CHAPTER X. A DINNER-PARTY
People who live much together in small and secluded districts, grow atlength to feel a very great distrust for all strangers. Their own waysand their own topics have become such a perfect world to them, that tofeel ignorant of these themes appears like affectation or contempt; andthe luckless man who drops down into such a "coterie," is invariablydeemed impertinent or a fool. Jack Massing-bred fully appreciated thisdifficulty; but it imparted such a piquancy to his "adventure," as hepersisted in calling it to himself, that he would n't have dispensedwith it, had he been able. It was in this temper he entered the roomwhere the guests were now assembled, and, rather impatiently, awaitinghis arrival.
It is a very cold, calculating sort of interval, that ten minutes beforedinner; and men regard the stranger presented to them with feelings farmore critical than kindly. Massingbred did not go through the ordealunscathed; and it was easy to see in the constraint and reserve of allpresent, how little his appearance contributed to the promise of futureconviviality. He made no effort to dispel this impression, for, aftersaluting each in turn, he walked to the window, and amused himself withwhat was passing in the street.
The dinner was announced at last, and passed off drearily enough; noneliked to adventure on any topic of local interest, and they knew oflittle others. Brierley was stiffly polite; the priest blandly tranquil;the host himself uneasy and anxious; and poor old Peter Hayes, of thePriory, downright melancholy.
Massingbred saw the effect he was producing, and saw it with pleasure.His calculation was this: "Had I started 'at speed' with these fellows,they would have blown me at once. All my efforts to assimilate myselfto their tastes, to join in their habits and adopt their notions, wouldhave been detected in a trice. They must be brought to believe that theyhave made a convert of me themselves; the wider the space between usat first, the greater will be their merit in making me forget it in theend."
As the whiskey-punch made its appearance, and the bottle of port waspassed up beside the stranger, Massingbred thought the time was comewhen he might change his tactics, and open the campaign in force. "No,"said he, as the host pushed the wine towards him, "I 've come over hereto try and learn something about Ireland, and I must give myself everyadvantage of judging from a native point of view. This excellent oldport may strengthen a man to stand by many an old prejudice, but myobject is to lay in a new stock of ideas, and I 'd rather try a newregimen."
"That 's your bottle, then, sir. Try that," said Brierley, pushingtowards him a small square decanter of a faint greenish fluid.
"That is 'poteen,' Mr. Massingbred," said the host. "It's the smallstill that never paid the King a farthing."
"I like it all the better, for that reason," said Jack. "There'ssomething independent in the very thought of a liquor that neversubmitted to the indignity of a gauger."
"That's not a very English sentiment, sir," said the priest, slyly.
"I don't know whether it be or not," rejoined Massingbred; "but I canneither perceive common-sense or justice in a law that will not allowa man to do what he likes with his own. Why, if Parliament declaredto-morrow you should n't boil your potatoes in Ireland, but eat themfried--or that you should n't make bread of your corn, but eat it withmilk as the Neapolitans do--"
"I wish we could do the same here, with all my heart," said the priest."It's little wheat or even barley-meal one of our poor people eversees."
"A wet potato and water is their diet," said old Hayes, as he sipped hispunch.
"I can believe it well," said Massingbred, with great semblance offeeling. "I witnessed dreadful poverty and destitution as I came along,and I couldn't help asking myself: What are the gentry about in thiscountry? Do they or do they not see these things? If they do, are theyindifferent to them?"
"They are indifferent to them; or even worse, they rejoice in them,"broke in a deep-voiced, energetic-looking man, who sat at the footof the table, and had, although silent, taken a deep interest in theconversation. "They see, sir, in the destitution of Ireland anotherrivet in the chains of her bondage. As my 'august leader' remarked, it'sthe rust on the fetters, though--and if it proclaims the length of thecaptivity, it suggests the hope of freedom."
"Mr. Magennis is the dearest friend and trusty agent of Mr. O'Connell,"said Nelligan, in a whisper to Massingbred.
"Here's his health, whoever said that!" cried Jack, enthusiastically,and as if not hearing the host's observation.
"That's a toast; we'll all drink--and standing, too," exclaimedMagennis. "'Daniel O'Connell, gentlemen, hip, hip, hurra! '" And theroom rang again with the hearty acclamations of the company.
"By Jove! there was something very fine--it was chivalrous--in the wayhe brought the Catholic question to issue at last. The bold expedientof testing the event by an individual experience was as clever as it wasdaring," exclaimed Massingbred.
