A Resident Magistracy in Ireland is not an easy thing to come bynowadays; neither is it a very attractive job; yet on the evening whenI first propounded the idea to the young lady who had recentlyconsented to become Mrs. Sinclair Yeates, it seemed glittering withpossibilities. There was, on that occasion, a sunset, and a stringband playing "The Gondoliers," and there was also an ingenuous beliefin the omnipotence of a godfather of Philippa's—(Philippa was theyoung lady)—who had once been a member of the Government.
I was then climbing the steep ascent of the Captains towards myMajority. I have no fault to find with Philippa's godfather; he didall and more than even Philippa had expected; nevertheless, I hadattained to the dignity of mud major, and had spent a good deal onpostage stamps, and on railway fares to interview people of influence,before I found myself in the hotel at Skebawn, opening long envelopesaddressed to "Major Yeates, R.M."