In order to consider the important topic at his leisure, he hired the only lodging in Carrowkeel--the apartment (it was both bed and sitting room) over Mr.
Rafferty's public-house.

The furniture had suffered during the tenancy of a series of Congested Districts Board officials.

An engineer, who went to sleep in the evenings over the fire, had burnt a round hole in the hearthrug.

An instructor in fish-curing, a hilarious young man, had cracked the mirror over the mantelpiece, and broken many ornaments, including the fellow of the large china dog which now mourned its mate on the sideboard.

Other gentlemen had been responsible for dislocating the legs of two chairs and a disorganization of the handle, which made it impossible to shut the door from the inside.