight and when Mr Scully was with them it seemed impossible to induce her to leave it. He frequently rode over to Beech Grove and towards the end of the afternoon it became easy to persuade him to stay to dinner and as the night darkened and the rain began to fall the inhospitality of turning him out was insisted on by May and Mrs Gull sent up word that a room was to be prepared for him. Next morning he sent home for a change of things and thus it was not infrequent for him to protract his visit to the extent of three or four days. His great friend Mrs Manley a lady who had jumped five feet four months before the birth of her sixth child had said that his was a wasted life and the phrase summing up what most people thought of him gained currency and was now generally used whenever his conduct was criticised or impeached. After having been in London where he spent some years inserting vague employments and having contracted as much debt as his creditors would permit and more than his father would pay he had gone through the bankruptcy court and returned home to drag through life wearily through days and weeks so appalling the idle that he often feared to get out of bed in the morning. At first his father had tried to make use of him in his agency business and it was principally owing to Mr Fred's bullying and insolent manners that Mr Scully was now unable to leave his house unless accompanied by police. Fred was about 30 years of age his legs were long his hands were bony and stable yard was written in capital letters on his face. He carried a sportsman under his arm a penny and a half crown jingled in his pocket and as he walked he lashed the trousers and boot whose elegance was an echo of the old regent street days with an ash plant such was the physiology of this being and from it the psychology is easy to surmise a complete powerlessness to understand that there was anything in life worth seeking except pleasure and pleasure to Fred meant horses and women. Of earthly honour the greatest was to be well known in an English hunting country and he was not averse to speaking of certain ladies of title with whom he had been on intimate terms and with whom it was said he corresponded. On occasions he would read or recite poems cut from the pages of the society journals to his lady friends. May however saw nothing but the outside the already peeling off varnish of a few years of london life satisfied him given a certain versatility in turning a complementary phrase the abundant ease with which he explained his tastes which although few were pronounced add to these the remnant of fashion that still lingered in his wardrobe scarves from the burlington arcade sent from Bond Street cracked patent leather shoes and mended silk stockings and it will be understood how may built something that did duty for an ideal out of this broken down swell. She was a girl of violent blood and excited by the air of the hunting field she followed Fred's lead fearlessly to feel the life of the horse throbbing underneath her passion and fevered her flesh until her mental exaltation reached the rushing of delirium then his evening man has fascinated her and as he leaned back smoking in the dining room armchair his patent leather shoes propped up against the manful piece. He showed her glimpses of a wider world than she knew all and the girl's eyes softened as she listened to his accounts of the great life he had led the county houses he had visited and the legendary runs he had held his own in. She sympathised with him when he explained how hardly fate had dealt with him in not giving him five thousand pounds a year to be spent in London and Northamptonshire. He cursed Ireland as the most hideous hole under the sun he frightened Mrs Gould by reiterated assurances that the land league would leave them all beggars and having established this point he proceeded to develop his plan for buying young horses training them and disposing of them in the English market. Eventually he dismissed his audience by taking up the newspaper and falling asleep with the stump of a burned out cigarette between his lips. After breakfast he was seen slouching through the laurels on his way to the stables from the kitchen and the larder where the girls were immersed in calculations and then the number of hams tongues and sirloins of beef that would be required he could be seen passing and as May stood on no ceremony with Alice whistling to her dogs and sticking both hands into the pockets of her blue dress she rushed after him the mud of the yard oozing through the loose broken boots which she insisted on wearing. Behind the stables there was a small field that had lately been converted into an exercise ground and there the two would stand for hours watching a couple of goat-like colts mounted by country lads still in corduroy and hobnails walking round and round. Mrs Gould was clearly troubled by this very plain conduct once or twice she allowed a word of regret to escape her and Alice could see that she lived in awe of her daughter and May there was no doubt was a little lawless when Fred was about her skirts but when he was gone she returned to her old glad affectionate ways and to her work. The girls delighted in each other's society and the arrangements for their ball were henceforth a continual occupation. The number of letters that had to be written was endless sitting at either end of the table in the drawing room their pens scratched and their tongues rattled together and penetrated with the intimacy of home all kinds of stories were told and