From the quantity he had drunk, the heat of the weather, and the dustiness of the roads, being excessively thirsty, he had at every hedge-alehouse that he passed poured in large potations, and by the time he arrived at Ferrybridge was in that state of drunkenness in which a man says whatever he thinks or feels, without any regard to time, place, or company. He inquired for Brotherton, and informed the landlord, waiters, and hostlers, that he was going to fetch the fool his father-in-law from the clutches of that scoundrel colonel Hamilton. It was now the end of June; and the colonel, having continued free from any fresh attack, was sitting with his wife and son at a parlour window facing the gate, while his brother and the reverend old gentleman were amusing themselves at another window with a hit at backgammon, and old Maxwell, who had been paying them a visit, was just opening the gate to depart, when a chaise came up, and a loud, boisterous, and angry voice called out, “Pray, old fellow, is Hamilton of Etterick here?” “Old fellow!” replied Maxwell, “I do not know who the devil you are, but you’re a fellow, and a damned unmannerly fellow.” “Keep a good tongue in your head, or by Jasus I will give you a touch of the shillala, my boy.” “O! ’tis your own self, Mr. Patrick,” said Maxwell, “with a drop of whisky in your head, and therefore I make allowances. Mr. Hamilton of Etterick is here, what do you want with him?” During this dialogue our hero went to the gate, where by this time Mr. O’Rourke was alighted; and accosting him civilly, inquired his commands. “I am come after that old fool Etterick; are you one of the Hamiltons?”--“Yes.”--“Then I am Roger O’Rourke, Esq. of Carrick, and heir apparent of the Etterick estate. You have inveigled my father-in-law from Etterick, among you, without my privity and concurrence; and I am come to bring him back. So now, honey, you have my name, designation, and business; but where is the old one, he must come off with me immediately. I have ordered a supper and beds at the Inn there by the bridge.” “You appear, sir,” said Hamilton, “not to understand what you are saying; but if you are really Mr. O’Rourke that married my cousin, if you will step in and repose, you may in the morning be better able to explain yourself.” “What the devil, do you suppose I am tipsy? Well to be sure I do feel a little comical; but where is Etterick?”--“He is within.” Our hero’s sister, a fine young girl about sixteen, had just entered the parlour from the garden, without having heard of this visitor, when the first object she beheld was O’Rourke staggering into the room. This person was about six feet four inches high, about twenty-one inches across the shoulders, with legs large and muscular in proportion. Projecting from his face was a huge Roman nose, like the proboscis of an elephant; his eyes were light grey, and beamed with vivacity mixed with stolidity, and now