Teeth cleaning guide

Teeth cleaning guide

Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is essential to keep your teeth and mouth healthy.

Your mouth contains bacteria, which live on your teeth, gums, lips and tongue. Some bacteria can be healthy in the right place, at the right time and in the right numbers. Our body needs this ‘friendly bacteria’. But other bacteria can be harmful and cause problems, especially if they attach themselves to the enamel that covers your teeth in the form of plaque.

Plaque is a film of bacteria that coats the teeth. The bacteria then feed on the sugars in our food and drink and produce acids that can destroy tooth enamel and cause decay.

If you don’t brush your teeth properly or look after your gums, these bacteria can multiply to form plaque. Plaque is the enemy of healthy teeth, contributing to gum disease, tooth decay and cavities.
Toothbrush tips

* Replace your brush, or the brush attachment, every three months.
* Never share your toothbrush, as this can spread infections.
* Brush twice daily for at least two minutes, using fluoride toothpaste.

Should I use an electric or manual toothbrush?
The type of toothbrush you use is important. For most adults a brush with a small head and a compact, angled arrangement of long and short, round-end bristles (filaments) is fine. Medium or soft bristles are best for most people. If in doubt ask your dentist.

An electric brush with an oscillating or rotating head will reduce plaque and the risk of developing gum disease more effectively.

What type of toothpaste should I use?
The cleansing agents and particles in toothpaste help to remove the plaque from your teeth, keeping them clean and healthy.

Most toothpastes contain fluoride, which helps to prevent and control cavities. It’s important to use one with the right concentration of fluoride for you, or your child. Check the packaging to find out how much fluoride each brand contains.

* Children aged up to three: use a smear of toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm fluoride. This means you can use the family toothpaste, not a special baby toothpaste, even at this age.
* Children aged three to six: use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste containing 1,350-1,500ppm fluoride.
* Adults: use a toothpaste containing at least 1,350ppm fluoride.

Brushing tips
The British Dental Health Foundation gives the following advice on how to brush your teeth.

1. Place the head of your toothbrush against your teeth, then tilt the bristle tips to a 45 degree angle against the gum line. Move the brush in small circular movements, several times, on all the surfaces of every tooth.
2. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower, keeping the bristles angled against the gum line.
3. Use the same method on the inside surfaces of all your teeth.
4. Brush the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
5. To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several small circular strokes with the toe (the front part) of the brush.
6. Brushing your tongue will help freshen your breath and will clean your mouth by removing bacteria.

Flossing isn't just a way to dislodge food wedged between your teeth. Regular flossing may help to reduce gum disease and bad breath by helping to remove the bacterial film (plaque) that forms along the gum line.

How to floss:

1. Take 12 to 18 inches of floss and grasp it so that you have a couple inches of floss taut between your hands.
2. Slip the floss between the teeth and into the area between your teeth and gums as far as it will go.
3. Floss with eight to 10 strokes, up and down between each tooth, to dislodge food and plaque.
4. Floss at least once a day. The most important time to floss is before going to bed.
5. You can floss either before or after brushing.

Should I use mouthwash?
Mouthwashes containing fluoride can be beneficial. Some may contain chlorhexidine or other antiseptic chemicals. These may be effective in improving plaque control and gum health when used as well as tooth brushing, or alone if you are unable to brush your teeth for some reason. But mouthwashes containing essential oils or other chemicals aren’t as effective.

Also remember that many mouthwashes may contain alcohol, so they aren’t suitable for children who could swallow it by accident. If you use a mouthwash with alcohol you may notice you get a very dry mouth and dry, cracked lips. This is due to the drying effect of the alcohol and can be remedied by using an alcohol-free mouthwash instead and by applying lip balm or vaseline to the lips.

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»I 2005



V



FLORENCE MACARTHY:

BY

LADY MORGAN,

AUTHOR OP '• FRANCE," ** O'DONNEL," &C.



Know ihus far forth :
By accident most strange, boiintiful fortune,
Now, my dear lady, hath mine eaemies
Brought to this shore: and by mv prescience,
I find ray zenith doth depend upon
A most auspicious star, whose influence.
If now I court not but omit, mv fortunes
Will ever after droop. ' Shakespeare.

Les femmes ne sont pas trop d'humeur si pardonner de
certaices injures, et quand elles se promettent le plaisir de la
vengeance elles n'y vont pas de main-morte.

De Grammont.



IN FOUR VOLUMES.
VOL. III.



%econii (Snittott.



LONDON :
PRINTED FOR H L:\RY COLBURN,

PUBLIC LIBRARY, CONDUIT STREET, HANOVER SQUARE.

I8I9.



B. Clarke, Printer, Well Street, London.



?Z3

19 if '
FLORENCE MACARTHY.



CHAFPER I.

*' The council shall hear it — It is a riot."

"Sir Hugh, persuade me not — I will make

a star-chamber matter of it."

** To Touch this is no proof!
Without more certain and more overt test
Than these thin habits, and poor likelihoods of
modern seeming, do prefer against him."

Shakespeare.



Lady Dunore, who^ like sister Anne
in Bluebeard, was stationed on the top
of one of the castle turrets, alternately
watched the approach of the expected
prisoners in one direction, and that of
their accusers and judges, Mr. Crawley
and son, in another.

VOL. III. B



2 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

She was now summoned on the ar-
rival of Baron Boulter and Judge Au-
brey to the breakfast parlour. Already
from her watch-tower she had seen a
crowd of persons wandering among the
hills, and the glitter of arms flashing in
the sun-shine. Her ardent imagination
magnified the New -Town cavalry corps,
and half a dozen peasants, into a pro-
digious military force, and a formida-
ble band of rebels ; and she rushed into
the apartment where the two judges
were quietly taking a bouillon after
their long morning's ride; and with
eyes flashing, and cheeks suffused, wel-
comed them in evident agitation to the
castle. She expressed her gratitude to
Baron Boulter in exaggerated terms for
a visit so kindly volunteered ; and ut-
tered a fervent hope that their presence
would give importance to an event in
which many lives were concerned.
She then abruptly ended with the
question of —



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 3

^^ But which of you, my lords, is the
hanging judge?'*

This question, which startled the
judges, confused Mr. Daly, and threw
Lord Frederick into agonies (lest in
her dehrious ravings she should cite
him as authority for this judicial so-
briquet), produced a short silence, until
Mr. Daly coming to the relief of the
party, observed,

^^ My dear lords, I must account for
this agitation of my niece, Lady Du-
nore, by informing you that her mind
and feelings have been worked on by
some representations of the state of this
province not perfectly correct. Her
agent and confidential person, Mr.
Crawley, is a timid man; and it is but
fair to say, that I believe he is frequent-
ly the dupe of his own fears. But he
also belongs to a certain party, who,
under the guise of inordinate and exclu-
sive loyalty, act in defiance of the law

B 2



4 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

of the land, are lawless by the concur-
rence, or at least the countenance of
those in authority, and may be said, in
the language of a celebrated orator, to
be '' opposed to rule hy act of parlia-
ment." Among such persons, it is a
favourite system of tactics to create
false alarms, and then to engraft strong
measures upon the fears they have
awakened. I have some reason to
think my niece is at this moment the
victim of this wretched and hacknied
policy, and that the attack on her castle,
and the smothered insurrection with
which she has been anonymously threat-
ened, are the phantoms, I will not say
the creations, of Mr. Crawley's brain."
Lady Dunore, mortified and disap-
pointed by a speech that threw her out
of a sphere of action, to v/hich all her
fancies and feelings were made up, was
beginning an expostulation with her
uncle, when Baron Boulter interrupted



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 5

her by observing that " the Irish were
a very fine people^ and a very handsome
people. But that it was most certain a
httle occasional hanging, just now and
then, did them no harm: and though
they might not, in the present instance^
be so deeply implicated in rebellious
practices, as the loyal and vigilant pru-
dence of his worthy friend, Darby Craw-
ley, suggested, yet a little timely cau-
tion, and wholesome severity^ rarely
came amiss; that he would willingly
lend his aid in examinins; into the cir-
cumstances of the case, and endeavour
to dissipate her ladyship's fears by ex-
ploring their cause."

"The people of Ireland," said Judge
Aubrey, in a tone between suUenness and
indignation, " are like the people of
other nations, pretty much what their
government has made them. They are
factious, because they are wretched;
and it is the fashion of the day to give to

B 3



6 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

their local disturbances, to their resist,
ance to the collections of the tithes, they
are unable to pav, to their murmurs
as^ainst the taxes, which have reduced
the country to ruin, and even to their
personal and often barbarous conflicts
among each other, the names of insur-
rection and rebellion. Mr. Crawlev,
Madam_, is an old alarmist, and vour
ladyship is, I perceive, new to the
modes bv which affairs in this country
are carried on."

**But when an armed force is at our
orates," said Ladv Dunore. in a tone of
irritation and impatience, " when let-
ters reach mv hands, Judo^e Aubrev.
which inform us that "'

M The charge is prepared, the lawyers are met.
The judges arrayed, a terrible sight,"

interrupted Lord Rosbrin, as he burst
into the room, with a billiard cue in hi?
hand for a wand.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 7

" Even' thino^ is readv," he ob sensed :
" the court waits, the prisoners are
arrived, and the counsel mil be here in
a few moments."

^' ^^ e have endeavoured to make
things comfortable for you. Baron,**
said Lady Dunore, putting her arm
through Baron Boulters, and hurr^'ing
him towards the hall, where she was
followed bv Juds^e Aubrev, Mr. Daly,
Lord Frederick. Mr. Heneage, Mr,
Pottinger, and Lady Georgina.

^* There/' said Lord Rosbrin, pre-
senting two arm chairs to the judges,
placed at the head of the hall, before
a table covered with hea\'\^ volumes,
'' there, my lords, that is the awful
seat of judgment. Here, Lady Geor-
gina, this is your place, and your's,
Eversham and Heneage : you are the
special jur}'. You see we have a fine
gallery, a charming audience,^* and he
point Oil to the corridore, which ran

B 4



S FLORENCE MACARTHY.

round the hall, and which was filled
with valets-de-chambre, ladies' maids,
with the inferior branches of the Dunore
household ; " and/^ he added, fixing
some chairs and a table to the left, ^^ this
is the place for the counsel for the crown,
the learned Crawleys, ^ very Daniels ;'
and the prisoners, you see my lords,
occupy the lower part of the hall, the
back-ground or portion filled up with
guards, officers, mutes, and others : and
the solitary female prisoner, the Queen
Catherine of the trial, though in a rug
cloak, is placed, in delicacy to her sex,
in the shade of this recess and painted
window."

Every thing was, indeed, in the order
which Lord Rosbrin had described.

The prisoners occupied the foot of
the hall. The New-Town Mount Craw-
ley corps filled the portico. A woman,
in a coarse grey cloak, and straw bonnet,



FLORENCE MACARTHY. $

recess of the Gothic window ; and the
rest of the party were disposed of ac-
cording to Lord Rosbrin*s idea of the
stao:e business of the trial in the Mer-
chant of Venice.

