And he bore it all without telling! "I'll give that fellow a guinea
to-morrow morning," said I to myself--"if it's the last that I have
in the world."

I shall never forget the countenance of the Miss O'Conors as Larry
scrambled up cursing the unfortunate boots--"What on earth has he got
on?" said Mr. O'Conor.

"Sorrow take 'em for shoes," ejaculated Larry. But his spirit was
good and he said not a word to betray me.

We all then went in to dinner how we best could. It was useless for
us to go back into the drawing-room, that each might seek his own
partner. Mr. O'Conor "the masther," not caring much for the girls
who were around him, and being already half beside himself with the
confusion and delay, led the way by himself. I as a stranger should
have given my arm to Mrs. O'Conor; but as it was I took her eldest
daughter instead, and contrived to shuffle along into the dining-room
without exciting much attention, and when there I found myself
happily placed between Kate and Fanny.

"I never knew anything so awkward," said Fanny; "I declare I can't
conceive what has come to our old servant Larry. He's generally the
most precise person in the world, and now he is nearly an hour late--
and then he tumbles down in the hall."

"I am afraid I am responsible for the delay," said I.

"But not for the tumble I suppose," said Kate from the other side. I
felt that I blushed up to the eyes, but I did not dare to enter into