the hoarser cry: but the greater number of women, leading their children by the hand, or carrying them, gypsey-like, on their backs, were silent; they could only listen to the clamour that announced the abandonment, for a life of hardship, endurance, and fearful danger, of their old homes and "counthry side."

When Sir Thomas Hartley appeared at his drawing-room window, the concourse, pausing a moment in their continuous uproar, gave three distinct cheers, and then stood still and silent, while Peter Rooney stepped forward to a parley. The little herald made a very "mannerly" salute, lowering his pike, bowing, and halfraising his Sunday hat. Then, while Shawn-aGow stood at his side, resting on his weapon, without speaking or moving, he proceeded to deliver one of his usual verbose speeches, which, it is sufficient to mention, invited Sir Thomas Hartley, "barrow-knight," to take the command of the "throops o' the Union" of his own parish, pursuant to a promise alleged by the speaker to have been given under the limetree before the smith's house.

Sir Thomas eagerly proceeded to disabuse the crowd of their error. He assured them, that, even to their present spokesman, he had

distinctly stated his resolve to decline the appointment. It was a situation he felt himself unfit for, and his mind was made up to remain neuter during the contest.

The throng at first seemed inclined to adopt, after this reply, the language of intreaty; unused to assume any but the most humble demeanour in the presence of their superiors, such was their natural impulse.

"Your honour always joined the poor, an' you'll join 'em now;" "We'll folly your honour to the world's end !"-" Gineral Hartley is the gineral we'll have, an' no other!" said many voices; and, "Hurra for the brave gineral!" exclaimed another, and again there was a deafening cry.

When he could obtain a second hearing, Sir Thomas more peremptorily rejected the appeal; insisting, rather warmly, against being now, a second time, misunderstood.

Peter Rooney, with much "dacency" of speech, but very obstinately and pertinaciously, insisted, in turn, that, on the former occasion, he had not at all been misunderstood.

"What's the rason you have for skulkin' back, Sir Thomas ?" abruptly questioned Shawna-Gow.

The Baronet at first felt inclined to resent the rudeness of this language, but he recollected the recent provocations to ill-humour experienced by the smith; and he had also observed, among the crowd, movements that caused him to judge such would not be the safer mode of proceeding.

"I do not skulk, as you choose to call it, John Delouchery; I but act on a long-formed and lately expressed resolution, to take no side in the coming struggle."

"Is id becase you think we have no cause to turn out for, that you refuse us?- -answer me that, Sir Thomas."

"An' if he thinks so, no one bud an Orangeman 'ud think so," said a voice, which Sir Thomas thought he knew.

"I must acknowledge that you have many and great grievances to complain of, but I am sure the mode now resorted to will not redress them."

"You're afeared, Sir Thomas," resumed the same voice; "an' the curse o' Cromwell on all cowards! But ar'n't you afeared iv us? ar'n't you afeared we'd dhrag you down from that windee, an' make you march wid us, or die by us ?

"I have never been an enemy to the poor people around me, and I do not now expect to be treated as one."

"All talk," said Shawn-a-Gow; "an' talk won't stop the Orangeman's bullet, or quench the blaze he lights: them that's not wid us is aginst us; an' no coward must stay hidin' in his grand home, while they that has no house to cover 'em is on the hill."

During this dialogue, the feeling of the assemblage had evidently changed from the hope to subdue by intreaty to the impulse to compel by force. Sir Thomas observed, that amid vehement gestures, though whispered comments, some general opinion, probably not of a nature favourable to him, became disseminated. They turned fiercely to each other, stretched forth their arms, or raised high their clenched fists; and some, only stopping now and then to enforce their sentiments, pressed forward, as if to demonstrate superior daring. To the rear he saw a man couching down, perhaps to escape observation from the house, who incessantly and zealously addressed the crowd around him; and from his position came the hostile groups just mentioned. And over all the bustle and clamorous muttering, were heard expressions which

fully explained the furious consultation: such as, "He must turn out-they're orange that houlds back;-pull him down here to the duoul wid cowards!" and while a hundred voices thus spoke, one louder than the rest cried "The green for ever, and down wid the orange!" which catchword produced a general scream, that seemed to be tacitly taken as an agreement of opinion; for, as it died away, solemn silence prevailed, and the fierce glances of all were fixed on Sir Thomas Hartley.

"Oncet more, an' for the last time, Sir Thomas," said Shawn-a-Gow-" will you be one among us, or an inemy agin us ?”

"For the last time, then, I answer, I can be neither. I cannot be one amongst you, because I do not approve of your rising; and still less can I be an enemy of the people to whom I always wished to appear a friend.”

"Smash the dour!" exclaimed one of those who had just posted himself in front of the throng, determined to carry into effect the resolution that had been vaguely though furiously formed and there was a rush forward; and a man, darting his pike through a window, made such a crash that the ladies screamed loudly.

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Stop!" cried Shawn-a-Gow, pushing back