"For some raison or other did you say," returned Tom. "Faith and its
raison enough there is for that same; for it was to Connaught that
Cromwell and the rest of the blaggards banished or confined the Irish
hayros that gave the Sassenach such throuble in oulden times, and
that's the raison, you know, that the sayin, 'to h--l or Connaught,'
first got a futtin in the world, and that Connaught is regarded as
bein seven miles out, by the people who know the ins and outs of it."

This was delivered in a quiet, oracular manner from which there was
no appeal; so the conversation continued to flow in a kindred
channel--Barry observing that the regiments then stationed in Canada
were largely _adulterated_, as he humorously termed it, with the
Irish element, which, during such times of commotion, was considered
by England safer abroad than at home.

"How is that?" said Greaves, casting a searching glance towards the
speaker. "I should fancy that the British soldier was safe, and true
to the crown whether at home or abroad; although I am free to
confess, that the Irish, as a nation, have much to complain of."

"And how can you separate the man from the nation; and if a people
are oppressed and wronged as a whole, are they not oppressed and
wronged individually?" replied O'Brien.

"The inference is reasonable," returned the other; "but as England
seems sensible that something ought to be done for the amelioration
of the condition of Ireland no doubt the two nations will soon settle
down in the bonds of amity and love, and, in a better state of
things, forget all their bickerings and heartburnings."