"You were in favor of the measure then, sir?" said Father Neal, with abland smile that might mean satisfaction or suspicion.
"I was always an Emancipationist; but I am little satisfied withthe terms on which the bill has been passed. I 'd have had norestrictions,--no reservations. It should, according to me, have beenunconditional or nothing."
"You've heard the old proverb about half a loaf, sir?" said Hayes, witha dry laugh.
"And a poor adage it is, in its ordinary acceptation," said Jack,quickly. "It 's the prompting spirit to many a shabby compromise! Whatdisabilities should apply to any of us here, in regard to any postor position in our country's service, by reason of opinions which arebetween ourselves and our own hearts--I say any of us, because somehere--one I perceive is"--and he bowed to Father Rafferty--"aCatholic; and I for myself avow that, if for no other reason than thisproscription, I'd be on this side."
"You're not in Parliament, sir, are you?" asked old Peter, with aseriousness that sorely tested the gravity of those at either side ofhim.
"No," said Jack, frankly. "My father and I don't agree on thesesubjects; and, consequently, though there is a seat in my family, I havenot the honor to occupy it."
"Are you any relation to Colonel Moore Massingbred, sir?" askedMagennis. "His son, sir."
The questioner bowed, and a brief silence ensued; short as it was, itenabled Jack to decide upon his next move, and take it.
"Gentlemen," said he, "I 'm fully aware that my name is not a favoritein Ireland; and shall I own to you, till I came to this country myself,I half believed that this same humble opinion of us was to our credit!I used to hear such narratives of Irish barbarism, Irish brutality,priestcraft, superstition, and Heaven knows what besides, that I fullypersuaded myself that our small repute was very nigh to an eulogium onus. Well, I came over to Trinity College strongly impressed with thenotion that, because I had gained successes at Oxford, here I should betriumphant. It is in no boastfulness I say that I had acquitted myselfwell at home; I had attained to rather a reputation. Well, as I said, Icame over to Trinity and pitted myself against the best man going, anda very pretty beating he gave me. Yes, gentlemen, he beat me ineverything, even in those which we Oxford men fancy our specialties. Isoon learned that I had not the shadow of a pretension to stand againsthim, and I learned, also, that it was no disgrace to me to be thusvanquished, since he was not alone the foremost man of his time, butthe best scholar the University had seen for a full century; and shallI add, as unpretending and as modest in the midst of all his triumphs ashe was unapproachable by all competitors. And now; gentlemen, I willask your leave to drink his health; doubtless it has been many a timetoasted before over the same table, but none ever more ardently followedthe sentiment with his whole heart than do I in proposing to you, 'Threecheers for Joe Nelligan.'"
The rambling opening of this brief speech was quite forgotten in theenthusiasm that greeted its close. In every respect it was a happydiversion. It relieved the company from a discussion that promised butgloomily. It brought back their minds to a pleasant theme, and enabledthem, so to say, to pay off in grateful cheers to the
ir host his ownhospitable reception of them. As for Nelligan himself, he was sincerely,deeply affected; and though he twice essayed to speak, he could get nofurther than "My son Joe"--"my boy"--and sat down murmuring--"Thankyou--God bless you for it"--and covered his face with his hands.
Awkward as was the moment, it was relieved by the company filling theirglasses and nodding in most friendly fashion to Massingbred as theydrank his health; while a low murmur of approbation went round thetable, of which he was most unmistakably the object.
"Are you fond of shooting, sir?" asked Brierley. "Well, then, I hopeyou'll not leave the country without giving me a day or two up at mylittle place in the mountains: There's some snipe left; and, upon myconscience, I'll be proud to see you at Kilmaccud."
"And there's worse quarters, too!" broke in Magennis. "My 'augustleader' spent a day and a half there."
"I'll drive you over there myself," whispered Father Neal, "if you'llfinish the week at the 'Rookery,'--that's what they call the priest'shouse."
Massingbred accepted everything, and shook hands across the table inratification of half a dozen engagements.
"You don't think I'll let you cheat me out of my guest so easily," saidNelligan. "No, gentlemen. This must be Mr. Massingbred's head-quartersas long as he stays here, for, faith, I 'd not give him up to Mr. Martinhimself."
"And who may he be?" asked Jack.
"Martin of Cro' Martin."
"The owner of half the county."
"Of the town you 're in, this minute."
