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Book, page 141 / 485 _Pat._ Not a drop, ma'am--so they can't stand before you. _Catty._ They _ought_ not, any way!--What are they? Cromwellians at the best. Mac Brides! Scotch!--not Irish native, at-all-at-all. People of yesterday, graziers--which tho' they've made the money, can't buy the blood. My anshestors sat on a throne, when the McBrides had only their _hunkers_[1] to sit upon; and if I walk now when they ride, they can't look down upon me--for every body knows who I am--and what they are. [Footnote 1: Their _hunkers_, i.e. their hams.] _Pat._ To be sure, ma'am, they do--the whole country talks of nothing else, but the shame when you'd be walking and they riding. _Catty._ Then could the counshillor lend me the horse? _Pat._ With all the pleasure in life, ma'am, only every horse he has in the world is out o' messages, and drawing turf and one thing or another to-day--and he is very sorry, ma'am. _Catty._ So am I, then--I'm unlucky the day. But I won't be saying so, for fear of spreading ill luck on my faction. Pray now what kind of a fair is it?--Would there be any good signs of a fight, Mr. Pat Coxe? _Pat._ None in life as yet, ma'am--only just buying and selling. The horse-bastes, and horned-cattle, and pigs squeaking, has it all to themselves. But it's early times yet--it won't be long so. _Catty._ No McBrides, no Ballynavogue boys gathering yet? _Pat._ None to signify of the McBrides, ma'am, at all. _Catty._ Then it's plain them McBrides dare not be showing their faces, or even their backs, in Ballynavogue. But sure all our Ballynascraw boys, the Roonies, are in it as usual, I hope? _Pat._ Oh, ma'am, there is plinty of Roonies. I marked Big Briny of Cloon, and Ulick of Eliogarty, and little Charley of Killaspugbrone. _Catty._ All _good_ men[1]--no better. Praise be where due.
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