There seemed to be nothing wrong with the engine, nor with the connections, but, when we examined the batteries, we found that they had run down! I explained that I had filled them myself not two weeks ago, but when the professor saw that I had failed to note the date on the little card for that purpose, it was evident that he was sceptical. Well, there was nothing more to do but to have the batteries charged again, and as the man of the garage seemed to be a capable fellow, I hoped I should have no more trouble. We spent two pleasant days in Dublin, saw where Sir Frederick Cavendish had been murdered--this is not mentioned as one of the pleasures! And then went to the cathedral and thought of the savage old dean whom Thackeray has so wonderfully described--perhaps the best of all his portraits--then to Trinity College, where I confess, Charles O'Malley was more real to me than some of the scholars who have made illustrious that ancient seat of learning. The professor is not "sound" on Irish politics, but when we went to Dublin Castle and saw some of the young men whom England sends to govern the most imaginative people on earth, even he had to admit that things might be improved! Supercilious good manners in an atmosphere of boredom is not the best means for impressing the Irish with the intelligence, nor even with the justice, of England. The weather was again "set fair," so that we left Ireland in a blaze of glory. The Hodges were on their way to the Giant's Causeway. But when I told them they would find the roads bad, the professor remarked that no doubt all the roads were bad in the south, and that when Home Rule went into effect those of the north would be equally so, but that while the Union Jack floated over Belfast, and the Protestant religion was still a power, he had no fear! So we parted--perhaps it was time! We crossed to Hollyhead, and, the car running like a witch, it was not long before we reached the Waterloo, where John greeted us as if he had not thought of any one else since we were last there! XXXVI "ONE EVERY MINUTE" The self-starter is again out of order! I found it cheaper to pay an odd man a shilling each time I wanted to crank than to break my back, which is what I did on our way to Barchester. When we reached the hotel there, how different was our reception from that which John had accorded us at the Waterloo! The strictly polite and equally indifferent young woman at the desk seemed to think it rather a bore to have us return to them! I hear there is an old coaching inn in that town where they receive one as a friend, and if I ever return to that ancient city I shall go there. I took the car to the garage and asked the man in charge if he thought he could find the trouble. He said the battery was run down! Instead of saying what I thought, I politely remarked that that could hardly be as I had it charged less than a week before in Dublin. "Dublin!" he exclaimed contemptuously.