the whole country was passed in review and do you know? said May raising her eyes from the letter that she was writing when this affair was first started Mama was afraid to go in for it she said we'd find it hard to hunt up 50 spinsters in Galway I said 50 who would subscribe a very different thing indeed you didn't Mama you said there weren't 50 spinsters in Galway a jolly lucky thing that it would be if there weren't wouldn't it Alice Alice was busy trying to disentangle the difficult sentence her startled face made May laugh isn't cheering is it I didn't hear what she was saying she answered a little vexed at being misunderstood but 50 surely is a great number are there so many unmarried women in Galway I should think there are replied May as if glorying in the fact who are there down your side of the country it's current to begin with there are the Brennans there are three of them and all three are out of the running distanced now May how can you talk like that said Mrs Gould and she pulled up her skirt so that she could roast her fat thick legs more comfortably before the fire there being no man present she undid a button or two of her dress you said so that yourself the other day Mama no I didn't May and I wish you wouldn't vex me what I said I stand by and I merely wondered why girls with good fortunes like the Brennans didn't get married you said the fact was there was no one to marry May I will not allow you to contradict me exclaimed Mrs Gould and she grew purple to the roots of her white hair I said the Brennans looked too high that they wanted gentleman eldest sons of county families but if they'd been content to marry in their own position of life they would have been married long ago well mother dear there is no use being angry about it let the thing pass you know the Brennans Alice they are neighbors of yours yes Cecilia and I walked over to see them the other day we have tea with them their great hunting ground is the shell-born hotel they take it in turns a couple of them go up every six months how can you say such things May I will not suffer it I say it I know nothing about it I've only just come back from school it is you who tell me these things when we are sitting here alone of an evening Mrs Gould's face again became purple and she protested vehemently I shall leave the room May I will not suffer it one moment longer I can't think how it is you dare to speak to me in that way and what is worse a tribute to me such ill-natured remarks now mother dear don't bother perhaps I did exaggerate I am very sorry but there's a dear sit down and we won't say any more about it you do annoy one May and I believe you do it on purpose and you know exactly what will be disagreeable to say and you say it replied Mrs Gould and she raised her skirt so as to let the heat of the fire into her petticoats thank god that's over May whispered to Alice but what were we talking about I think you are making out a list of the Galway spinsters for dallas who could not help feeling a little amused though she was sorry for mrs gould so we were cried May we were speaking of the brennans do you know their friends the duffies there are five of them that's a nice little cubby of lovebirds I don't think they would fly away if they saw a sportsman coming into the field I never heard a girl talk like that murmured mrs gould without raising her face from the fire that wasn't punished for it perhaps my lady will find it hard enough to suit yourself wait until you have done two or three castle seasons we'll see how you'll speak then without paying any attention to these maternal forebodies may continue then there are lord ross hill seven daughters they're all maidens and are likely to remain so are they all unmarried asked Alice of course they are explained mrs gould how could they be anything else didn't they all want to marry people in their father's position and that wasn't possible there are seven honourable mrs goulds and one lord ross hill so they all remained in single blessedness who's making ill-natured remarks now exclaimed may triumphantly I am not making ill-natured remarks I am only saying what is true my advice to young girls is that they should be glad to have those who will take them if they can't make a good marriage let them make a bad marriage for believe me it is far better to be minding your own children than your sisters or your brothers children and I can assure you in these days of competition it is no easy matter to get settled it is the same now as ever it was and there are plenty of nice young men it doesn't prove because a whole lot of old sticks of things can't get married that I shan't I didn't say that you wouldn't get married may I'm sure that any man would be only too glad to have you but what I say is that these grand matches that girls dream of aren't possible nowadays nice young men I dare say and plenty of them I know them young scamps without a shilling who amuse themselves with the girl until they are tired of her and then off they go now then let's count up the good matches that are going in the county at this moment the servant was heard at the door bringing in the tea oh boba exclaimed mrs gould settling her dress hurriedly the interval was full of secret irritation and the three women watched the methodical butler placed the urn on the table turn up the lamp that was burning low and bring chairs forward from the farthest corners on your side of the county said mrs gould as soon as the door was closed there is our brace of baronets as they are called but poor sir richard I'm