E-text prepared by Delphine Lettau and Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D. THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN. by ANTHONY TROLLOPE, Author of "Dr. Thorne," "Orley Farm," "Miss Mackenzie," "Can You Forgive Her?" Etc. Fourth Edition. London: Chapman & Hall, 193, Piccadilly. 1866. CONTENTS I. BALLYCLORAN HOUSE AS FIRST SEEN BY THE AUTHOR II. THE MACDERMOT FAMILY III. THE TENANTRY OF BALLYCLORAN IV. MYLES USSHER V. FATHER JOHN VI. THE BROTHER AND SISTER VII. THE PRIEST'S DINNER PARTY VIII. MISS MACDERMOT AT HOME IX. MOHILL X. MR. KEEGAN XI. PAT BRADY XII. THE WEDDING XIII. HOW THE WEDDING PARTY WAS CONCLUDED XIV. DENIS McGOVERY'S TIDINGS XV. THE McKEONS XVI. PROMOTION XVII. SPORT IN THE WEST XVIII. HOW PAT BRADY AND JOE REYNOLDS WERE ELOQUENT IN VAIN XIX. THE RACES XX. HOW CAPTAIN USSHER SUCCEEDED XXI. THE CORONER'S INQUEST XXII. THE ESCAPE XXIII. AUGHACASHEL XXIV. THE SECOND ESCAPE XXV. RETROSPECTIVE XXVI. THE DUEL XXVII. FEEMY RETURNS TO BALLYCLORAN XXVIII. ASSIZES AT CARRICK-ON-SHANNON XXIX. THADY'S TRIAL IS COMMENCED XXX. THE PRISONER'S DEFENCE XXXI. THE LAST WITNESS XXXII. THE VERDICT XXXIII. THE END THE MACDERMOTS OF BALLYCLORAN. CHAPTER I. BALLYCLORAN HOUSE AS FIRST SEEN BY THE AUTHOR. In the autumn, 184--, business took me into the West of Ireland, and, amongst other places, to the quiet little village of Drumsna, which is in the province of Connaught, County Leitrim, about 72 miles W.N.W. of Dublin, on the mail-coach road to Sligo. I reached the little inn there in the morning by the said mail, my purpose being to leave it late in the evening by the day coach; and as my business was but of short duration, I was left, after an early dinner, to amuse myself. Now, in such a situation, to take a walk is all the brightest man can do, and the dullest always does the same. There is a kind of gratification in seeing what one has never seen before, be it ever so little worth seeing; and the gratification is the greater if the chances be that one will never see it again. Now Drumsna stands on a bend in the Shannon; the street leads down to a bridge, passing over which one finds oneself in the County Roscommon; and the road runs by the well-wooded demesne of Sir G---- K----; moreover there is a beautiful little hill, from which the demesne, river, bridge, and village can all be seen; and what farther _agremens_ than these could be wanted to make a pretty walk? But, alas! I knew not of their existence then. One cannot ask the maid at an inn to show one where to find the beauties of nature. So, trusting to myself, I went directly away from river, woods, and all,--along as dusty, ugly, and disagreeable a road as is to be found in any county in Ireland.