Cinder Path Tales

AND EVERY ONE A WINNER 173 it would be a charity to look after them. In fact, I played the hypocrite in a way for which I should have been ashamed. Although Tomand the boys gave unmis­ takable signs of " having dined," and Paddy of his heroic remedies against the night, we all meander to the barfor a last measure of precaution, light fresh cigars, and sally forth. The clocks are striking eight as the door swings behind us, the stars are beginning to show, and the street lights to shine. The air is mild, and the pavements seem like a country road after the awful crowd of the lobby. The rattle of the pavements is silence compared with the rattle of tongues which we have left behind us. We pile into a carriage which Paddy se­ lects from a number drawnup to the curb, — because thedriver isa Connemara man. We are not particularly comfortable with three on one seat, and five pairs of long legs inter­ laced ; but our ride is enlivened by Paddy's conversation, no less brilliant than fluent, which is a magnificent compliment. Occa­ sionally Tom succeeds in getting in a word, but the rest of us are out of it. He is about to give us some reminiscences of"Dinny's" boyhood when the carriage stops, much to our surprise, forwe do not realize the lapse of time.