"And pray, why not, may I ask ?" "Simply," said Fenton, "because I have taken a fancy for it beyond its value.

I shall retain it as pocket-money.

Like the Vicar of Wakefield's daughters, I shall always keep it about me; and then, like them also, I will never want money." "That is a strange whim," observed the other, "and rather an unaccountable one, besides." "Not in the slightest degree," replied Fenton, "if you knew as much as I do; but, at all events, just imagine that I am both capricious and eccentric; so don't be surprised at anything I say or do." "Neither shall I," replied "the anonymous" "However, to come to other matters, pray what kind of a town is this of Ballytrain ?" "It is by no means a bad town," replied Fenton, "as towns and times go.

It has a market-house, a gaol, a church, as you have seen--a Roman Catholic chapel, and a place of worship for the Presbyterian and Methodist.

It has, besides, that characteristic locality, either of English legislation or Irish crimes--or, perhaps, of both--a gallows-green.