at the enormous extent which lay between the heel and the toe of the
shooting apparatus which he still held in his hand. "I niver see
such a foot as that in the whole barony," he said, "barring my own."

Now Larry was a large man, much larger altogether than myself, and as
he said this I looked down involuntarily at his feet; or rather at
his foot, for as he stood I could only see one. And then a sudden
hope filled my heart. On that foot there glittered a shoe--not
indeed such as were my own which were now resting ingloriously at
Ballyglass while they were so sorely needed at Castle Conor; but one
which I could wear before ladies, without shame--and in my present
frame of mind with infinite contentment.

"Let me look at that one of your own," said I to the man, as though
it were merely a subject for experimental inquiry. Larry, accustomed
to obedience, took off the shoe and handed it to me.

My own foot was immediately in it, and I found that it fitted me like
a glove.

"And now the other," said I--not smiling, for a smile would have put
him on his guard; but somewhat sternly, so that that habit of
obedience should not desert him at this perilous moment. And then I
stretched out my hand.

"But yer honer can't keep 'em, you know," said he. "I haven't the
ghost of another shoe to my feet." But I only looked more sternly
than before, and still held out my hand. Custom prevailed. Larry
stooped down slowly, looking at me the while, and pulling off the
other slipper handed it to me with much hesitation. Alas! as I put