afraid he is a bad case and yet he never took to drink until he was five and thirty and as for sir Charles of course there are great advantages he has a very fine property but still many girls might and I can quite understand they're not liking to marry him oh my mrs gould what is wrong with him Alice asked innocently don't you know said may winking haven't you heard but I forgot he isn't your side of the county he's married already at least so they say it is very sad very sad indeed moment mrs gould he'd have been a great match and to whom is he married said Alice whose curiosity was awakened by the air of mystery with which the baronet was surrounded well he's not exactly married replied may laughing but he has a large family may I will not allow it it is very wrong of you indeed to talk like that oh mother dear don't get into a passion where's the harm the whole county knows it Violet was talking of it to me only the other day there isn't a man within a mile of us so we needn't be on our peas and pews and who is the mother of all these children Alice asked a country woman with whom he lives said may just fancy marrying a man with a little dirty crowd of illegitimate children running about the stable yard the usual thing in such cases is to emigrate them said mrs gould philosophically and she again distended herself before the fire emigrate them cried may have you emigrated them to the moon I wouldn't marry such a man would you Alice I certainly wouldn't like to and her sense of humour being now tickled by the conversation she added slightly but you were counting up the good matches in the county ah so we were said the old lady well there is mr adair I am sure no girl would wish for a better husband oh the old Frump why he must be 40 if he's a day you remember Alice it was he who took me down to dinner at Lord Dungore's and he talked all the time of his pamphlet on the amalgamation of the unions which was then in the hands of the printer and the other in which he had pulled mr Parnel's ears Ireland under the landly and the series of letters he was thinking of contributing to the Irish times on high farming versus peasant proprietors just fancy Alice living with such a man as that well I don't know what you girls think said mrs Gould whose opinions were moods of mind rather than convictions but I assure you he passes for being the cleverest man in the county and it is said that Gladstone is only waiting to give him a chance but as you like he won't do so let him pass then there is mr Ryan he ought to be well off he farms thousands of acres one bite as well marry a herdsman at once did you ever hear what he once said to a lady at a bore you know about the docket Alice said that she had heard the story and the conversation turned on mr Lynch mrs Gould admitted that he was the worser of the two he smells so dreadfully of whiskey said Alice timidly ah you see she's coming out of her shell at last exclaimed may I saw you weren't having a very good time of it when he took you down to dinner at un gory castle I wonder they were asked Fred told me that he had never heard of them having been there before it is very difficult to make up a number sometimes suggested mrs Gould but they are certainly very coarse I hear when mr Ryan and mr Lynch go to fairs that they sleep with their herdsmen and in mayo there is a bachelor's house where they have fine times whiskey drinking and dancing until three o'clock in the morning and where do the ladies come from may I asked Alice because she now looked on the girl as an inexhaustible fund of information plenty of ladies in the village replied mrs Gould rubbing her shins complacently that's what I used to hear of in my day and I believe the custom isn't even yet quite extinct and are there no other bows in the county does that exhaust the list oh no but there's something against them all there are a few landlords who live away and of whom nobody knows anything then there are some boys at school but they're too young there is mr Reed the dispensary doctor mr Burke has only 200 a year but if his brother were to die he would be the marquis of Kilkani he'd be a great match then in point of position but I hear the estates are terribly incumbent has the present marquis no children said Alice he is not married said mrs Gould he is a confirmed old bachelor just fancy there's 20 years between the brothers I remember in old times the present marquis used to be the great bow at the castle I don't believe there was a girl in Dublin who didn't have a try at him then who else is there I suppose I don't mention the name of mr spread scully or may will fly at me no mother dear I won't fly at you but what is the use of abusing Fred we have known him all our lives he has spent his money he has done no worse than a hundred other young men I know I can't marry him and I am not in love with him but I must amuse myself with something I can't sit here all day listening to you lamenting over the manly and after a certain number of hours conjecturing whether Mickey Moran will or will not pay his rent becomes monotonous now don't fix me may for I won't stand it said mrs Gould getting angry when you ask me for a new dress you don't think of what you are saying now it was only the other day you were speaking to me of repurnishing this room I should like to know how that's to be done if there was no one to look after Mickey Moran's rent the girls looked around the large dull room emaciated forms of narrow antique sofas were seen dimly in the musty smelling twilight screens worked in red and green