"The richest proprietor in the West."
Such were the pattering replies that poured in upon him, while words ofintense astonishment at his ignorance were exchanged on all sides.
"I believe I have given you a fair guarantee for my ignorance,gentlemen," said Jack, "in confessing that I never so much as heard ofMartin of Cro' Martin. Does he reside on his estate here?"
"Yes, sir," said Nelligan, "he lives at Cro' Martin Castle, aboutsixteen miles from this; and certainly, while in this part of thecountry, you ought to pay the place a visit. I have never been theremyself, but I hear the most astonishing accounts of the splendor of thefurniture and the magnificence of the whole establishment."
"There's pictures there," said the priest, "that cost the grandfather ofthe present man a quarter of a million sterling."
"Why, the three statues in the hall, they say, are worth ten thousandpounds," said Brierley.
"Be gorra! when a man would give four hundred for a bull, there 's nosaying what he 'd stop at," broke in Peter Hayes. "I went up to seehim myself, and indeed he's a beauty, there 's no denying it,--but fourhundred pound! Think of four hundred pound!"
"The stable is the best thing in the place," said Father Neal; "they 'remighty nice cattle, there, for every kind of work."
"Thanks to his niece for that," cried Magennis; "she knows a horse withany man in the West of Ireland."
"And can break him, too," chimed in Brierley; "I don't care what histemper is. Let Miss Mary get her hand on him, and he 'll turn out well."
"I 'm driving an old chestnut mare this minute that she trained," saidthe priest; "and though she has n't a good leg amongst the four, and istouched in the wind, she 's as neat a stepper, and as easy in the mouthas a five-year-old."
"She 's a fine young woman!" said old Hayes, drinking off his glassas though toasting her to himself, "and not like any Martin ever I seenbefore."
"No pride about her!" said Brierley.
"I wouldn't exactly say that, Matthew," interposed Father Neal. "But herpride isn't the common kind."
"She's as proud as Lucifer!" broke in Nelligan, almost angrily. "Did youever see her drive up to a shop-door in this town, and make the peoplecome out to serve her, pointing with her whip to this, that, andt'other, and maybe giving a touch of the lash to the boy if he would n'tbe lively enough?"
"Well, I 'd never call her proud," rejoined old Hayes, "after seeing hersitting in Catty Honan's cabin, and turning the bread on the griddle forher, when Catty was ill."
"Is she handsome?" asked Massingbred, who was rather interested by thevery discrepancy in the estimate of the young lady.
"We can agree upon that, I believe, sir," said the priest; "there 's nodisputing about her beauty."
"I never saw her in a room," said Magennis; "but my 'august leader'thought her masculine."
"No, no," said Nelligan; "she 's not. She has the Martinmanner,--overbearing and tyrannical,--if you like; but she can be gentleenough with women and children."
"You have certainly given me a strong curiosity to see her," saidMassingbred. "Does she always live here?"
"Always. I don't believe she was ever beyond the bounds of the county inher life!"
"And how does she pass her time?" asked he, with some astonishment.
"She manages the whole estate," said Nelligan; "her uncle 's a conceitedold fool, incapable of anything, and lets her do what she likes; andso she drains, and plants, and encloses; makes roads, bridges, and evenharbors; has all the new-fangled inventions about farming, and, ifwhat I hear be true, is spending more money on the property than thefee-simple is worth."
"Yes, sir," chimed in Magennis; "and she 's trying hard to bring backthe old feudal devotion to the Chief, which was the bane of Ireland.She wants the tenants to have no will of their own, but just to votewhatever the landlord tells them. She had the impudence to tell my'august leader' that they had no need of him down there,--that thecounty was too poor to waste its energies in factious squabbles."
"If she 'd let the people alone about their religion, I 'd think betterof her," said Father Neal. "What does _she_ know about controversialpoints and disputed dogmas?"
"Maybe you 're wrong about that," broke in Peter Hayes. "She came to methe other day for ten shillings for a school, and she said, 'Come over,Mr. Hayes; come and tell me if there 's anything you are dissatisfiedwith.'"
"And did you go?" asked the priest.
"Faix! I did not," said Peter, with a dry look. "I thought the visitmight cost me ten shillings, and so I stayed at home."
The manner in which he uttered these words produced a hearty laugh, inwhich he himself most good-humoredly took part.
"Well, she's good to the poor, anyhow," said Brierley; "and it's a newthing for one of her name to be so!"
