The Lake

abbey for a last time in its green mantle of centuries. The distance was much the same-a couple of miles shorter by the southern road, no doubt, but what are a couple of miles to a

few showers, just enough to keep the country going; and he fell asleep thinking of the drive round

as a joyous little labour on this day. Stropping his razor, he sang from sheer joy of living. Catherine had never seen him spring on the ca

omplaining; but they were always complaining-everyone was complaining. He had complained of the dilatoriness of the Board of Works, and now for the first time in his life he sympathized a little with the Board. If it had built the bri

days are end

and. In bygone times the castle must have extended to the water's edge, for on every side fragments of arches and old walls were discovered hidden away in the thickets. Father Oliver knew the headland well and every part of the old fortress. Many a time he had climbed up the bare wall of the ban

f a great house a little way inland, to which no doubt the descendants of the chieftain retired on the decline of brigandage; and the rough hunting life

lt maybe by the Welsh who invaded Ireland in the thirteenth century, perhaps by William Barr

he history of the country than anybody, thought that Castle Carra was of later date, and spoke of the Stantons, a fierce tribe. Over yonder was the famous causeway, and the gross tragedy that was enacted there he yesterday heard from the wood-cutter, William's party of Welshmen were followed by other Welshmen-the Cusacks, the Petits, and the Brownes; and these in time fell out with the Barretts, and a great battle fought, the Battle of Moyne, in 1281, in w

arretts assembled an armed force, and, having defeated the Lynotts and captured many of them, they offered their prisoners two forms of mutilation: they were either to be blinded or castrated. After taking counsel with their wise men, the Lynotts chose blindness; for blind men could have sons, and these would doubtless one day re

enerations, came into their revenge. 'A badly told story,' said the priest, 'with one good incident in it,' and, instead of trying to remember how vi

or eight acres, a handsome wooded island, the largest in the lake, with the ruins of a church hidden among the tall trees, only an arch of it remaining, but the paved path leading from the church to the hermit's cell could be followed. The hermit who used this paved path fourteen hundred years ago was a poet; and Father Oliver knew that Marban loved 'the shieling th

g when England was in barbarism. The first renaissance was the Irish, centuries before a gleam showed in Italy or in France. But in the middle of the eighth century the Danes arrived to pillage the country, and no sooner were they driven out than the English came to continu

present to lay hands on these great wrecks of Ireland's past. He was no longer sure that he did not side with the Archbishop, who was against the restoration-for entirely insufficient reasons, it was true. 'Put a roof,' Father Oliver said, 'on the abbey, and it will look like any other church, and another link will be broken.

s of the parish as much as Moran. He had been happier than Moran in Bridget Clery's cottage-a great idea enabled him to forget every discomfort; and 'we are never lonely as long as our idea is with us,' he

l the same, it was terrible to think that the temptation might overpower him at any moment,

good example was about as bad as anything that could happen in the parish. But what was he to do? Th

n held out a long, hard hand to Father Oliver. 'You'll put up your horse? Christ

on my way to Tinnick; I've business with

e plenty

to have taken the other

nto the house, if on

ant spot of colour in the summer-time-and he wondered how it was that Father Moran was not ashamed of its neglected state, nor of the widow's kitchen. These things were, after all, immaterial. What was important was that he should find

be roofed at all the best r

de with the

rain. Is it really true that he opposes the roofing of the abbey on account of the legend? I have hea

allow a portion of th

hat? Then the reason of his opposition really is that he be

and the priests turne

oks!' and Father Oli

lopes, on a knoll overlooking rich wa

ey changed their name in the fifteenth century on account of a violation of sanctuary committed by them. A roof shall be put

ly allow you to roof a part of the abbey. Now, what r

ver expected t

d Father Oliver said: '

rd the Archbishop say that any of his priests who a

res to defy popular

y yesterday that the Archbishop was a brave man to be letting any roof at all

ll believe

, in

the right road, but instead of doing so he led him to his house, and closed the door on him, and left him there tied hand and foot. Seaghan's sister, who still clung to religion, loosed the priest, and he fled, passing Seaghan, who was on his way to fe

story. Why am I

riest killed Seaghan. I

here is

phesied that an ash-tree should grow out of the buried head, and that one of the branches should take root and pierce Seaghan's heart. And he was right in

es the ground, and there's no saying t

art is ther

n't; but if one is to argue that way,

e intolerant to every form of heresy, it was because they instinctively felt that the questioning of any dogma would mean some slight subsidence from the idea of nationality that held the peop

int and interesting, without trying to draw an historical parallel between the Irish and the Jews. Anyhow, thinking is better than dr

er if he did what he was told, and made up his mind to put the small green slates on the a

or Western plain with shapely mountains enclosing the horizon. Ponies were feeding between the whins, and they raised their shaggy heads to watch the car passing. In the distance cattle were grazing, whisking the flies away. How beautiful was everything-the white clouds hanging in the blue sky, and the trees! There were some trees, but not many-only a few pines. He caug

h do you reckon to

is the Joycetown road, but I doub

is

the Big House had been burnt the

er, 'the Big House was

ood road then, but the last time I heard o

February, why can't we get

nd I do be hearing that the trees that fell a

for though if we have to walk the greater pa

get the car through; but if we can't we

rning the horse up the road? And I'll stop at the Big House-

man. For the slightest offence, real or imaginary, he sent seconds demanding redress. No more than his ancestors, who had doubtless lived on the islands, in Castle Island and Castle Hag, could he

ld near the mearing. It was Browne of Neale who was the first to arrive. Joyce, having to come a dozen miles, was a few minutes late. As soon as his gig was seen, the people, who were in hiding, came out, and they put themselves between him and Browne, telling him up to his face there was to be no fighting that day! And the priest, who was at the head of them

oorway and stood looking round. There were some rough chimney-pieces high up in the grass-grown walls, but

th his dogs he tried to inquir

tn't get the car through by keeping close to the wal

e of the road with them, and tell Chri

your

oing now to speak

d the most serious obstacle, and the countryman said once they were over the

ght of the main road, and of the cottage that his sister

. She was a shop-assistant, but standing behind the counter gave her varicose veins; and she went to Dublin as nursery-governess. Father Oliver had heard of musical studies: she used to play the guitar. But the instrument was not popular in Dublin, so she gave it up, and returned to Tinnick with the intention of starting a rabbit and poult

only pretty one in the county? Wouldn't any ot