On the countenance of Baron Boul-
ter was painted an expression of great
humour, as of one ready to be amused,
as to amuse. Judge Aubrey was, on
the contrary, sullenly looking over a
volume of Hogarth, which lay before
him on the table ; and evidently out of
patience and out of temper with the
absurdity of the passing scene. Lady
Dunore was fluttering about from place
to place, and from person to person, in
hysterical emotion, tears in her eyes,
and smiles upon her lips ; and Lord
Rosbrin was beginning a speech from
the trial of Queen Catherine, and had,
in the legal phrase, got on his legs,
when Mr. Crawley, his son, and sister,
followed by his clerk. Jemmy Bryan,

B 5



10 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

cariying a green bag, appeared pushing
through the crowd, which filled the
bottom of the spacious hall,

^^ Oh ! I am glad you are come,"
said Lady Dunore, speaking to them
from hevjury-hooc, " Are you not en-
chanted at the turn things have taken ?
Only conceive, what luck ! Baron Boul-
ter and Judge Aubrey so kindly con-
senting to be present at our little spe-
cial commission. Rosbrin, pray shew
the Mr. Crawleys their place. Miss
Crawley, I'll make room for you here :
we must put you on the jury."

The Crawleys for a moment remained
motionless. To their utter amazement,
the whimsicality and extravagance of
Lady Dunore had overturned all their
long and ingeniously concerted plans.
Instead of their snug star-chamber trial,
they now stood confronted before the
judges of the land, in the presence of a
large assembly; while the examinations



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 11

of the prisoners^ which they meant to
turn to the account of terror, would
now be taken out of their hand, and be
made a jest of by the Baron, or be con-
ducted in such a way by Judge Aubrey
as w^ould betray the inadequacy of the
charges upon which their wild-looking
prisoners were to be committed.

There was, also, in the scene before
them, a melange of the ludicrous and
the serious, which at once struck upon
the sensitive apprehension of young
Crawley; but armed in that mail of
brass and heart of adamant, which w ere
to form the bases of his future fortunes,
he came almost instantly to his father's
relief; and whispering him a few words,
which included reliance on their kind
friend, Baron Boulter, and the neces-
sity of courage and presence of mind,
he suffered himself to be led by Lord
Rosbrin to the place assigned him.

Meantime, the clerk spread the table



IS FLOUENCE MACARTHY.

with depositions against the prisoners.
Old Crawley seated himself before it,
and Lord Rosbrin^ flourishing about,
with theatrical solemnity, exclaimed :

^' Now then proceed in justice, which shall
haTC due course.
Produce the prisoners. Silence.
Read the indictments."

The clerk put on his spectacles, and
cleared his voice ; while Baron Boul-
ter, endowed with a pliancy of mind
which permits the pursuit of many ob-
jects at the same moment, and who was
in the habit of despatching an epigram,
and a warrant, of giving judgment and
an invitation to dinner in the same
breath, now called for pen, ink, and
paper, that he might answer a few
letters, and listen to the examinations
" without loss of time or hindrance of'
business,''

Judge Aubrey, throwing aside his



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 13

book^ observed, '^ Since I take my seat
here in the quahty of a magistrate, at
the desire of the Marchioness of Dunore,
I beg that if there are any depositions
to be made against these men, who
appear to be under a double guard, civil
and military, they may be gone through
forthwith.

" My lord,'' said Conway Crawley,
getting on his legs, with the air of a
counsel opening some important cause,
'' my lord, before we proceed to read
the depositions against these unfortu-
nate men, I shall beg leave to state
the case as it appears to me, and to give
a slight sketch of the actual situation
of this barony/^

''Sir," interrupted the judge, "I won t
hear you. You can tell me nothing of
this country that I do not already know.
I have neither time nor health to
listen to idle declamation, and ten times
" told tales."



14 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

^' My lord;, I must observe/' con-
tinued young Crawley^ petulantly,
^^ that among the virtues of a judge,
patience is the most necessary ; and
Lord Mansfield, my lord, obtained
more credit for that virtue, than for all
his other judicial merits combined."

" Then, Sir, my Lord Mansfield ne-
ver was obliged to listen to you," re-
plied the judge, coldly.

A universal smile followed this obser-
vation, which was made with a sort
of sullen naivet^, that gave it great
effect: while old Crawley, trembling
at the audacity of his son, whispered
him,

" j4isi/ now ! aisi/, Con, dear : troth
you'll put your foot in it, if you let
your janius get the better of you thi&
way."

The clerk now read the depositions
in a nasal tone, and drawling brogue,
which gave infinite amusement to the



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 15

fashionable part of the audience ; and
at last got through the sundry charges
against Padreen Gar, Dennis Tully,
Shamus Joy, Dan Brogan, Teague
Mac Mahon, Owny Sullivan^ and
others^ who came under the denomi-
nation of "Padreen Gar's boys/'

They stood accused of feloniously
assembling for purposes of rebellion,
and breach of the king's peace, at Saint
Gobnate's well, under the pretence of
celebrating the feast of that saint ; and
of acting: under the influence of Terence
Oge O'Leary (who had absconded, and
whose papers, being seized), betrayed a
regular plan of insurrection, aided by
several catholic gentlemen of the coun-
try, in correspondence with Spain and
France.

Baron Boulter now folding his letter,
called for a lighted candle and sealing-
wax, and addressing the prisoners,
said.



l6 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

^^My honest friends, it appears to
me, fi-om the depositions which have
been just set forth, that you all have
incurred the chance of being hanged ;
an event that must, in all probability,
have taken place at one time or other
of your lives : and I dare say you will
agree with me, my honest friends, that
whether a little sooner, or a little later,
is a matter of but trifling importance.
(I'll trouble you. Sir, to snuif the can-
dle.) You see, my friends, I wish to
do notJiing in the darh, and am endea-
vouring to throw every possible light
upon your case. Tliere now, is my
young and clever friend, Mr. Conway
Townsend Crawley, smiling at me ;
and my old friend Mr. Crawley, his
venerable father, smiling also. The
Crawleys, gentlemen, are good- humour-
ed men, and cheerful men. I am, my-
self, a good-humoured man ; and in
that point, at least, I resemble Lord



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 17

Mansfield. And now^ my friends^
with such active magistrates and loyal
men as the Mister Crawley s among
you^ the one an high sheriff, the other
an high treasurer ; the one a sitting
barrister, and another a serjeant, (not,
however, I trust a permanent Serjeant);
with such enhghtened guardians of the
law, to keep you quiet, and put you
up, and put you down, it is singular
that you should meet at Saint Gob-
nate*s well, for the purposes of sedition
and rebellion. For Mr. Crawley, Sen.
may be justly styled the grand con-
servator of the peace of Ballydab ;
and with his worthy sons, I must say,
forms an aula regis, (a term, by-the-
bye, borrowed from the Norman law,
as you well know, my honest friends,
none better). (I'll trouble you. Sir, for
a little black wax.) As for Counsellor
Conway Crawley, I look upon him as
the very repertorium of the laws ; one



18 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

who has read every thing ; Burn's Jus-
tice^ Blacks tone's Commentaries, the
Registrum Brevium, and Paley^s Evi-
dences ; deep read in the Saxon law,
the Norman law, the Brehon law, and
the game law — apropos to game laws !
Would you, Mr. Footman, step out to
my servant, and tell him to take the
grouse out of the gun case, and present
them to the cook, with Baron Boulter's
very best compliments ? But, my ho-
nest friends, the point to establish is
this — were you de facto at Saint Gob-
nate's well for the purposes of sedition ?
Can you prove that you were not ?
I address myself in particular to you,
Mr. Padreen Gar, as chief of this con-
spiracy : were you at Saint Gobnate's
well this morning ? and for what pur-
pose ? "

" Is it for what purpose, my lord ?"
said Padreen Gar, advancing intrepidly
into the centre of the hall, and display-



FLORENCE MACARTUY. I9

inof a bold and careless countenance.
" Is it^ what brought me there, Sir ?
Sure your lordship knows right well^
wdiat would be bringing a poor man to
the holy well^ plafee your lordship's
honor^ Sir ; isn't it his dewution, my
lord? what else^ Sir. And has been
going to the well an hundred years^
and more^ my lord — troth we have."

^^ Will you make affidavit of that^
Mr. Padreen Gar ?''

" I will^ plaze your lordship.''
"Then, Mr. Padreen, I can only
say, that a pitcher that goes so often
to the well is liable to come home
broken at last, which I think I shall
be able to prove to you before I have
done. But who is that in ^tlie red
shanavest ? (I believe that is good Irish
for a waistcoat, as some of you know,
my friends, to your cost ;) he who is
seeking my attention, as I judge by
his expressive countenance."



!20 FLORENCE MACARTHW

'^ Its Barney Tally, as sould yotir
'honor a harse, my lord, last sizes; long
life to your lordship/' said a slight^
meagre, but alert person, stepping be-
fore Padreen Gar, and displaying a
countenance of sly and intelligent ex-
pression.

" So, Mr. Tally, how do you do, my
equestrian friend? Now, Mr. Barney
Tally, though I have too much respect
for your name and calling to wish to
pry into Tullys offices, 1 must never-
theless institute an enquiry into the
cause of your appearing at St. Gobnate's
well?^'

"Och! plaze your honor, I'll prove
an alibi, my lord; for upon oath this
day, 'hove all days of the year, I was
working on Mr. Crawley's new road,
when I was seen and taken at St. Gob-
nate's well. Sir."

"Then, Tullus Aufidius, it is very
plain you are of that class in Irish zoo-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. ^1

logy, SO puzzling to other naturalists,
called the bird that can be hi two
places at once,*'

^^1 am, Sir," replidS Barney, smiling
archly ; " sure enough an Irish bird,
egg and feather; and so was my father
before me, my lord."

" We have nothing to do with your
father, my honest friend Tully, because
we do not want in this instance to kill
two birds with one stone ; and prefer in
all instances a bird in the hand to
two in the bush. Now, my friend in the
carawat, what is your name?" address-
ing a foolish-looking person with a red
handkerchief tightened round his neck,
almost to strangling.

" I'm called Teague Mac Mahon,
plaze your lordship."

'^ You could not be called by a better
name, Mr. Mac Mahon, if your father
was as anxious as Tristram Shandy's to
give you a lucki/ one.'*



22 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

^^ Long life to your lordship^ and
God bless you, Sir."

" But, Mr. Mac Malion, with such a
name, I cannot well understand how
you should be guilty of such disloyal
practices, as to join Padreen Gar's
rebellious band, at that site of all insub-
ordination, St. Gobnate's well.'*

^' Why then, see here, plaze your
lordship," said Teague Mac Mahon,
waving his hand, and speaking with
great emphasis, ^' I should never gone
near the well, and had no occasion,
only in regard to my taste of bacon,
which was stolen dishonestly from me,
plaze your honor."

"Then you are one of those impro-
vident persons, Mr. Mac Mahon, who
have not the art of saving your bacon.'*

" Sure, I did save it,* plaze your ho-
nor, and saved it well, and hung it up in



* i. e. Cure it, salt it,— An Ilibcrnicism.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 23

the chimbley, and quartered it in three
halves, my lord ; and was to give a small
half to Darby Hooiegan, in lieu of two
peeks of male, (meal) and an hundred of
nails for my brogues: and while I was
at mass, what should he do, but comes
in, and skelps off with the biggest half,
and leaves me only a donny taste ; and
so I went after liim to St. Gobnate's,
where I was taken up. Sir, only for
looking after the remains of my ba-
con.

