“PAT” TO THE RESCUE, 57

wearing apparel does not appear to occasion
him the same amount of anxiety, though, for
he smiles and bows and looks in the highest
spirits as he helps me into the carriage.

Before settling myself again I feel in my
pocket for a stray sixpence which I remem-
ber having put there yesterday, and drawing
it forth with my handkerchief amidst a
shower of crumbs, cherry-stones, slate-pencils,
pens, &c., I tender it to my companion and
say, “ Please take this; and can you tell me
any shorter road than this to M—?”

“Och and begorra, now!” he says, after
pocketing the sixpence with alacrity, “but
that’s a puzzling question that your axing
me, for sure it’s only one road at all that
there is; but it’s not disappointing ye that
Td be after all, so [ll tell ye this, that the
further ye goes on that the nearer ye'll be to
the end of it.”

Having thanked him for this piece of
information, I fecl that I am wasting valu-
able time; so, after wishing him “Good
morning!” and receiving another shower of