walls stood in the vicinity of the fireplace the walls were lined with black pictures and the floor hidden in dark shadow and sunken in places conveyed an instant idea of damp and mildew I think that something ought to be done said may just look at these limp curtains did you ever see anything so dreary are they brown or red or chocolate they satisfied your betters said mrs Gould as she lighted her bedroom candle goodness me she added glancing at the gilts clock that stood on the high stucco white painted chimney piece amid a profusion of jingling glass candelabra it is really half past 12 o'clock precious me there is another evening wasted we must really try and be more industrious it's too late to do anything further tonight said may come on Alice it is time to go to bed end of chapter nine chapter 10 of muslin this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Jennifer Painter muslin by George Moore chapter 10 during the whole of the next week until a very night of the ball the girls hadn't a moment they could call their own it was impossible to say how time went there were so many things to think of to remind each other of nobody knew what they had done last or what they should do next the principle on which the ball had been arranged was this the 45 spinsters who had agreed to bear the expense which it was guaranteed would not exceed three pounds ten shillings a piece were supplied each with five tickets to be distributed among their friends to save money the supper had been provided by the ghouls and manlies and day after day the rich smells of roast beef and the salt vapours of boiling hams trailed along the passages and ascended through the banisters of the staircases in beach grove and manly path 50 chickens had been killed presents of woodcock and snipe were received from all sides salmon had arrived from Galway cases of champagne from Dublin as a wit said Cersei has prepared a banquet and is calling us in after much hesitation a grammar school built by an enterprising landlord for an inappreciative population that had declined to support it was selected as the most suitable location for the festivities it lay about a mile from the town and this was in itself an advantage to the decoration of the rooms May and Fred diligently applied themselves away they went every morning the carriage filled with yards of red cloth branches of evergreen oak and holly flags and Chinese lanterns you see them Fred mounted on a high ladder May and the maid striving to hand him a long garland which is to be hung between the windows you see them leaning over the counter of a hardware shop explaining how oblong and semicircular pieces of tin are to be provided with places for candles the illumination of the room had remained an unsolved problem until ingenious Fred had hit upon this plan you see them running up the narrow staircases losing themselves in the twisty passages calling for the housekeeper you see them trying to decide which is the gentleman's cloakroom which the lady's and wondering if they will be able to hire enough furniture in the town to arrange a sitting room for the chaperones as May said we shall have them hanging about our heels the whole evening we don't try to make them comfortable at last the evening of the ball arrived and as the clocks were striking eight dressed and ready to start Alice knocked at May's door what dressed already said May as she leaned towards the glass illuminated on either side with wax candles and looked into the whiteness of her bosom she wore a costume of Prussian blue velvet and silk the bodice entirely of velvet was pointed back and front and a bertha of maresk lace softened the contrast between it and the cream tints of the skin these and the flame colored hair were the spirits of the shadowy bedchamber whereas Alice in her white corded silk her clear candid eyes was the truer Madonna whose ancient and inferior prototype stood on her bracket in a forgotten corner oh nice you look exclaimed May I don't think I ever saw anyone look so pure Alice smiled and interpreting the smile May said I'm afraid you don't think so much of me I am sure May you look very nice indeed and just as you would like to look to May's excitable mind it was not difficult to suggest a new train of thought and she immediately proceeded to explain why she had chosen her present dress I knew that you and olive and violet and lord knows how many others would be in white and as we shall all have to wear white at the drawing room I thought I'd appear in this but isn't the whole thing delightful I'm engaged already for several dances and I have been practicing the step all day with red then singing to herself she waltzed in front of the glass at the immediate risk of falling into the bath five and forty spinsters baked in the pie when the pie was open the maids began to sing wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the king oh dear there's my gutter coming down and dropping onto the sofa the girl hitched up the treacherous article of dress and tell me what you think of my legs she said and dancing a pair of stately calves violets as they are too large they seem to me to be all right but may dear you haven't got a petticoat on you can't wear petticoats with these tight dresses one can't move one's legs as it is but don't you think that you'll feel cold catch cold not a bit of it no danger of cold when you have chamois leather draws then overcome by her exuberant feelings may began to sing five and forty spinsters baked in a pie etc five and forty she said breaking off have subscribed