It  surprised  Mr.  D'Oyly  to  see  Wee  Mon  Oins,  who  he
remembered  well  as  having  given  him  a  novel  idea  or  two,
sitting  in  their  parlour  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owens  on  one
occasion.  The  surprise  increased  when  the  event  was  re-
peated several  times  in  succession.  Not,  however,  until
Mr.  Owens  told  him  in  plain  words  that  the  Wee  Mon
was  their  kinsman  did  he  discover  that  there  was  really
nothing  to  be  surprised  at,

"  Take  a  seat,  Mr.  D'Oyly,"  Alec  said;  "  this  is  my
cousin.  Oiny,  from  Foughilotra,  it's  like  ye've  seen  him
before.  Him  an'  the  mistress  an'  me  were  brought  up
in  Foughilotra,  as  fren's,  the  best,  but  one  thing  or
another  came  between  us,  an'  for  many  a  day  we  passed
no  word  with  other.  But  Oiny  took  himself  up  an'  is
wise,  an'  that  bein'  the  case,  the  mistress  an'  me  is  not
the  sort  that  we'd  turn  our  back  on  him  an'  discourage
him."

"  Ye  ever  held.  Alec,"  Mrs.  Owens  said,  "  that  Oiny
would  come  to  himself  in  the  en',  it  bein'  in  him  to
order  himself  any  one  way."

"  Not  as  often  as  she  said  it,  Mr.  D'Oyly.  She  thinks
the  like  of  Oiny  in  ways  there  isn't  on  this  earth,  and  it
did  fret  her  sore  his  carryin'-on  an'  disgracin'  himself.
But  as  we  couldn't  countenance  the  like,  we  had  to  give
him  the  go-bye  agen  our  will."

Wee  Mon  Oins  took  these  remarks  with  calm  indif-
ference, as  if,  indeed,  he  did  not  hear  them,  but  Mr.
D'Oyly  did  not  understand  the  situation.  He  ceased  to
be  surprised  at  the  relationship  only  to  be  surprised  at
finding  that  the  Owens  seemed  to  look  on  their  kinsman


108  FOUGHILOTRA :    A   FORBYE  STORY.
