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