I wonder how many will be married by this time next year you know I shouldn't care to be married all at once I'd want to see the world a bit first even if I liked a man I shouldn't care to marry him now time enough in about three years time when one is beginning to get tired of flirtations and parties I have often wondered what it must be like just fancy waking up and seeing a man's face on the pillow or for no no may I will not you must not I will not listen to these improper conversations now don't get angry there's a dear nice girl you're worse than Violet on my word you are but we must be off it's a good half hour's drive and we should want to be there before nine the people will begin to come in about that time mrs gould was asleep in the drawing room and as they awoke her the sound of wheels was heard on the gravel outside the girls hopped into the carriage mrs gould pulled herself in and blotted out in a far corner thought vaguely of asking may not to dance more than three times with Fred Scully may chatted to Alice or looked impatiently through the misted windows for the familiar signs the shadow of a tree on the sky or the obscure outline of a farm building that would tell how near they were to their destination suddenly the carriage turned to the right and entered a sort of present there were hedges on both sides through which vague forms were seen scrambling but may humorously explain that as no very unpopular landlord was going to be present it was not thought that an attempt would be made to blow up the building and conscious of the beautiful night which hung like a blue mysterious flower above them they passed through a narrow doorway draped with red striped canvas now mother what do you think of the decorations do say a word of praise i've always said may that you have excellent taste the school hall and refectory had been transformed into ball and supper rooms and the narrow passages intervening were hung with red cloth and green garlands of oak and holly on crossing threads chinese lanterns were wafted luminously taste fred has said may pointing to the huge arrangement that covered the end wall and haven't my tin candelabra turned out a success there will be no grease and the room couldn't be better lighted but look said alice look at all those poor people staring in at the window isn't it dreadful that they in the dark and cold should be watching us dancing in our beautiful dresses and in our warm bright room you don't want to ask them into you of course not but it seems very sinister doesn't it seem to you i don't know what you mean by it's being sinister but sinister or not sinister it couldn't be helped for if we had nailed up every window we should have simply died of heat i hope you won't think of opening the windows too soon said mrs gould you must think of us poor chaperones who will be sitting still all night then in the gaping silence the three ladies listened to the melancholy harper and the lacrimose fiddlers who on the astrada in the far corner sat tuning their instruments at last the people began to come in the first were a few stray black coats then feminine voices were heard in the passages and necks and arms green toilets and white satin shoes were seen passing and taking seats two miss duffies the fattest of the four were with their famous sister bertha bertha was rarely seen in goreway she lived with an aunt in dublin where her terrible tongue was dreaded by the debutants at the castle in a yellow dress as loud and as hard as her voice she stood explaining that she had come down expressly for the ball opposite the honorable miss gores made a group of five and a few men who preferred consideration to amusement made their way towards them the brennan's gladdice and zoe as soon as they saw alice asked after lord dungorey and all the girls were anxious to see violet who they feared would seem thin in a low dress hers was the charm of an infinite fragility the bosom whose curves were so faint that they were episcene was set in a bodice of white brushet joining a skirt of white satin with an over skirt of tulle and the only touch of color was a bunch of pink and white azaleas worn on the left shoulder and how irresistibly suggestive of an indian carved ivory with a wee foot the thin arm the slender cheek oh what you look Barlett said alice with frank admiration in her eyes thanks for saying so it isn't often we girls pay each other compliments but you you do look ever so nice in that white silk it becomes you perfectly and then a thought straying suddenly from alice's dress she said do you see mr burk over there if his brother died he would be a marquis you know him yes i met him at dinner at dungore castle well introduce him to me if you get a chance i'm afraid you will find him stupid oh that doesn't matter it is good form to be seen dancing with an honorable do you know many men in the room alice admitted she knew no one and lapsing into silence the girls scan the ranks for possible partners for sir richard already very drunk his necktie twisted under his right ear was vainly attempting to say something to those whom he knew or fancied he knew sir charles forgetful of the family at home was flirting with a young girl whose mother was probably formulating the details of a new immigration scheme dirty mr ryan his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his baggy trousers whispered words of counsel to mr lynch a rumor had gone abroad that captain hibbert was going to hunt that season in golway and would want a couple of horses mr adair was making grotesque