''The truth then is out, Mr. Mac
Mahon; you went in search of a man^
who had the boldness to make an
abridgement of Bacon.''

''Och Musha! that's it; longHfe to
your lordship," said Teague, trium-
phanth'.

*' I hope, however, Mr. Mac Mahon,
that your friend had the taste to pre-
serve all the attic salt.''

'' Och ! plaze your honor, it was well



24 FLORENCE MACAltTHY.

salted and smohed too before he took
a taste of it."

" Then, Mr. Mac Mahon, I must say,
that liad you but smoked your friend
as you have smohed your bacon, you
would not now be the victim of your
creduhty, nor brought before me on
suspicion of high treason.**

'^ My lord, my lord/' interrupted
Judge Aubrey, with an air of irrepres-
sible impatience, " I beg your pardon,
but though I believe this mockery of
justice is got up simply for the amuse-
ment of this distinguished circle, yet I
cannot witness or assist in carrying on a
farce, which may in the end be preg-
nant with evil to the persons who stand
in custody before us. The depositions
are a tissue of absurdity and nonsense :
and though magistrates can in this coun-
try deprive persons of their liberty upon
grounds quite as slight, yet I am not
quite certain that the warrant upon



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 25

which they have been arrested, is a
legal instrument. Show me your war-
rant, constable. — Yes, it is, as I sus-
pected, a vague mittimus ; a con-
trivance of certain active magistrates,
to get obnoxious persons into their
power, and by which they baffle the
protection of 'the laws, omitting to state
any narne, day, or place, or particular
of the offences. Nothing, therefore, re-
mains but to discharge these poor men,
and send them to their work."

" My learned brother,*' said the
baron, with much pleasantry of man-
ner, " ^tis not for you or me to bring
in the verdict: we must refer it to the
jury; and I believe a^airer jury never
sat. What say you, ladies ! guilty or
not guilty?'*

^' Not guilty upon my honor," cried
Lady Georgina, joined by all the pa-
trician voices present ; while Lady Du-
nore, as much amused by the turn the

VOL. in. c



26 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

mock trial was taking, as she had been
agitated by its probable issue, cried
out louder than them all, " Oh not
guilty, not guilty.**

The judges now arose ; and Judge
Aubrey was about to address the pri-
soners^ and to dismiss them with an ad-
monition, when young Crawley starting
forward, exclaimed with vehemence—

'^ Stay, my lord, before you again
turn these lawless men loose upon this
unfortunate district, whom your lord-
ship must be aware have had no exa-
mination whatever, I beg to be heard
for a few minutes. Your lordship has
called the depositions made by sundry
respectable persons a tissue of non-
sense and absurdity ; but we know
how easy it is to despise the dawnings
of all insurrections ; we have learned
also how dangerous it is to do so.
The ravings of the first few followers
of Cromwell at Huntingdon, a scuffle



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 2J

for apples by Massaniello at Naples,
and the dissensions of the Poissards at
Paris, however contemptible in their
origin, were yet ui^ commencement
and causes of the mighty and terrific
revolutions which followed. But, my
lords, I will, I think, convince you that
the seeds of rebellion have taken a
deeper root in this province than in
the breasts of a few barbarous peasants ;
that foreign incendiaries are at work
to undermine the good will that sub-
sists between Ireland and the parent
countiy ; and that intrigues are now
carried on between France, Spain, and
some of the Catholic gentlemen of this
country, through the medium of an old
oifender, who was deeply implicated
in the rebellion, a sort of pedagogue,
named Terence Oge O'Leary.'*

"Good God!" exclaimed Lady Du-
nore, plunged into a new series of emo-

c 2



28 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

tions, " how extraordinary ! only con-
ceive ! French agents in this remote
spot! Go on^ Mr. Conway^ pray go
on.

" Last night/' continued young Craw-
ley, with renewed spirit, '^ a search
warrant was procured for examining
O'Leary's papers ; and as he was not at
home, his desk was opened, and some
curious plans of the intended rebellion
came to light, which were forwarded by
a military express to the castle after I
had taken copies of them. Here," con-
tinued young Crawley, triumphantly
taking up paper after paper out of his
father's green hag, ^^ here is first a list
of the ancient families of this province,
whose descendants, labourers in my fa-
ther's grounds and her ladyship's, will
be doubtlessly proved one of these days
to be lords of the soil. Here is a frag-
ment relative to the late Florence Ma-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 2(J

earthy, a drunken old dotard, who lived
in this neighbourhood, and was called
the titular Earl of Clincare, which is
curious, for it proves that he has long
been considered as the true lord of this
district, and was secretly acknowledged
such by his own party, which includes
all the disloyal people in the country ;
for this paper states the following fact,
in the quaint old language, still used by
the Catholic gentry, and particularly af-
fected by Terence Oge O'Leary : — that
*^ Florence Macarthy, by consent of all
the popish bishops, deacons, Jesuits,
friars, and all the Irish nobilities assem-
bled, was created Macarthy More, using
in creation all the rites and cerentbnies
customary to the ancient Irish, being
joined by all the nobility and noblesse of
the province: — viz. the Na Donnells-
Fcrrars, the Offaleys, O'Sulivans-Beare,
and Moriarty M^Teague,^ (names, my

C3



30 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

lord^ better known in the flourishing
city of Bally dab than in the Red Book
or Debrett's Peerage). It is with regret,
also, I add — that among these provincial
noblesse are inscribed the names of the
knights of Kerry and Glynn, the white
knight, and the knight of the valley,
and, in short, many members of the
Fitzgerald family. But what is most
curious of ail is the following letter
from a Spanish priest, on whom it seems
the archbishoprick of Dublin has al-
ready been bestowed. This letter, with-
out date, is addressed to the late Flo-
rence Macarthy, of Ballydab, by the
style and title of the Most Excellente
Earl Florence Macarthy, of Clancare^
and is well worth attending to."

*^ Oh ! let us have the archbishop's
letter by all means," said LadyDunore.
" Only think, Georgy, love, of giving
away an archbishoprick ; it is quite



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 31

too amusing. Pray go on, Mr. Con-
way."

Mr. Conway cleared his voice, and
read as follows :

" My good Earl,

*^ God is my witness, that after my
arrival in Ireland, having knowledge of
your lordship's valour and learning (his
valour, Lady Dunore, was leading theBal-
lydab boys some thirty years ba^<»in a
contest with the Glannacrimes), I had
an extreme desire to see and to commu-
fjieate, and to confer with so principal a
personage ; but the length of the way
would not permit me. I am now de-
parting into Spain, with grief that I had
not visited those parts; but I hope
shortly to return to this kingdom, and to
give you entire satisfaction : and be as-
sured that I will perform with his ma-
jesty what a brother ought to do, that
he should send from Spain ; because by

• c 4



32 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

letter I cannot speak any more ; I leave
the rest till sight. The Lord have your
lordship in his keeping, according to
my desire.

Yq Mateo,
Arcohispo de Dublin'^*

" Now, my lords and Lady Dunore,
whether his majesty, here alluded to, be
Bonaparte or King Joseph, it is evident
that the late Mr. Macarthy kept up a
secret correspondence with the enemies
of the country ; and it is also pretty
certain that this "3/0 Mateo'* has ful-
filled his promise of returning to com-
municate viva voce, what he dared not
write. He has been for more than a
week back lurking in this neighbour-
hood, and even had the audacity to
present himself in my father's house on
false pretences. He is now under escort

* I, Matthew, Archbishop of Dublin.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 33

on his way to Dublin ; and his coadjutor
and host, the successor of Mr. Macarthy
m treason, has absconded. But there
is no doubt, the vigilant police of the
country will ferret him out of his
hiding den/'

The detail thus given by Conway
Crawley, with an impressive earnest-
ness of manner, the documents he pro-
duced, the singular circumstances he
developed, excited a very striking emo-
tion in the English part of his auditory.
A pause of a moment ensued.

Old Crawley pulled down %is wig,
and stole a sly glance of satisfaction at
Judge Aubrey. Miss Crawley, who for
the first time learned that her saintly
hero was a French or Spanish spy,
grew pale. Baron Boulter left an
epigram unfinished, and began to lend
a serious attention ; while Lady Dunore
exhausted herself in reiterated exclama-
tions of amazement and consternation,

c 5



34 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

" Only conceive, Georgy, love, a real
Spanish monk, an incendiary too ; good
heavens ! how extraordinary ! Do you
know I would not for the world miss
seeing yo Mateo. But pray go on."

*^ I believe there is little more to be
added. Madam. The principal facts are
before your ladyship and the judges;
and your lordship," added young Craw-
ley, insolently turning to Judge Aubrey,
^* may now conceive the propriety of
our not dismissing these men, at least
till we are in possession of the principals
and leaders."

" I see no more reason than ever for
detaining them," returned Judge Aubrey.
" But I hope, Mr. Crawley, the docu-
ments, whose copies you have had the
trouble to make and to read, have not
actually been sent off to the chief secre-
tary's office by military express.'*

*' They are, I hope, by this time
nearly in his possession/* returned



FLORENCE MACARTIIV, 35

Conway Crawley, in a tone of great
elation.

^^ I am sorry for it/* said Judge
Aubrey, coolly, " very sorry, Mr. Craw-
ley ; for as far as my black-letter Irish
studies go, and if my memory does not
wholly fail me, you have copied ver-
batim some extracts from the Pacata
Hibernia of Robin Carew ; and you
have transmitted to government a faith-
ful account of the insurrection, of the
celebrated Florence Macarthv, in the
reign of Queen Elizabeth."

A burst of laughter,*^ in ^vhich all
joined, save the Crawlevs, followed this
observation, while a voice in the distance
cried out —

" To be sure he has, sorrow lie there
is in that."

The Xi^i± moment, O'Leary, bustling
through the crowd, his cotamore slung
over his shoulder, his wig awry, and
his ferule in his hand, presented himself



«

36 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

in the centre of the hall. His ap-
pearance excited considerable amuse-
ment^ for having bowed formally to
Lady Dunore, with a tone of uncon-
trolable irritation^ he turned upon young
Crawley, exclaiming —

'^ I'll trouble you for my documents.
Counsellor Con; my heads, and tails,
and perorations ; my notes, and mi-
nutes, and memories, for my genea-
logical history of the great Macarthy
family, wTitten in the Phoenician lan-
guage, vulgo-vocato Irish. What call
had you to them at all ? Dioul ! What
right had you to break open my box,
and I not in it, and to purloin my
codices ? And what dirty lucre did you
expect by it, Counsellor ? If it wasn't
out of fear that I'd tell to the world
that your ould grandfather, Paddy
Crawley, took some of the property of
the late Earl of Clancare, in trust for
him during the painals, (penals) Sir,



FLORENCE MACARTHY. SJ

and refused^to restore it after the repa'tl;
which was the first step he got in the
w^orld ; and troth^ a dirty step it
was. Now ansv\er me that^ Counsellor
Con, before the Enghsh noblesse here
present."

