'Lady Gwyn,' said I, 'these outrages are on my house, not on your's. But be well assured that whatever injury your personal property may sustain, it is contrary to my wishes, and will by me be amply compensated.' 'Gracious powers!' exclaimed she. 'My precious cabinet, and all my furniture will be demolished! Won't you save my house? won't you? dear ma'am, won't you?' '_Your_ house?' cried Jerry. 'Why I had your own word for it just now that it was my own lady's house. So, if you told a lie, take the consequence. But we have got possession, and let me see who will dare drive us out.' 'Here they are that will soon drive you out!' cried a servant. 'Here they are, here they are!' echoed every one. All eyes were now directed down the avenue, and, to my horror, I perceived a large party of soldiers, in full march towards the house. 'We shall have a bloody battle of it,' whispered Jerry. 'But never fear, my lady, we will fight to the last gasp. Hollo, lads, here is a battle for you!' At that magic word, all the Irishmen clubbed their sticks, and ran forward. 'We must surrender,' said I. 'Never could I bear the dreadful contest.' 'By the mother that bore me,' cried Jerry, 'I will defend the house in spite of you!' 'Then I will walk out of it,' said I. 'Well, surrender away!' cried Jerry, 'and may all the---- Oh! murder, murder, to give up your own house without a bit of a battle!' By this time the soldiers had arrived, and the magistrate who was at their head, advanced, and desired me to have the door opened instantly. 'Provided you pledge yourself that none of my brave fellows shall be punished,' answered I. 'You shall all be punished with the utmost rigour of the law,' said the magistrate. 'Since that is the case then,' cried I, 'and since I cannot keep possession of my house, I am resolved that no one else shall. Know, Sir, I have, at this instant, six of my domestics, each with a lighted brand, stationed in different apartments; and the moment you order your men to advance, that moment I give the signal, and the house bursts into a blaze.' 'If you dare,' cried the magistrate. 'Dare!' cried Lady Gwyn. 'The creature would dare any thing. Dare! why she burned a house once before. She did, I protest to you; so pray, make some conditions with her, or she will burn this now. I tell you the girl is quite----' and she whispered something in the magistrate's ear. 'Well,' said the magistrate to me, 'will you promise never to come here again, provided I now let you and your gang pass without detention or punishment?' 'I will,' answered I. 'But I must make some conditions too. In the first place, will your ladyship give me back my cloaths and the money that I left behind me, when I was here last?' 'I will,' answered her ladyship. 'In the next place,' said I, 'will your ladyship promise not to prevent me from inhabiting Monkton Castle, till such time as the law shall determine which of us has a right to the contested estates?'