attempts to talk to a lady of dancing on every side voices were heard speaking of the distances they had achieved some had driven 20 some 30 miles already the first notes of the waltz had been shrieked out by the cornet and mr fred scully with may's red tresses on his shoulder was about to start when mrs barton and olive entered olive in white silk so tightly drawn back that every line of her supple thighs and every plumpness of her superb horses was seen and the double garland of geraniums that encircled the tulle veiling seemed like flowers of blood scattered on virgin snow her beauty imposed admiration and murmuring ascent the dancers involuntarily drew into lines and this pale uncoloured loveliness her high-nosed scene and her silly laugh heard by the side of her sharp brown-eyed mother passed down the room lord dun gory and lord ross hill advanced to meet them a moment after captain hibbert and mr burk came up to us for dances a waltz was promised to each a circling crowd of black coats instantly absorbed the triumphant picture the violinists scraped and the harper twang'd intermittently a band of fox hunters arrived girls had been chosen and in the small space of floor that remained the white skirts and redtail coats passed and repast born along strouses indomitable rhythms an hour passed perspiration had begun to loosen the work of coiling tongs dust had thickened the voices but the joy of exercise was in every head and limb a couple would rush off for a cup of tea or an ice and then pale and breathless returned to the fray mrs manley was the gayest pushing her children out of her skirts she caught upon may now then may have you a partner we're going to have a real romp we are going to have kitchen dancers i'll undertake to see everybody through them a select few by signs winks and natural instinct were drawn towards this convivial circle but notwithstanding all her efforts to make herself understood mrs manley was sadly hampered by the presence of a tub-like old lady who with a small boy was seeking a vis-a-vis my dear babe we can't have her here we are going to romp anybody can see that tell her we are going to dance kitchen dancers but the old lady could not be made to understand and it was with difficulty that she was disentangled from the 16 at that moment the appearance of a waiter with a telegram caused the dancers to pause mr Burke's name was whispered in front of a messenger but he who until that evening had been mr Burke was now the marquis of Kilkani the smiling mouth drooped to an expression of fear as he tore open the envelope one glance was enough he looked about the room like one dazed then as his eyes fell upon the vague faces seen looking through the wet november pain he must have oh you brutes you brutes so you have shot my brother unchecked the harper twang and the fiddler scraped out the tune of their lances phew really knew what had happened and the newly made marquis had to fight his way through women who in skin tight dresses danced with wantoning movements of the hips and threw themselves into the arms of men to be in true kitchen fashion world round and round with prodigious violence nevertheless lord dungory and lord ross hill could not conceal their annoyance both felt keenly that they had compromised themselves by remaining in the room after the news of so dreadful a catastrophe but as mrs Barton was anxious that her daughter's success should not be interfered with nothing could be done but to express sympathy in appropriate words nobody lord dungory declared could regret the dastardly outrage that had been committed more than he he had known lord Kilkarni many years and he had always found him a man whom no one could fail to esteem the earldom was one of the oldest in ireland but the marquisate did not go back farther than the last few years beckonsfield had given him a step in the peerage no one knew why a very curious man most retiring hated society then lord ross hill related an anecdote concerning an enormous water jump that he and lord Kilkarni had taken together and he also spoke of the late marquis's aversion to matrimony and hinted that he had once refused a match which would have relieved the estates of all debt but he could not be persuaded indeed he had never been known to pay any woman the slightest attention it is to be hoped the present marquis won't prove so difficult please said mrs gold the remark was an unfortunate one and the chaperones present resented this violation of their secret thoughts mrs barton and mrs scully suddenly withdrew their eyes which till then had been gently following their daughters through the figures of the dance and forgetting what they foresaw would be the cause of future enmity united in condemning mrs guld obeying a glance of the lady Hamilton eyes lord dungori said enchercher l'amour dans la boudoir non pas dans les cimitaires madame then he added but this time only for the private ear of mrs barton la mère n'auront pas de ces mots mais la tomes nous donnent souvent les excuses ha ha ha laugh mrs barton c'est mi lord il trouve l'esprit partout and her light coaxing laugh dissipated this moment of boring gloom and alice although conscious of her deficiency in the toire tom determined not to give in without an effort she had suffered may to introduce her to a couple of officers but to execute the step she knew theoretically or to talk to her partner when he had dragged her breathless out of the bumping dances she found to be difficult so ignorant was she of hunting and of london theaters and having read only one