Benella believed this more or
less until a week's sea-sickness undermined all her new convictions
of every sort. When she woke in the little bedroom at O'Carolan's,
she says, her heart was quite at rest, for she knew that we were the
kind of people one could rely on! I mustered courage to say, "I
hope so, and I hope also that we shall be able to rely upon you,
Benella!"
This idea evidently had not occurred to her, but she accepted it,
and I could see that she turned it over in her mind. You can
imagine that this vague philosophy of a Salem woman scientist
superimposed on a foundation of orthodoxy makes a curious
combination, and one which will only be temporary.
We shall expect you to-morrow evening, and we shall be quite ready
to go on to the Lakes of Killarney or wherever you wish. By the
way, I met an old acquaintance the morning I arrived here. I went
to see Queen's College; and as I was walking under the archway which
has carved upon it, 'Where Finbarr taught let Munster learn,' I saw
two gentlemen. They looked like professors, and I asked if I might
see the college. They said certainly, and offered to take my card
into some one who would do the honours properly. I passed it to one
of them: we looked at each other, and recognition was mutual. He
(Dr. La Touche) is giving a course of lectures here on Irish
Antiquities. It has been a great privilege to see this city and its
environs with so learned a man; I wish you could have shared it.
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