"All policy, all scheming!" said Magennis. "She sees how the familyinfluence has declined, and is fast becoming obliterated in thiscountry, by reason of their worthlessness, insolence, and neglect of thepeople; and she 's just shrewd enough to see how far a little cajolerygoes with poor Paddy; but, as my 'august leader' observed, it is not afrieze coat, nor a pair of brogues, that can compensate for the loss ofthat freedom that is every man's birthright; and it is not by an ounceof tea, or a dose of physic, we 'll ever see Ireland great, glorious,and free."
"'First gem of the earth, and first flower of the sea!'" exclaimedHayes, with enthusiasm.
Nor in the moment was the blunder of his quotation noticed by any butMassingbred. "You are an admirer of Tommy Moore, I see, sir?" said he,to the old man.
"I am fond of 'The Meeting of the Waters,' sir," said Hayes, meekly, andlike a man who was confessing to a weakness.
"And here 's the man to sing it!" cried Brierley, clapping the priestfamiliarly on the shoulder; a proposal that was at once hailed withacclamation.
"'T is many a long day I have n't sung a note," said Father Neal,modestly.
"Come, come, Father Neal; we'll not let you off that way. It's not underthis roof that you can make such an excuse!"
"He 'd rather give us something more to his own taste," said Brierley."'To Ladies' eyes around, boys,'--eh, Father Rafferty?"
"That's my favorite of all the songs he sings," broke in Magennis.
"Let it be, 'To Ladies' eyes!'" cried Massingbred; "and we 'll drink'Miss Martin's.' 'I 'll warrant she 'll prove an excuse for the glass.'"And he sang the line with such a mellow cadence that the whole tablecheered him.
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T
o the priest's song, given with considerable taste and no mean musicalskill, there followed, in due course, others, not exactly so successful,by Brierley and Magennis, and, at last, by old Peter himself, whowarbled out a wonderful ditty, in a tone so doleful that two of thecompany fell fast asleep under it, and Brierley's nerves were soaffected that, to support himself, he got most completely drunk, and ina very peremptory tone told the singer to desist!
"Don't you perceive," cried he, "that there 's a strangerpresent,--a young English cub,--come down to laugh at us? Have you nodiscretion,--have you no decency, Peter Hayes, but you must go on withyour stupid old 'croniawn' about dimples and the devil knows what?"
"Another tumbler, Mr. Massingbred,--one more?" said the host, with theair, however, of one who did not exact compliance.
"Not for the world," said Jack, rising from table. "Have I yourpermission to light a cigar?"
"To do just whatever you please," said Nelligan, rather astonished atthe formal preparations for smoking he now perceived brought forth, andwhich at the time we tell of were not so popular as in our own day.
The priest alone accepted Massingbred's offer of a "weed;" and Nelligan,opening a door into an adjoining room where tea was laid, threw alsowide a little sash-door that led into the garden, whose cool andfragrant air was perfectly delicious at the moment. Jack strolled downthe steps and soon lost himself in the dark alleys, not sorry to be leftalone with his own thoughts, after a scene in which his convivial powershad been taxed to no mean extent.
"A clever young fellow! There's stuff in him," said the priest, in awhisper to Nelligan.
"And no impudence about him," said Brierley; "he's just like one ofourselves."
"He has a wonderful opinion of Joe!" said Nelligan.
"He's the very man for my 'august leader,'" said Magennis. "I 'd like tobring them together!"
"His father 's a Treasury Lord," said Nelligan, swelling at the thoughtof his being the host of such company!
"And I 'll tell you what, Dan Nelligan," said the priest,confidentially, "talents won't do everything, nowadays, without highconnections; mark my words, and see if that young man does n't standhigh yet. He has just got every requirement of success. He has goodfamily, good looks, good abilities, and"--here he dropped his voicestill lower--"plenty of brass. Ay, Dan, if Joe could borrow a little ofhis friend's impudence, it would be telling him something."
Nelligan nodded assentingly; it was about the only quality in the worldwhich he could have believed Joe stood in any need of getting a loan of.
"Joe beat him out of the field," said Dan, proudly. "He told me sohimself, this morning."
"No doubt; and he would again, where the contest was a college one; but'Life,' my dear friend,--life demands other gifts beside genius."
