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