^^ I beheve^ Mr. Conway Crawley,"
said Judge Aubrey, significantly, " we
mai/ dismiss all these persons now."

Every body arose and came forward,
good-naturedly amused with the con-
sternation of him whose pretension and
insolence had been equally entertaining
and imposing a few mfnutes before.
Old Crawley almost buried his head in
his green hag; but Conway, though
confused, still unsubdued, came forward,
and addressing Lady Dunore, who was
now laughing with Lord Frederick and
Lady Georgina, he said, ^' I must re-
quest your lordship's attention and pa-
tience one minute more.*'

^^ Oh! by all means/' said Lady



38 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

Dunore, fluttering back to her place.
'^ I don't care in the least if this trial
goes on for ever. I never was so agi-
tated and so amused in all my life ;
now, pray all sit down. My dear Judge
Aubrey, pray resume your seat.*'

^^ All that your ladyship has heard,"
continued Conway, '' is mere inven-
tion, mere subterfuge. — Baron Boulter,
better than anv other, must be aware
that it is so ; since his lordship, as se-
nior circuit judge, has granted a bench
warrant to my father to take up the
incognito Spanish priest, upon such in-
formation as his lordship certainly
deemed sufficient."

" I certainly granted a warrant a few
days back," said Baron Boulter, with
a look of mortification, ^^ on informa-
tions sworn by one Mr. James Bryan,
who holds some place in Mr. Crawley's
office, for the purpose of apprehending
a very suspicious character ; who, with-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 30

out any visible business, or means of
livelihood, has for some time been lurk-
ing about this neighbourhood."

This confession produced a visible
change in the opinion of all present ;
while an expression of half- suppressed
emotion distorted the countenance of
old Crawley ; and he muttered, in acri-
monious tone, to his son —

'^ You have made a pretty kettle of
fish of it, now. What the devil busi-
ness had you to mention that stranger at
all at all. Couldn't you let him go
quietly on to jail. Troth, your janius
W' ill get you muzzled yet, great a scho-
lar as you are, Counsellor Con."

The silence which Baron Boulter's
confession had produced was now sud--»
denly interrupted by a noise in the por-
tico. The crowd which still lingered
there gave way, with a spontaneous
and respectful motion ; and a person of
singular and splendid appearance ad-^



40 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

vanced boldly up the hall, followed by
two officers of justice. He approached
the table where the judges sat, remov-
ing his hat with one hand, and leaning
the other on a pile of books, with an
air disengaged and imposing ; and in a
voice full, clear, and rapid, he said —

"I beg to present myself to Baron
Boulter."

Mute astonishment trembled upon
every lip. Wonder and admiration
animated every eye. All was breath-
less eager suspense ; but O'Leary alone
moved, and placed himself near the
object of attraction, with a look, in
which wildness and triumph disputed
pre-eminence.

Baron Boulter was the first to re-
cover presence of mind, and he replied,
^^ My name. Sir, is Boulter, and I have
the honour to hold his majesty's com-
mission, as Baron of the Exchequer.
I can only add, Sir, that I shall be



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 41

happy to make the acquaintance of so
handsome a man^ and so fine a gentle-
man: pray be seated."

The stranger put back the chair pre-
sented to him.

"My lord/' he said, "I am a pri-
soner. On my arrival in this district
this morning, and in my way to my
lodging, at the dwelling of this person,
Terence Oge O'Leary, I was arrested
on a bench warrant of your lordship's,
on informations sworn by a notorious
informer, who was condemned for per-
jury some years back, and was saved
under an indemnity act procured by his
employer, Mr. Crawley. I shall obey
your warrant, my lord, if you acknow-
ledge your signature. But in the pre-
sence of this assembly, I deny that you
have any authority to order the arrest
of any man, either of your own free
motion, or on such information as that
upon which I am now a prisoner. It



42 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

is to you^ therefore^ my lord^ I shall
look for responsibility."

" You will do what you please, Sir/'
said Baron Boulter^ firmly and coldly,
" The law lies open to all men."

" And we, my lord/' interrupted
young Crawley, trembling with rage
and mortification, while his father, pale
and silent, sat with his eyes bent upon
the stranger, " and we, my lord, shall
find precedents enough in this country
to defend us."

^^ 1)1 this country /" interrupted the
stranger in a loud and indignant voice.
^' Has this country, then^ a set of
bye-laws of its own, to answer the pur-
A poses of particular individuals r Are
not the laws of England the laics of
Ireland P"

^^ Officers, do your duty,'* said young
Crawley, authoritatively, and almost
incoherent with stifled rage.

" I shall accompany your officers^**



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 43

returned the stranger, coolly ; ^^ and I
have to thank them for their indulgence,
which has confronted me with Baron
Boulter. His lordship, I doubt not,
has been imposed upon ; but for the
rest, I am aware that no man shall be
imprisoned but upon the lawful judg-
ment of his equals, or by the law of
the land. This is the charter ; by this
I shall abide." Then dropping his ex-
tended arm, his countenance lost all
the sternness by which it had been
energized ; and bowing gmcefully and
low to the ladies, he added, '^ I trust,
in a moment of exigency like this, I
shall be forgiven, if I have violated the
laws of ceremony, in asserting those of
justice : and I offer a thousand apolo-
gies to the Marchioness of Dunore, and
her distinguished circle, for this un-
seasonable intrusion."

He then bowed slightly round, to
the judges respectfully, and dropped



44 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

back between the officers of justice;
while Lady Dunore, in a fever of ad-
miration^ and O'Leary in the dehrium
of strong emotion, both approached
him as he retired ; but the deep stern
Voice of Judge Aubrey arrested his
steps.

^^ Stay, Sir, you are I apprehend a
stranger in this country ?"

" I am, my lord, an utter stranger/'

^^ You have then. Sir, a prescriptive
right to courtesy and protection, in a
land where the name of stranger is still
held sacred. I have no doubt my
learned brother has been imposed on.
His confidence in Mr. Crawley's zealous
loyalty, and the hurry of business, may
have urged him to give a warrant which
I pronounce to be illegal, as given
upon the testimony of a convicted per-
jurer."

" You cannot prove it,- Judge Au-
brey,** exclaimed young Crawley, vehe-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 45

mently. " You would set aside all
judicial privilege, all propter digni-
tatem, of the bench."

" Sir/' said the judge, " these ebul-
litions of a mind, fraught by self-in-
terest with arbitrary notions, are not
worthy of reply. The dignity of the
judicial station can only be degraded
by him who holds it. I beg your
pardon. Sir," he added hastily, and
turning to the stranger, " I fear I have
detained you; but I would impress
upon your mind, that the judges of the
land are the natural guardians of the
oppressed ; and I would suggest to you,
that by giving bail, you will be spared
the annoyance and inconvenience of a
temporary imprisonment."

'^ My lord," said the prisoner, ^^ I
thank you for this mark of consider-
ation. But I have already said that I
am an utter stranger here ; where then



46 rLORENCE MACARTHY.

should I seek for bail ? Who is there
that would hold himself responsible for
a strange?' P"

'^ I will/* exclaimed a voice from a
distance ; and the next moment the
hand of a young and very noble look-
ing person was clasped in that of the
stranger.

^^ And pray, who are you, Sir ?" de-
manded young Crawley, stepping for-
ward with a tone and demeanour of the
pertest effrontery.

" I am," said the party interrogated,
throwing his eyes haughtily over his
questionist, "I am Lord Adelm Fitz-
adelm : pray who are you ?"

The elder stranger started back with
astonishment, while among the general
bursts of exclamation, which rang
through the hall, the shrieks of Lady
Dunore were predominantly audible.
She threw herself into her son's arms,



FLORENCIS MACARTHY. 4"/

as much transported by the theatrical
scene of his unexpected appearance, as
if she had not, for months, intrigued
his absence. She wept and laughed
with hysterical alternation ; presenting
' him to those he already knew, and to
those he had never seen before. Then
turning to the stranger, she addressed
him as Don Yo Mateo, Archbishop of
Dublin, asked a thousand pardons,
welcomed him to Dunore, 5nd went on
repeating, ^' was there ever any thing
so charming! any thing so dehght-
ful ! This is Ireland par exemple f
Delightful Ireland, where one is never
safe and never ennuyie for a single mo-
ment!" *

Meantime the hall was cleared : the
company at the castle. Lord Adelm,
his friend, the officers of justice, and
O'Leary, were nearly all that remained.
The latter stood in the back-ground
transfixed and pale, a monument of con-



48 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

sternation^ and motionless as death,
save that his quick glancing eyes turned
alternately from Lord Adelm to his
guest^ and from his guest to Lord
Adelm.

^^ But who is your friend ?" asked
Lady Dunore eagerly, and interrupting
Lord Adelm's details of his journey,
and pointing to the stranger, who stood
talking to Judge Aubrey. ^' Is he a
real Spanish monk ? Sure you are
not implicated in this rebellion, which
is found out to be no rebellion at
all."

These questions were repeated by
every eye, if not by every tongue.

" Allow me to present my mother to
you,^' said Lord Adelm, taking the
stranger's hand, " the Marchioness of
Dunore, General Fitzwalter, of South
America, that brave Guerilla chief,
whose life and fortune have been de-
voted to South American independence.



FLORENCE MACARTHV. 49

He is doubtless already known to you
by fame^ as he is in the Terra Firma,
by the glorious sobriquet of the Li-
brador."

Somethino' like amazement was de*
picted in the countenance of the stran-
ger, while he w^ent through the forms
of presentation, and listened to this
detail of himself.

Lord Adelm continued uninterrupt-
ed: "I do not believe, however, that my
friend aspires to the double influence
of the crosier and the sword. If, at
least, he ambitions the Archbishoprick
of Dublin, in the course of our tra-
velling companionship (for we came to
this country together), he has not^made
me his confidant."

" Travelling companionship I" mut-
tered old Crawley, with a look of alarm,
while Lady Dunore reiterated welcomes
and exclamations of delight, surprise,
and wonder.

VOL. III. B



$0 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

The question of bail was then re-
sumed ; and a form being prepared,
Lord Fitzadelm signed the paper : but
this was not sufficient, as the instru-
ment required two securities.

" Oh !" cried Lady Dunore, gaily,
'^ I'll be bail for the archbishop, that is,
for the general : give me the pen — only
think how odd ! and you, Georgy, shall
be another.' '

Young Crawley, how^ever, gravely
demonstrated the illegality of her tender,
and stated that female bail w^as not
usual.

*^ Well, well, Mr. Conway Crawley,
you happen to be monstrously unac-
commodating to-day, and very tiresome,'*
interrupted Lady Dunore, " but I sup-
pose it must be so. Then do you, Mr.
Crawley, if you please, sign for me. I
imagine that will do as well.—I mean
Crawley pere^

The tone and manner in w^hich thig



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 51

request was given were too peremptory
to be resisted ; and old Crawley, to his
own amazement and consternation, be--
came bail for the person whose arrest
had taken place at his own instance,
while he mentally observed, " Well, this
hates Banacher any how."*

Young Crawley in the meantime
had left the table, and was engaged in
earnest conversation with his aunt
^part. ^

Baron Boulter was profuse in his
apologies, spoke with some harshness of
the two Crawleys for being led away by
over loyalty, offered to discharge the
warrant altogether, and asked the gene-
ral on a visit to his house whenever he
should come to Dublin.