"Ganius!" broke in old Hayes, with an accent of the profoundestcontempt,--"Ganius! I never knew a 'Ganius' yet that was n't the ruinof all belonging to him! And whenever I see a young fellow that knows notrade, nor has any livelihood, who's always borrowing here and beggingthere, a torment to his family and a burden to his friends, I set himdown at once for a 'Ganius.'"
"It's not _that_ I was alluding to, Mr. Hayes," said the priest, insome irritation. "I spoke of real ability, sterling powers of mind andthought, and I hope that they are not to be despised."
"Like my 'august leader's'!" said Magennis, proudly.
"Ay, or like that young gentleman's there," said Father Neal, with thetone of a man pronouncing upon what he understood. "I watched him to-dayat dinner, and I saw that every remark he made was shrewd and acute, andthat whenever the subject was new to him, he fell into it as he wenton talking, picking up his facts while he seemed to be discussing them!Take my word for it, gentlemen, he 'll do!"
"He does n't know much about flax, anyhow," muttered old Hayes.
"He took his punch like a man," said Brierley, bearing testimony on apoint where his evidence was sure to have weight.
"He'll do!" said Father Neal once more, and still more authoritativelythan before.
"Joe carried away every premium from him," said old Nelligan, with adegree of irritation that proclaimed how little he enjoyed the priest'seulogy of his guest.
"I know he did, sir; and no man has a higher respect for your son'sgreat abilities than myself; but here 's how it is, Mr. Nelligan,"--andhe drew himself up like a man about to deliver a profoundopinion,--"here 's how it is. The mind that can master abstract scienceis one thing; the faculties that can deal with fellow-mortals isanother. This world is not a University!"
"The Lord be praised for that same!" cried old Hayes, "or I 'm afraid I'd fare badly in it."
"To unite both descriptions of talent," resumed the priest,oratorically, "is the gift of but few."
"My 'august leader' has them," broke in Magennis.
"Show me the man that can deal with men!" said Father Neal,dictatorially.
"Women is twice as hard to deal with!" cried old Hayes. "I 'll backNancy Drake against any man in the barony."
"Faith, and I remember her a pretty woman," said Brierley, who wouldgladly have enticed the conversation out of its graver character."A prettier girl than Mary Martin herself!" continued the inexorableBrierley, for the company did not appear to approve of his diversion.
"We are now discussing politics,--grave questions of state, sir," saidFather Neal,--"for we have come to times when even the most indifferentand insignificant amongst us cannot refrain feeling an interest inthe progress of our country. And when I see a fine young man like thatthere, as one may say going a-begging for a party, I tell you that weare fools--worse than fools--if we don't secure him."
"Do you mean for the borough?" asked Nelligan.
"I do, sir,--I mean for the borough!"
"Not till we have consulted my 'august leader,' I hope," broke inMagennis.
"I'm for managing our own affairs ourselves," said the priest. "What wewant is a man of our own; and if that young gentleman there will takethe pledges we should propose, I don't know that we'd readily get thelike of him."
The silence that now fell upon the party was ominous; it was plain thateither the priest's proposition was not fully acquiesced in, or that themode of announcing it was too abrupt. Perhaps this latter appeared thecase to his own eyes, for he was the first to speak.
"Of course what I have said now is strictly among ourselves, and not tobe mentioned outside of this room; for until my friend Dan Nelliganhere consents to take the field against the Martin interest, there isno chance of opening the borough. Let him once agree to _that_, and themember for Oughterard will be his own nominee."
"Do you really think so?" asked Nelligan, eagerly.
"I know it, sir; and every gentleman at this table knows it."
A strong chorus in assent murmured around the board.
"It would be a great struggle," muttered Nelligan.
"And a great victory!" said the priest.
"What a deal of money, too, it would cost!"
"You have the money, Dan Nelligan; and let me tell you one thing,"--herehe leaned over his chair and whispered some words in the other's ear.
Old Nelligan's face flushed as he listened, and his eyes sparkled withintense excitement.
"If I thought _that_--if I only thought that, Father Rafferty--I 'dspend half my fortune on it to-morrow."
"It's as true as I'm a living man," said the priest, solemnly; and thenwith a motion of his hand gestured caution, for Massingbred was slowlyascending the steps, and about to enter the room.
With an instinctive readiness all his own, he saw in the embarrassedand conscious looks around that he had himself been the object of theirdiscussion, and with the same shrewdness he detected their favorablefeeling towards him.
"I have made them my own!" muttered he to himself.
"He 'll do our work well!" said the priest in his heart.