book of weeders it would be vain for her to hope to interest her partner in literature the other girls seemed more at home with her partners and while she walked with hers wondering what she should say next she noticed behind screens under staircases at the end of dark passages girls whom she had known at st lenard's incapable of learning or even understanding the simplest lessons suddenly transformed as if by magic into bright clever agreeable girls capable of fulfilling that only duty which falls to the lot of women of amusing men but she could not do this and must therefore resign herself to an aimless life of eyeballness and be content in a few years to take a place amid the miss brennan's the lady's cullen the miss stuffy's the honorable miss gore's those whom she saw sitting around the walls waiting to be asked as did the women in the old Babylonian temple such was her criticism of life as she sat wearily answering mrs gull's tasks and questions not daring to approach her mother who was laughing with olive captain hibbet and lord dungory walls after walls had been played and her ears reaped with their crying strain one or two men had asked her if they might have the pleasure but she was determined to try dancing no more and had refused them at last at the earnest request of mrs gull's she had allowed dr read to take her into supper he was an earnest eyed stout commonplace man and looked some years over 30 alice however found she could talk to him better than with her other partners and when they left the clattering supper room where plates were being broken and champagne was being drunk by the gallon sitting on the stairs he talked to her till voices were heard calling for his services a dancer had been thrown and had broken his leg alice saw something carried towards her and rushing towards may whom she saw in the doorway she asked for an explanation oh nothing nothing he slipped down has broken or sprained his ankle that's all why aren't you dancing greatest fun in the world just beginning to get noisy and we are going it come on fred come on to the rowdy tune of the post-horn polka the different couples were dashing to and fro all a little drunk with emotion and champagne and as if fascinated alice's eyes followed the shoulders of a tall florid faced man doing the dir tom he traversed the room in two or three prodigious jumps his partner a tiny creature looked a crushed bird within the circle of his terrible arm like a collier laboring in a heavy sea a county doctor lurched from side to side overpowered by the fattest of the misduffies a thin trim youth with bright eyes glancing hither and lither executed a complex step and glided with surprising dexterity in and out and through this rushing mad mass of light toilets and flying coattails marks two of conflict were visible mr ryan had lost some portion of his garment in an obscure misunderstanding in the supper room all mr lynch's studs had gone and his shirt was in a precarious state drunken sir richard had not been carried out of the room before stirring the floor with his necktie and fragments of his gloves but these details were forgotten in the excitement the harper twanged still more violently at his strings the fiddler rasped out the agonizing tune more screechingly than ever and as the delirium of the dance fevered this horde of well-bred people the desire to exercise their animal force grew irresistible and they charged intent on each other's overthrow in the onset the vast shoulders and the durr tom were especially successful one couple had gone down splendidly before him another had fallen over the prostrate ones and in a moment in positions more or less recumbent eight people were on the floor fears were expressed for the tight dresses and violet had shown more of her thin ankles than was desirable but the climax was not reached until a young man whose unsteady legs forbade him this part of the fun established himself in a safe corner and commenced to push the people over as they passed him this was the signal for the flight of the chaperones now come along miss Barton right mrs Barton catching sight of Alice and will you lord Dungore look after olive lord Ross Hill collected the five honourable miss Gores the miss Brennan's drew around mrs scully who without taking the least notice of them steered her way and so ended at least so far as they were concerned the ball given by the spinsters of the county of Galway but the real end on this subject much curiosity was evinced the secret was kept for a time but eventually the story leaked out that overcome by the recollections of still pleasanter evenings spent under the hospitable roof of the Mayo bachelor mr Ryan mr Lynch and sir Charles had brought in the maid servants and that with jigs for waltzes and whiskey for champagne the gaiety had not been allowed to die until the day was well begun bit by bit and fragment by fragment the story was pieced together and in the secrecy of their bedrooms with little smothered pits of laughter the young ladies told each other how sir Charles had danced with the big house maid how every time he did the crossover he had slapped her on the belly and then with more laughter they related how she had said no don't sir Charles i forbid you to take such liberties and it also became part of the story that when they were tired of even such pleasures as these the gentleman had gone upstairs to where the poor man with the broken leg was lying and had with whiskey and song relieved his sufferings until the Galway train rolled into Balanaslow end of chapter 10