To the discharge of the warrant, Ge-
neral Fitzwalter firmly objected: the

* A common Irish expreision, applied to the
doing of aiv extraordinary thing.

D 2



52 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

transaction, he observed, must be fol-
lowed to its consequences. To the prof-
fered hospitality he returned a polite
answer, as general in its terms as the
proposition to which it replied.

Judge Aubrey sat still, in silent
triumph ; the ladies' eyes were all turn-
ed on the Guerilla chief; and Lord Ros-
brin, seeing every thing in a dramatic
point of view, talked of situations, in-
cidents, and clap-traps. :

Lord Fitzadelm now came forward,
and, seconded by his mother, pressed
General Fitz waiter, with earnest solicita-
tion, to make Dunore castle his resi-
dence while he remained in the country;
but before he could reply, the attention
of all was suddenly attracted to the re-,
cess of the painted window, by one of
the bailiffs observing to Mr. Crawley,

" Now, what am I to do with that
faymale prisoner in the hall window,
plaze your honor, that we took up ac-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 53

cording to order, Mr. Crawley, going
into Terence Oge's a little bit ago, and
wouldn't tell her name, Sir, nor shew
her face, only just axed lave, vSir, to
send a bit of a message to Castle Macar-
thy. Sir, to the Bhan Tierna, by a bit
of a gassoon. Sir, and is cooped up there
forenent you, Mr. Crawley ?*'

" You may do with her what you
plaze, Larry Costello,'* replied Mr.
Crawley, in a dejected and absent tone,
and still under the influence of pro-
found chagrin, amazement, and alarm,
which were all depicted in his counte-
nance.

Larry Costello plazed to let out the
prisoner from the dock where 'Lord
Rosbrin had placed her, and to give her
her liberty ; when Lord Frederick, in-
terfering, said, " By Jupiter, this lady
rebel has as good a right to a fair trial
by jury as the rest ; and I vote that we
take our seats, and impannel forthwith

D 3



64 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

for the cause of this Pu:dle de Ballif-
dab,"

" Oh! by all means in the world/'
said Lady Dunore^ unsatiated by scenes,
sensations^ and surprises : ^^ we must
hear the Pucelle de B ally dab ;'' and
she took her son's arm, who seemed sa-
tisfactorily to have accounted for his ar-
rival ; for to whatever he had said, she
replied — *^ You are quite right — exactly
— certainly. I am delighted to see
you here.*'

The party now drew up in a circle,
without resuming their seats, while the
poor woman, apparently intimidated,
and Vv'ishing to conceal herself, was led
forward for examination by Larry Cos-
tello, who endeavoured to encourage
her, by repeating v — " Hold up your
head now, honey. Sure there's money
bid for you. If the Bhan Tierna wil
stand up for you, sorrow thing you have
., to fear ma'am. I'll engage she'll carry



FLORENCE MACARTHY* 55

you through, and well. Only just,
sure, if you don't shew your face, their
lordship's will not see it agrah."

Larry Costello, who was as easy in
the presence of his superiors as the lower
Irish usually are, with very little cere-
mony now pulled back her grey hood,
and the straw bonnet it covered fell to
the ground, discovering, not the coarse
features of an Irish peasant, but such a
head and such a countenance as might
have belonged to that

" Rare Egyptian, the serpent of old Nile."

The immediate expression, however,
of this singular countenance was confu-
sion ; but though the eyes were rijretted
to the earth, and a colour, changeful as
thought, indicated the excess of bashful
womanly embarrassment, yet the acute
smile, that for a moment gleamed and
vanished, and a certain air of mockery
and shrewdness, which seemed the na-

D 4



aiO FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

tural involuntary expression of the irre-
gular but pretty features, combined to
present a model for one of those happy
pictures of gypsy beauty, where " fancy
outworks nature," and which mingles
with the admiration, its equivocal charms
attiact from the spectator something of
fear, if not of distrust. Amazement
universally, and almost audibly express-
ed, followed the sudden apparition of
this unexpected vision.

" The Bhan Tierna ! by the powers,''
exclaimed Larry Costello, in con sterna-
tion, and respectfully withdrawing from
the prisoner's side.'*

" Lambh Laidar Aboo!" shouted
O'Leary, throwing up his wig instead of
his hat in an ecstasy of triumph.

" Lady Clancare!" cried Judge Au-
brey, coming forward, and taking her
hand with an air of kindness and protec-
tion.

*' Lady who ?^' said the marchioness.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. b^

^^ Lady Clancare did you say ? Good
heavens! it cannot it is — My dear
charming, odd^ out of the way Lady^
Clancare^ I have no words to express
my dehght. To meet you here, of all
places in the world ! a prisoner too ! a
rebel chieftainess perhaps ! Oh ! it^s
quite too good ! Isn't it Georgy, love ?
One never meets with such things in
London. But where are you come from?
How fat you are grown ! Wliy did you
disappear so suddenly, when you had
obtained such a grand succes in Lon-
don ? Do you know, people said all
sorts of odd things of you? No one could
make you out in the least; and your
pretty, pretty tales, and stories,, and
things. "How tanned you are !— how
well you look !-— Georgy, love, don't you
know Lady Clancare, who made the
frais of my two last assemblies ? And
my forgetting you too, dear Lady Caur
care, so completely, when you were
out of sight, its so very odd, arn't it

D 5



58 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

Georgy ; but one forgets every thing;
in London^ except what one sees every
day."

To this Georgy assented^ at the same
time renewing a very shght acquaint-
ance with Lady Ciancare, formed at
Lady Dunore's parties in Town.

While the ceremonies of recognition^
and the multiphcity of Lady Dunore's
questions^ aiforded to the young Irish
peeress a moment of self-collection^
her spirits rallied ; but stilly as she
threw round her eyes, there was
an air of ' tongue-tied simplicltij' in
her eloqiicnt silence, which, contrast-
ing with the expressive character of
her cor.ntenance, produced, what Lord
Rosbrin called^ ^^ a Jine dj^amatic ef-
fectr For

*' Having lost her breatli, she spoke and panted^.
That she did make defect perfection,
And breathless, power breaihcd forth.'*

Her emotion seemed somcthinfi be-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 5^

yond the natural confusion incidental
to her actual position, and she turned
her eyes with a glance of supplication
on Lady Dunore, as if soliciting her
interposition, to withdraw her from
a situation where every look was turned
on her; where she formed the centre
of a circle evidently animated by idle
curiosity and amused amazement. Lady
Dunore, flattered by the clSim made
on her protection, and understanding
it, drew her a little on one side, listened,
smiled, laughed aloud at some detail
which Lady Clancare related in a low
murmuring voice, and witli a coun-
tenance varying, animated, and hu-
mourous ; while to the conclusion of
her relation, whatever it had been.
Lady Dunore, gently leading her back
to the group, replied,

" Don*t make the least apology.
Oh ! no, its better as it is, a thousand
times. This impromptu is worth an hua^



Go FLORENCE MACARTHY.

dred formal premeditated visits ; be-
sides, all this never could happen but
in Ireland. It was so kind in you,
to suffer yourself to be taken prisoner
too — you are always so amusing. But
who are you, my dear creature, for I
forgot to ask you when in London?
You know Georgy, love, one doesn't
want to know who people are in Lon-
don, especially Lions. But are you
really Irish, my dear Lady Clancare ?"

" Irish !*' exclaimed O'Leary, with a
burst of emotion beyond all power of
control; and darting forward, " aye,
troth is she Irish, body and soul.
Irish, by birth, by blood, and by de-
scent. Irish every inch of her, heart
and hand, life and land ! and though
the mother that bore her was Iberian
born, Bachal Essu ! she was Milesian,
like herself, descended from the Tyrian
Hercules : and there she stands, the
darling of the world, with the best blood



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 6l

of Spain and Ireland flowing through
her veins. A true Irish woman, that
loves her country, and Hves in it, long
life to her ! and an ancient ould coun-
tess to boot, in her own right, Anno
1565, EHzabeth, ReginaeG; the lineal
heir of Florence Macarthy More, the
fogh na galla, and King of the Des-
mondi, to this blessed hour."

"A smile played over the gountenance
of Lady Clancare, who retreated a few
steps, as this address again brought
every eye on her, and again covered her
with confusion.

" And who are you ? you delightful
creature," cried Lady Dunore, walking
round O'Leary with her glass to her
eye, and more than sharing in the
general surprise and amusement oc-
casioned by his sudden appearance and
speech.

*' Who am I, Madam, is it ?" said
O'Leary, firmly, but respectfully : " I



62 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

am Terence Oge O'Lcary, plaze your
ladyship, of the Pobble O'Learys, of
Claiicare, county Kerry, anciently Cair-
Reight, from Ciar-na-Luochra-Macar-
thy, who was King of Munster, Anno
Mundi, 1525, Noah Rex. and am tri-
butary and seneachy, or genealogist
to the Macarthys, before the English
was heard of. Anno Domini, 11 66,
Hen. secundus Rex ; and defies Jo-
hannes Major Scotiis, and Measter Cam-
den, Dr. Ledwitch, and Sir Richard
Musgrave, to deny that, any how, the
thieves of the world! with ould Saxo
Grammaticus to back them ; and am,
at the present speaking, a poor Irish
schoolmaster, Ludl Mag'tster, of Mo-
naster-ny-Oriel ; and lastly, plaze your
ladyship. Madam, I am a servitor in
the great Norman family of the Fitz-
adelms, being fosterer, (his voice falter-
ed) — fosterer. Madam, of him, who,
though he now lies low in the ocean^



FLORENCE MACARTIIY. " 6S^

with none but myself^ and the winds
of heaven to moan over him^ yet, if
he had his right, would now be reign-
ing here in this very castle ; I mean
the--"

Here General Fitzwalter advanced
in front of O'Leary, leaning on Lord
Fitzadelm's arm. O'Leary started back :
his voice dropped, his colour changed,
and he paused abruptly. The general
took his place, from which he had in_
voluntarily retreated ; and some low
whispered words from Lady Clancare
to the marchioness, who had, during
O'Leary's speech, drawn the arm of the
Irish peeress through her own, now
wholly diverted her attention from the
last of those dramatis personce, which
the happy events of this eventful day
bad brought upon the stage.

Withdravving from the circle, the
two ladies, in earnest conversation,
moved towards the portico^ followed by



64 JfXORKNCE MACAUTHY.

every eye. The appearance of Lady
Clancare produced an instantaneous
effect upon the crowd assembled at the
gates.

The report had gone abroad^ that the
idol of popular feeling had been taken
prisoner by Mr. Crawley^ and brought
to Dunore castle. Hundreds of wild,
but strong aifectioned persons, had
gathered for her protection and rescue.
Thousands were at her service ; but her
appearance, leaning on Lady Dunore's
arm, lulled every fear for her safety.
Cries of Bhan Tierna go Brack! rent
the air ; and when both ladies sprung
into a little cabriolet, drawn by mules,
(the carriage of Lady Clancare, which
had just arrived,) the name of the Mar-
chioness of Dunore, mingled with these
more national sounds, and " long liveSy'
and '^ long reigns," were liberally dis-
tributed to both ladies.

