That they were without principle or honesty he was perfectly satisfied;
but he knew it was their interest to keep within bounds in all matters
connected with their employment, He laughed very heartily at Finigan's
blunder--for such it evidently was--in signing his name to a document
that he intended to be anonymous.
"At all events," thought he, "I will ride over to his 'seminary,' as he
calls it, and see what he can mean, or what his object is in sending me
such a warning."
He accordingly did so, and in some twenty minutes reached a small cabin
that stood about a couple of hundred yards from the high-road. A little
bridle way led to it, as did several minor pathways, each radiating
from a different direction. It was surrounded by four or five acres of
common, where the children played from twelve to one, at which hour
Mr. O'Finigan went to the house of some wealthy benefactor to dine. The
little village of Ballydruthy, at a short distance from which it stood,
was composed of a couple dozen dwelling-houses, a chapel, a small
grocer's and publican's, together with a Pound at the entrance, through
which ran a little stream necessary to enable the imprisoned cattle to
drink.
On riding up to the school, Hycy, as he approached the door, heard his
own name repeated by at least two dozen voices.
"Here's a gintleman, masther"--"It's Misther Hycy Burke, sir "--"It is,
bedad, sir, Hycy the sportheen--"
"Him that rides the race, masther"--"Ay, an' he has on top-boots and
buckskins, an's as gran' as a gintleman--"
"Silence!" said Finigan, "silence! I say; is this proper scholastic
decorum in the presence of a stranger? Industry and taciturnity, you
reptiles, or castigation shall result.
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