But profiting by Mrs. Temple's hint, she never now said any thing that might lead to the supposition of her being a "learned lady;" at the same time, she heartily joined in the praises, which even Mrs. O'Sullivan and her daughters bestowed on the groupe before them. "It is not all pure nature, however," said Colonel Desmond; "itinerant dancing-masters go about the country, and there is no lad or lass so poor, that once in their lives, at least, can't afford half a crown for the benefit of their education in this particular. They all gather together in some waste building, or on the level turf; and the scenes that take place in these assemblies are ludicrous beyond description. It is said, that one of our Connaught Vestrises found it necessary, to tie a straw rope about the right leg of his pupils, calling it suggar, and the other gad; and that he used to sing this rhyme to a tune that marks the time inimitably, beating it all the time with his foot: only conceive the bodily and mental labour of such a task!
"'Out with your suggar, my girl,
Right fal la fal la di dy,
Then the gad you must twirl,
Right fal la, &c.
Shuffle your suggar and gad,
Right fal la, &c.
Then you must set to the lad,
Right fal la, &c.'
"It is not surprising," continued he, "that some such contrivance should sometimes be necessary on our Irish mountains, when the Scripture informs us, that a hundred and twenty thousand Ninevese could not discern between their right hand and their left." Adelaide was much entertained by this allusion. And here let us advise those, who regret any accidental coldness that may have arisen with a friend, if they have drollery enough in their composition, to make him or her laugh by all means. It is the surest way in the world to restore familiarity of manner; for we cannot look suddenly cross at the person, who has, in spite of our best endeavours at sullenness, excited the unwilling smile. Those who are "too dull for a wit, too grave for a joker," may try the pathetic; and if they can draw forth sympathetic tears at any horrible story, it will answer the purpose nearly as well, though our experience certainly inclines to the former method.
Whilst the smile yet played on Adelaide's countenance, old Dennis walked up to her, and said, with a look where pleasure and regret strove for preeminence, "Faith, Miss dear, when I see your teeth as white as the water-lily, and your eyes dancing like the sunbeams on the lake, ye mind me of Miss Rose; you're the sauciest lady I've seen since she parted us, when she was in her fifteenth! The sweetest Rose was she in all Ireland, and the like will ne'er bloom again in Ballinamoyle." Adelaide graciously received the old man's compliment; and her eyes filled with tears, as she said to Colonel Desmond, "How much I feel interested for this Rose! She must have been most amiable, to be so long loved and remembered by these grateful people." "She was indeed," replied he, "one of those beings, that would lead a fanciful imagination to suppose, they had nearly arrived at perfection in some pre-existent state, and had been sent on earth, for a short space, to complete their probation, and show what a superior nature might be, even clogged with our corporeal infirmities. Mr. O'Sullivan never breathes his daughter's name, nor is it ever mentioned before him, except by nurse, whom it is impossible to restrain. His life has passed away so monotonously, that it seems but as yesterday since he lost her, and she now rises again forcibly to the remembrance of the elder inhabitants of this neighbourhood, from the circumstance of Caroline O'Sullivan being brought, as it were, to take her place; which, I assure you, they consider as a sort of sacrilegious usurpation, and feel no small indignation at her having been born in England. Poor Rose! hers was a fatal marriage!—But this is not a fit time to sadden you with the details of her melancholy story."
It was now dark, and some of the dancers came forward to receive the customary donations, after which they proceeded in a body elsewhere. They were in the act of setting up their last "hurra!" when, as if by appointed signal, all the hills were instantly illuminated with innumerable fires. In the distance blazed the altar of the sun, like a pyramid of light; the nearer flames were reflected in the still waters of the lake. Every island was gay with moving figures and bonfires. Within the spacious walls of the old castle in the centre islet was the largest of all, which was seen brightly beaming through the arched windows and dilapidated walls, while round it a groupe of merry boys and girls were dancing; and a sudden blaze showed here and there similar circles on every hill. Rejoicing voices rose and fell on the gales of night, which also conveyed, from time to time, the music of various instruments. "I never beheld so beautiful a scene," said Adelaide; "what is the origin of this custom?" "It descends to us from our pagan ancestry," replied Colonel Desmond, "who on this evening offered sacrifices to the sun on every hill. A similar custom was observed on the first of May and on the last of October, on which night we keep up the same ceremonies, which Burns has so beautifully described in his 'Hallow E'en.' At this moment the whole of this island is gay with garlands, and dancing, and music; and her numerous population are poured forth on every hill in their best attire, accompanied by mirth and glee, leaving all their cares behind them at their cottage doors." "I hope," said Caroline, "the fires in the castle won't hurt the little fairies Jarge Quin told us of, Adele; I dare say they ran in a great hurry up the walls; or may be the lake is covered with their tiny boats to take them away. When I live here, I never will let a single cobweb be swept." "Why, my dear child, have you so suddenly fallen in love with the spider tribe, as well as the fairies?" "Oh, nurse says they steal in at night through the keyhole, to take the cobwebs to make sails of them; and, when the wind blows them off, they stick to the trees and every thing, and they are twice as good for cuts as those in the house. I have been gathering a whole heap of them to take to England. Oh, Adele! I wish you would come and hear the beautiful stories nurse tells about kings, and queens, and giants. She puts her spectacles on her nose, and reads all morning out of a book she calls the 'Rabby Night's Intertinmant.' I run down to her every night before I go to bed, and she takes me on her knee, and tells it to me, and gives me cakes. Sometimes she cries when I kiss her, and then she talks to me of my dear papa, what a fine young gentleman he was before he went to be a soldier. I'll marry a soldier when I grow big. I think nurse and uncle love me better than any body but you, Adele." It was in vain that Caroline's best beloved endeavoured, in a low voice, to assure her of the warmth of her mother's and sister's affection; she said little in reply, but felt all the pain of being convinced against her will.
The party, when tired of admiring the admirable night scene the surrounding country presented, retired to the house; and by this time the rustic assembly had repaired to an empty barn, where they danced till sunrise, and then went out to make hay.
CHAPTER VIII.
Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele,
I'll sweeten thy sad grave.
Cymbeline.