The guests of the castle had now adr



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 65

vanced into the portico to witness this
singular scene. Lady Clancare had
taken the reins ; and while Lady Dunore
drew her cashmir over her head and
round her shoulders, her new friend
turned her extraordinary countenance
on the group in the portico ; and with
a mingled expression of extreme slyness
and humour, she threw round her dark
eyes. They met alternately the looks
of all present ; till at last fixing their
glances, charged with a malicious
gaiety, something between triumph and
derision, on old Crawley, she kissed
her little whip in salutation to all, and
drove off with the lady of the castle,
both laughing loud and violently. »

There was in all this little transac-
tion a something that gave a poetical
image of an enchantress, whose strug-
gles with a rival Ogre finally prevail
find Lady Clancare looked as the Tita-



66



FLORENCE MACARTHY.



nia might be supposed to look, whe%
on Oberon's begging from her the

*^ Little changeling boy to be his Henchman,"

she rephes in the triumph of conscious
possession, *^ not for thy fairy king-
dom !" The possession of Lady Du-
nore seemed to her desirable as the
changeling boy to the fairy king.

With the departure of the two chief-
tainesses, English and Irish, the rest of
the company, somewhat fatigued, and
infinitely amused by the events of the
morning, withdrew and dispersed, except
the members of the Crawley family,
who still remained in the hall, congre-
gated in close conference.

^^ The game's up,*' said old Crawley,
with his eyes fixed on the spot where
the phantom of Lady Clancare still
floated before him, bearing off the mar-
chioness : '^ she has got her now," he



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 6/

continued. " That's the way she took
my lunatic from me, whom I'd have
had to this day, only for her, and the
management of his estate. That's
the way too she let loose the Rabragh
on the world, with the help of Judge
Aubrey, just the ditto of herself. Well,
the devil is not able for her, Christ
pardon me; and believe after all she is
the devil ingarnet, if the tr;uth was
known."

^^ This is no place for idle talking,"
said young Crawley, at last himself
overpowered by the contentions of the
day. " Follow me to my aunt's room r
you see Lord Rosbrin is still in the
portico — your discomfiture may be ob-
served.'^ He then left the hall, with
his silence- stricken aunt on one arm,
and his green bag under the other^
Old Crawley, after a moment's pause,
was preparing, with a deep sigh, to obey
the authoritative commands of his son^^



GS FLORENCE MACARTHY.

when Lord Rosbrin^ entering the hall,
arrested his steps, with a solemn beck-
oning of his finger, and exclaiming
with a significant air —

'^ My gentle Puck, come hither,"

Crawley involuntarily obeyed the
summons, though by no means hking
the nom de caresse which accom-
panied it.

"Say, my fat lad of the castle^*
continued Lord llosbrin, " remember-
est thou ought in scenic eft'ect more
striking than that last dramatic inci-
dent ; I mean the old woman trans-
formed suddenly into a Roxalana, or
an Urganda in the burletta of Cymon ?
Does it not beat the skreen scene in the
School for Scandal, hollow ?"

" Hollow,'' replied old Crawley, en-
deavouring to extricate his button from
Lord Rosbrin s grasp.

" Rememberest thou," proceeded
Lord Rosbrin^ emphatically, ^' remetn^



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 6^

herest thou, since once I sat upon a
promontory, and heard a mermaid, on
a dolphin's bach, uttering such dulcet
and harmonious breath, that the rude
sea grew ciml at her songP^'

" Why, then, upon my credit, I can't
say I do,^' returned Crawley, with ano-
ther impatient effort at release.

'' That very titne," continued the
peer, ^^ I saw — thou could' st not^-jiy-
ins: between the cold moon ^and the
earth "

At the word moon, a sudden con-
viction of the young lord's lunacy
struck on Crawley's mind ; and burst-
ing away, and leaving his button in
Lord Rosbrin's grasp, he muttered, as
he went along, "Devil a bit; but I be-
lieve it is full moon with you all,
men, women, and children, the Lord
save us!*'

Lord Rosbrin, looking after him, ut-
tered a stage laugh, and crying, "A



fO FLORENCE MACAUTHY.

fool, a fool, a motley fool !" retired to
his dressing-room, to clean some silver
spangles, and cut out foil for his coro-
nation dress in Lady Macbeth.



FLORENCE MACARTHY.



n



CHAPTER II.

*' Lovers and madmen have such seething brains,
Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend
More than cpoi reason comprehends."

Shakespeare.

^'What! shall quips and sentences, and these
paper bullets of the brain, drive a man from
the career of his humours?"

Idem,



While the guests of the castle dis-
persed in different directions. Lord
Adelm and General Fitzwalter pro-
ceeded arm in arm together across the
castle court to a sort of terrace, once a
rampart, which gave on the sea.

This rampart opened by a door upon
the strand ; and Lord Adelm, proposing



â– SP^



72 FLOREiNCE MACARTHV.

that they should direct their steps be-
yond the reach of intrusion or observa-
tion, was endeavouring to draw back
the rusty bolt, and obtain egress, when
OXeary, with his hat squeezed between
his hands, and his countenance distorted
by agitation, caught the general's eye,
as he followed him at a short dis-
tance.

^'What is the matter?** asked the
general, turning back on his steps, and
meeting the approach of his host.

^^The matter, my lord! that's your
honor, I mane now gineral. Sir, any
how. Nothing is the matter, gineral,
only great times, and great luck, Sir!
and the young lord, the veiy moral of
the honourable Gerald, his father: and
the Crawley pirates foiled, Sir, for
oncet: and I'd only crave a word with
your honor, gineral, since it^s a great
gineral you are, Sir, and was a great
gineral in the family an hundred years



FJ.ORENCE MACARTHY. ^3

back and more— that's the ould Bri-
gadier, anno i6qS, in armour this day
at Court Fitzadelm, only no frame — but
stopping a chimbley. And it's what I'd
just make bould to ax your honor, and
never will trouble you more, Sir, plaze
Jasus! if 370U arn't the young lord
that's laning over the battlement, wait-
ing for you, gineral? that is Lord Fitz-
adelm. Sir?"

" O'Leary," said General Fitzwalter,
in a soothing voice, '' O'Leary, put on
your hat, and go home. My good
O'Leary, I shall shortly follow you to
the Friary to dress_, and you may be-
speak me a chaise to bring me here to
dinner. And, above all, OXeary" (and
he patted his hand on his shoulder as
he spoke, his voice softening into a tone
of great affection), " take care of the
health and life of a person who is very
dear — that is very necessary to me,
0*Leary.''

VOL. III. E



74 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

^^And who is that?" said O'Leary,
eagerly, " Is it th' aigle^ gineral?
Sure he's dead, Sir. Poor Cumhars.
dead at last, your honor;'* and the tears
dropped large and fast from hi« eyes,
but they fell not all for Cumhal.

The tone of the general's voice, and
the pressure of his hand, had been too
much for the state of exaltation in
which the events of the morning had
left him ; and the death of his old com-
panion furnished him with an excuse
for weeping, which relieved his heart,
weighed down with oppression.

" Dead !'* repeated the general:
^'poor old Cumhal I"t- he sighed and
added, absently, " it was much such an
evening as this, and such a coast too :
poor Cumhal — dead!"

" Och ! you need not moan him,
gineral," said 0*Leary, reproachfully;
'^^ he*s better provided for nor them he's
left behind him. Sir. For shure, he



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 75

wasn't shook ofFlike a witherM leaf from
a young green tree, and rejected by him,
that was reared on his milk, that's my
wife's milk, Sir. And thought, troth,
we'd break our hearts the day he was
weaned; and we sent back to St. Cro-
han's; and wasn't long till he followed
us there. Nolens Volens^ and "

" You are much altered since we met^
since we Jirst met in the mountains,
OXeary," interrupted the general, as
he fixed his eyes on a countenance,
where the perpetual conflict of revived
feelings, vague doubts, and uncertain
hopes, had made great ravages: "you
are not well, my dear O'Leary.^' »

" That's it, plaze your honor, I am
not well, surely. Sir," said O'Leary,
eagerly, "and thinks betimes that it's
the lycanthropia I have got, which
Maister Camden saith was common to
the ancient Irish,* and affirmeth that

* The disease of the wolf — a malady attri-
buted to the ancient Irish.

E 2



JG FLOKENCE MACARTHW '

melancholic persons of this sort have
pale faces, soaked and hollow eyes,
with a weak sight, and never shedding
one tear to the view of the world — only
now, Sir, for Cumhal, the poor bird/'

^^ We will talk this matter over to
night, O'Leary,'* said the general, an-
swering the impatient beckon of Lord
Adelm's hand; " or to-morrow, or at no
distant period : and you shall be well
again, O'Leary, and be gay and con-
tented as I first found you in the midst
of your learned disciples; and you shall
change your scene too : you shall travel
with me to other countries ; and then
you will return to Ireland, and finish
your genealogical history of the Macar-
thies, and dedicate it to that very ^ an-
cient old Countess of Clan care/ in
whose favour you were so eloquent to
day ; and by all means get her picture
if you can, for your title page: I pro-
mise you it will sell your book."

With these words, gaily pronounced.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 77

he left him whom they had cheered, be-
fore he had time to reply; and joining
the impatient Lord Adelm, they pro-
ceeded along the shore together.

There was a magic in the name of
the Macarthies that operated like a spell
upon the ideas and feelings of O'Leary,
and drew him from the remembrance of
his own griefs. General Fitzwalter had
probably discovered tliis, for he often
had recourse to it in moments wl^en the
wandering^ mind of the schoolmaster be-
came immersed in recollections which
were the sources of his hallucination. It
now had its wonted effect; and OXeary,
as he left the castle gates, with his usual
ghort heavy step, and his hands clasped
behind his back, murmured to him-
self : —

" ^ly genealogical history of the Ma-

carthies, in troth ; and never tould me

a word since he came of the Ogygia of

* the great O'Flaherty, nor the Histoire

E 3 ,



Mr



S FLORENCE MACARTHY.



dlrelande, by Abbe O'Gaghehan : how
could he, and he in jeopardy of the
Crawleys ? And my codices sent to the
Lord-Deputy, that's the Lord-Lieute-
nant ; and troth, I think they'll astonish
him. And the Bhan Tierna, after all,
at the castle of them Dunores, after
keeping out of their way, and then cir-
cumventing the Crawleys : aye, ^ still on
the necks of the Butlers,' Dioul ! and
carrying off the great lady to herself,
when it's what she couldn't help appear-
ing before her; and letting herself be
taken, and turning bad to good, always
after her ould fashion. A Macarthy in
the halls of the Fitzadelms: Bachal
Essu ! Wonders will never cease !

* Turne quod optanti divum promittere nemo
Auderet, volvenda dies en attulit ultro.'

And to see her standing in the midst of
them Boddie Sassoni, just like a young
scion of an old oak on the Boggras, flou-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 79

rishing lonely and green among the
scraws and briars that have sprung up
in a night saison, like mushrooms/'

While 0*Leary was thus soliloquizing
his way to the Dunore Arms, where a
crowd was assembled^ relating and listen-
ing to the extraordinaiy events that had
taken place at the castle, the two adven-
turous fellow travellers were pursuing
their walk up and down the sea-shore.
Lord Adelm Fitzadelm, occupied with
himself and his own views, as those
usually are who have long engrossed the
world's attention, and have become the
spoiled children of society, was eager to
pour the confidences of his self-love into
his companions patient ear ; and taking .
his arm, as they passed through the
postern gate, he entered at once upon
the history of his feelings and of his life
since they had parted at Court Fitz-
adelm.
" I am ordinarily but little influenced/*

E 4



80 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

he observed, '' by the ebb and flow of joy
or sadness, which govern the capricious
tide of human aifections in the every^
day children of the world : yet / am
glad, sincerely glad to see you here ;
glad that it may be in my power to re-
turn some part of the hospitable rites
which, as a stranger, I received at your
hands ; and happ}^ that my timely pre-
sence has been the means of saving you
from at least a temporary inconvenience,
and rescuing you from some intrigue of
my mother*s friends, the Crawleys,
which might have involved you in
transient vexations, though eventually
they must have fallen of themselves into
insignificance.

" I am not quite so certain of that,*^
returned General Fitz waiter : " had they
succeeded in shutting me up at the pre-
sent moment, they might have crossed
me in pursuits, to myself, at least, big
with importance. They might have



TLORENOi MACAIITHY. 81

succeeded in throwing suspicion on my
character, which, at a future moment,
might have invaUdated my testimony,
when all but honour will be at stake.
Their motives of action are, however,
still a mystery."

To me it seems impossible," replied
Lord Adelm, '^ that you could come
into the sphere of intrigue of these rep-
tiles. There is a sort of poetical ele-
vation in your character, your profes-
sion, or rather your vocation, that
places jou so far out of the reach of the
meddling little faction of an Irish dis-
trict. The admiral of the gallant fleet
of Martingaria, the general in chief of
the guerrilla troops of the mighty Cor-
dilleras, a warrior, a patriot, in a word,
YOU in the power of the Crawieys !
This is a solecism not easily understood !
and

* Comes not within the prospect of belief.'*

'* You measure my character by the

E 5



S2 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

elevation of the great regions in which
it was developed ; and associate me
personally with the glorious cause in
which I was involved. But how came
you by these facts ? Where did you
learn that the Commodore of the Li-
BRADOR had once commanded the little
fleet of Martingaria, or had been dis-
tinguished by an higher command among
the cloud-embosomed Cordilleras ?"

" Where?" repeated Lord Adelm,
with animation, " and how ? Why may
not I have my Egeria or my daemon, as
well as another ? for if I obtained not
my information through super-human
agency, faith, I know not how I got it,
or ca7ne by it''

'^ You speak enigmas.'*

^^ I have lived in them of late."

" And the sphinx who has presided

over them is still, I suppose, Mrs. Ma-

gillicuddy," said Fitzwalter, ironically.

" Not exactly," replied Lord Adelm,

dryly, " except Mrs. Magillicuddy be



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 83

a sort of petite maitresse-^^hinn, fan-
ciful and elegant as she is mysterious
and powerful : one, for example, who
traces ^ thoughts that breathe, and words
that burn,' upon paper, that blushes
roses and smells of them ; one who
takes for her device, love depriving
Jlowers of their thorns^ and for her
motto, ^ Sou utile ainda queBriccando"

The general started ; and Lord Adelm,
producing a small embroidered letter-
case, took from it three billets^, written
on rose-coloured paper, and literally
breathing odours. The seal and motto,
to which he pointed, were no strangers
to the general's eyes.

^^ I might," he continued, " shew ♦
you the contents of these billets ; for
with the exception of a few detailed
facts, they are vague and mysterious
as Delphic oracles, but that I hold
them sacred to the very mysticism
they profess. In style they are almost



84 FLOKENCE MACARTHV^.

too fanciful, light, and delicate, even
for a woman's dictation, though at the
same time in substance obscure as di-
plomatic cyphering. In short, I am
lost in wild conjecture."

^^ Oh ! I see Queen Mab hath been
with you,^' observed the general, laugh-
ing, and amused by the visionary cre-
dulity of the noble idealist, which seemed
to have lost nothing of its eccentricity
since they had parted.—" Are you,
then, become a devotee to a more phi-
losophical sect than the school o^ faery,
one of the illuminati, the invisible bro-
thers, the fratres rorls cocti, whose
conmiunion is confined to sprites, sylphs,
and gnomes, and whose secret of all
human good lies in the essences of con-^
coated dew P"

" Nay, you may laugh as you will; but
I hold the principles of the Rosicrucian
philosophy in high respect. Whatever
elevates the imagination, whatever raises



laOllENCE MACARTHY. 85

US above the groveling lot of earthly
existence, unites us to a spiritual world,
shakes oft the dross of mere humanity,
and purifies and refines our nature^ are
at least glorious illusions. I have always
loved the poetical and religious grandeur
of the Rosicrucian doctrines, their
' divine energy/ or soul, diffused
throughout the frame of the universe;
their ' Archceus,* or universal spirit ;
the influence of their bright starry
Providence; the government ^of light
and harmony; their brilliant daemons
and delicious sylphs. I do not," he
continued, as his imagination heated
with its own workings, '' I do not, I
confess, blush to own myself the dupe
of those high-wrought dreams of phy-
sical possibility which inspired Numa
in his grotto, or Socrates in his cell ;
and I wish not, at this moment, to dis-
sipate the impression that there may,
that their does exist for me, some crea--



B6 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

ture of aether and light, some legitimate
child of the spheres, which, always
invisibly nigh, watches over my sunless
life-path, throwing a ray over the heart's
dark desolation, and sliining upon the
ruins of memory, like the gleam that
now falls upon that tottering pile be-
fore us.^'

^' It talks well ; but one real lovely
woman is worth it all," said the ge-
neral, reddening as he spoke, from the
energy of his feeling — '^ But your in-
visible sylph, if sylph you will have her,
seems to me a malicious little imp, and
more like the ' shrewd and knavish
sprite called Robin Goo rife How ^' than
a delicate aeriel ; for she has led you a
dance

* Over hill, over dale,
Through bush, through briar,
Over park, over pale,
Through flood, through fire,'

without any apparent object in her



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 8?

agency, if it be not to amuse her own
splenetic gaiety, or to work upon your
imagination."

"Of you, at least," said Lord Fitz-
adelm, "whether gnome or sylphy or
woman, she merits well, for you are
the object of her special protection."

" I !" said the general, starting — " in-
deed !"

" Judge for yourself. Of three bil-
lets received from my lovely invisible
(for lovely she must be, whether mortal
or sprite), one led me from Portugal to
Ireland, by informing me of my
mother s intrigue to smuggle me into
the borough of Glannacrime, hon gre^
vialgre! another fixed my residence in
the neighbourhood of Kilcolman, by
announcing it the native region of my
guardian spirit, (where, by the bye, I
vainly waited her brilliant apparition),
and the third urged my instant depar-
ture for Dunore, by intimating that my



88 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

travelling companion, General DonFitz-
waiter, the illustrious South-American
chief, was about to become the victim
of the loyal suspicions of the petty
despots of the place. I was not sur-
prised to find that you belonged to
history, and immediately hastened to
your assistance ; too late, indeed, to
warn you of your danger; but, I trust,
in time to avert its consequences."

" This looks like magic indeed," said
the general, after a moment*s pause.
'^ I had no reason to suppose I was
known to any human being in this
country : for wishing to avoid the in-
conveniences which follow the eclat of
a public character, I have concealed
my name, prof<^ssion, and title, which
might have reached even this remote
spot, through the medium of the news-
papers, now that the eyes of all Europe
are directed on the glorious struggles of
South- America. But I can only be an



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 89

object of interest to this powerful spirit,
in as much as she supposes me your
friend. It is you whom she has led
from Portugal to Ireland through the
solitudes of the Galties, amidst the shades
of Court Fitzadelm : it is for you that
she has called spirits from the vasty
deep in the questionable shapes of Mrs.
Magiliicuddy and Mr. Owny. She had
provided you a lodging too in the neigh-
bourhood of Dunore, in case sh^ found
it necessary to preserve your incognito;
and by ihis arrangement I have pro-
fitted ; for my host OXeary, till he saw
us together, insisted on my being Lord
Adelm Fitzadelm, and as such received
me for his tenant, which he would not
otherwise have done.'* «

The general, as he spoke, was occu-
pied in searciiing among some papers
for the mysterious letter which had pre-
ceded his arrival at the priory : " Here,'*
he said, " is a letter from your sylph^



so FLORENCE MACARTHY.

not, however, breathing and blushing
roses, but written in human characters,
on a material substance, and respiring
turf smoke. OXeary, who is a Rosicru-
cian in his way, insists that it came
from the good people, the designation of
Irish faery."

Lord Adelm took the letter in sur-
prise, and read it with emotion. " It
is," he said, " the writing and the seal.
May I keep this letter?" he asked after a
pause.

" Oh, certainly," replied the general,
carelessly : " it does not concern me ;
you of course will find out who this in-
visible agent is ; and then "

" That is not so certain,^^ interrupted
Lord Fitzadelm : " she wraps herself
in impenetrable seclusion, throws a
veil of mystery over her motions, as
over her person, and in her fanciful
epistles, though there is much to excite
wonder, there is nothing to feed hope



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 91

^* further than the interest she takes in



me."



^^ Interest indeed ! but you cannot

for a moment consider this adventure

in any other hght than as a mere bonne

fortune^ however singularly it has been

conducted."

'^ O ! there is satiety in that thought,
in that term at least; and to confess the
truth, I do not wish to dull the delight
of this mystic union by expli^ring its
causes, or assigning it a motive or ob-
ject. I love to think that in the pauses
snatched from the tedium of society, I
may inhale the sigh, and listen to the
song of this nymph of the air, as I
caught the one on the ruins of Holy-
cross, and hung upon the other, amidst
the desolation of Court Fitzadelm, for
I am convinced of her presence on both
occasions, and to believe that our com-
munion is divine, and that our alliance
will become immortal. ^^



»)2 FLORKNCK MACARTllY.

" And I/' said the general, with
warmth, " I would not give up the idea
of this invisihle correspondent being a
woman, a true devoted woman, were I
in your place, to be an object of adora-
tion to a ^ world of spmts.^ Were I
the object of such zeal, vigilance, and
devotion, had / called forth such talent,
spirit, and ingenuity, I would not long
remain ignorant of my invisible guar-
dian. 1 would force my way through
the mystery which conceals her, I would
follow her from pole to pole, over alps
and oceans, or remain fixed and rooted
to the spot she inhabited; woo her, win
her, cling to her, cherish her . . . ."

" And — marry her — " interrupted
Lord x\delm, yawning.

" Marry her!" repeated the general
in a tone as if some sudden association
of ideas were abruptly awakened by this
proposition ; then, after a pause, he
asked abruptly—'^ What do you think



FLORENCE MACAKTHY. 95

of that pretty, but extraordinary, look-
ing, Lady Clancare? Her appearance
was altogether sudden and singular."

" Oh ! she struck me to be a mere
minaudiere ! some stale engouement of
my mother s, who came in this extra-
ordinary way upon the scene, merely to
make a sensation, and startle back Lady
Dunore into a faded prepossession. You
may trust mcie on the score of my mo-
ther's fancies. This wild Irish peeress
has been one of the lions, I suppose, of
a London season, has been exhibited
for her brogue or her howl, or shewn off
* as the lady, whose father was hanged
in the rebellion ;* for my mother, who
is one of the reigning autocrats of
fashion, brings people into vogue upon
her own emotions, as the old Dutchess
of G. did upon a fiddle-string; din&weeps
or wonders them into notoriety, as her
grace danced them into ton. This Lady
Clancare has ^ fretted her hour upon



94 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

the stage/ and was heard no more; and
she now issues from her own castle, a
prisoner ivith her own consent into ours,
merely to get up a scene, and occasion
a rechauffee, in my capricious mother s
^ promptly cold affections/'

^^ She seems, however, to have suc-
ceeded, for she carried off Lady Dunore,
even from you, who were so little ex-
pected, so freshly arrived, and so rap-
turously received/'

" Oh ! that is quite my mother. She
is an excellent person in her way ; but
in her engouemens her feelings are —

' Momentary as a sound.

Swift as a shadow — short as any dream,'

Be not you, therefore, misled^ by her
favour. You are made to win it ; but
even you will find it ' sweet, but not
permanent/'

" I shall not remain here to put her
ladyship's stability to the test. I expect



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 95

my little vessel round by the first fair
wind^ and then I am off/'

'^ No^ no^" interrupted Lord Fitz-
adelm, ^^ you do not mean that. You
will not leave me here with dawdling
dandies, and cast coquettes; for, save
*my excellent uncle Daly and Eversham,
who, though a coxcomb, is a perfect
gentleman, the whole set-out at Dunore
castle is, I saw at a glance, perfectly
detestable : but that I am spell-bound
here, I would fly off with you to South
America to-morrow."

^^And your election ?"

^^ I have not even thought of that yet.
If I am returned, howev^er, I shall pur-
sue my own course : if I am worsted I
shall be left to follow it ; but all de-
pends upon how my moth^_ stands im-
plicated : what is done cannot be un-
done : for the present, however^ other
objects touch me more nearly."

The castle bell (for they were still



96 FLORENCE MaCARTMY^

pacing backwards and forwards beneath
the rampart) now intimated the hour
for dressinc^ ; and Lord Adelm^ urging
thfi general's quick return, subjoined an
ardent request that he would take up his
residence at the castle, while his business
detained him in the neighbourhood.

This Fitz waiter, with his wonted
tone of decision, promptly refused. He
insisted upon their original stipulation,
which had guaranteed mutual and per-
fect freedom of action.

" How necessary it is to me,*' he
continued, '' yourself shall judge.*' He
paused for a moment, placed himself
between Lord Adelm and the postern
gate, at which he was about to enter,
and with a low voice and rapid but em-
phatic enunciation, he continued — '' I
am here in this neighbourhood for the
purpose of recovering my birth-right, of
which, in my boyhood, I was fraudu-
lently bereaved. I am here for tha



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 9 7

purpose of dispossessing a powerful fa-
mily of princely property, titl, honours,
and influence of vast extent, which, but
for my unexpected re-appearance on the
scene, would in right be their's. To
effect this, the testimony of the lowly,
and proofs in possession of the illitei^ate
and the prejudiced, are necessary. My
agents lie amongst those, purchaseable
by their poverty or assailable by their
simplicity. My opponents are arnbng
the great, the powerful, the noble, and
the wily. Vigour, promptitude, perse-
verance, and secrecy, are the arms given
me to contend with. Judge then how
necessaiy to my views are perfect free-
dom, obscurity of position, and disen-
gagement of mind. I am here collect-
ing w^itnesses, whom I dare not trust
with the secret of their own evidence.
Brought forward in society in this coun-
try, I should come into contact with
those whom I a)n bound, not to injure

VOLo III* F



9S FLORENCE MACAIITHV.

(for I come but to claim my rights)^ but
to dispossess : it may be to receive their
hospitality in the common intercourse
of the worlds or to awaken suspicion by
rejecting it. I mighty perhaps, too, so
ally myself to some one interesting
member of that family, who, united to
me by blood, and endeared to me by
splendid qualities, would eventually
weaken m}^ efforts in the cause of jus-
tice, general as well as personal : in a
word — " he stopped abruptly : his eye
darkened, his under lip trembled, and
his silence was that of strong emotion ;
a seeming struggle between the impulse
of a o'enerous frankness, and the caution
of necessary prudence.

^^ Pray go on," said Lord Adelm, im-
patiently : '^ your story interests me ;"
and he seated himself upon an abutment
of the rampart, forgetful of the time,
the place, of every thing, but the extra-
ordinary person who stood before him ;



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 99

and who now^ like a creature restored
to its native element^ was energized by
strong passion, and animated by emo-
tions best adapted to his nature and
existence.

^^ In a word then/* continued the ge-
neral, firmly, and after a pause, " such
a person as I have described exists ; and
I have suddenly but decidedly resolved
to make him, who must chiefly suffer by
roy claims, the sole confidant of^^my
strenuous efforts to establish them ; to
relate to him a story which will cover
those nearest to him with ignominy, and
tend to deprive him of the greatest ob-
jects of the world's ambition. Imagine
how highly I think of the honour and
the spirit of this person, of the truth of *
his character, of the elevation of his
mind, of the disinterested generosity of
his nature."

" By heavens ! I would rather be that
selected person," said Lord Adelm^ im*

F 2



lOO FLOKENCE MACARTHY.

petuously — '^ I would rather merit and
obtain such proofs of esteem, confi-
dence, and admiration, than possess the
highest sounding titles, which eventually
await me, or lord it over these rich do-
mains, which must one day be mine."

" Would you?" exclaimed the ge-
neral, catching his extended hand in a
grasp of iron ; "would you — " he stopped
short: a slight convulsion passed across
his countenance, and, suddenly letting
fall the hand he so firmly held, he
added — " But you shall hear my story :
I will confide to you events, and names
blasted by those events, consigned to
shame and ignominy, which have
long lain deep buried in my heart with
feelings of indignation, stifled, indeed,
but not extinct. In my person justice
has been set aside, right overthrown,
nature's holiest ties violated ; my nearest
kindred have been my deadliest foes,
and the legal guardians of my youth



FLOHENCE MACARTIIY. 101

have torn me from my natural position
in society, exposed me to misery, to
slavery ; through them I have been
boudit and sold like beasts of burden ;
through them »" He paused ab-
ruptly: he clenched his hands with a
violence that proceeded from acute and
powerful feeling, seeking vent in physi-
cal fsensation, acute even to pain ; then
with a flashing eye, and an illuminated
countenance, he added — ^' But it, i«
passed, and I have asserted all the rights
of man, recovered and protected them
for myself and others : I have broken
the chain of oppression wherever I have -
found it galling the oppressed: I have
fought my way to glory and success ;
and now, I trust, I come to illustrate the *
name I claim, to add to the splendour,
not to darken the brightness, of heredi-
tary nobility. This, how^ever, is no
moment "



u



Yes, yes/' said Lord Adelm, cateh-

F 3



102 FLORENCE MACARTMY.

ing his enthusiasm, and borne away by
the energy and raj)idity of his manner^
^^ go on ; this is the time."

" Will you/* said General Kitzwalter,
after a long pause, '* will you trust
yourself to-night in my lodging among
the ruins of Monaster-ny-Oriel r"

'^ To night ! at what hour r'^

^^ The tide will be out at midnight :
by taking the strand you will reach the-
Friary in less than twenty minutes."

^^ At midnight, then/^ said Lord
Adelm, shaking the hands of his com-
panion ; and, for the first time in his life,
interested in the details of a story of
which he was not himself the hero;
for till this moment he had never been
associated with one, whose high qualities
and superior endowments assimilated
with his own. The singularity and
mystery of the stranger's position had
also fastened with tenacious influence
on his imagination ; and a secret mid-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 105

night interviev/^ for the purpose of re-
ceiving a momentous eonfiruined towers of a desolated abbey, on
the wild shores of the vast Atlantic^ had
each their due effect ; and, for the mo-
ment, the invisible sylph was super-
seded, if not forgotten, in the interest
excited by the stranger chief. -

The dressing bell had now ceased to
ring; and the new, but firm friends,
parted for the moment.



T 4



J 04 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.



CHAPTER III.



'^Rong6 dc fiel ct boufll d'oi^uil."



As the judges were to proceed on
their journey early in the evening, din-
ner had been advanced by nearly an
hour earlier than the ordinary time,
and the last bell had rung before any
one had descended to the saloon. The
judges alone were impatiently observ-
ing the gradual refrigeration of soups^
fish, and pates, as the party dropped
into the dining-room, one by one. Lord
Adelm and General Fitz waiter were
amons: the last. They came in toge-
ther, and all were standing in expecta-
tion of the entrance of the marchioness^



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 105

when a servant presented a note to
Lady Georgina.

" Oh !" said Lady Georgina, as she
finished a few hnes, written with a
pencil on a bit of twisted paper, ^^ here
is a note from Lady Dunore : she desire*
me to offer apologies to all for her ab-
sence, to take the chair, and to say
that she will join us at the dessert. — She
dates from Castle Macarthy,. the seat of
Lady Glancare."

Some smiled at this last intelligence,
and some looked sad: among the
former were Lord Frederick and Mr.
Daly; the latter were exclusively com-
posed of the Crawleys — all took their
places at the table. The presence of
the servants prevented the turn the
conversation would otherwise have taken
from the circumstances of the morning;
and the dinner passed off with a heavj-i
ness, which not even some occassional
flashes from Baron Boulter could en-

r 5



106 FT'^REXrE MACARTHY.

liven. Lord Adelm, with his look of
hahitiial haughtiness and abstraction,
sat silent and reserved. Judge Aubrey
talked only in a low voice with General
Fitzwaltcr, who sat next him. Tiie
Cr awl eys^ formal and constrained, equal-
ly by the presence of Lord Adelm,
w ho did not notice them, and of a per-
son whom they had calumniated, and
would have injured, scarcely concealed
the chagrin and vexation under which
they laboured. Lord Frederick mur-
mured soft nonsense and satirical re-
marks into Lady Georgina's ^'pleased
ear^** Mr. Heneage was too fine.
Lord Rosbrin and Mr. Pottinjxer too
busy to speak, while the absence of
Lady Dunore's restless vivacity was
evinced by the general quietude of the
table, which was solemn and dull as any
fashionable dinner of extreme London
bon-ton could have been.

The announce of the judges' carriages



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 10/

before Lady Dunore's return^ and while
the fruit was still upon the table^ in-
duced the whole party to rise, and ad-
journ to coffee and the drawing-room,
d lafrancaise; and Mr. Daly, shocked
at the want of all bienseance in his niece
towards her high judicial guests, en-
deavoured to apologize for her absence^
by jokingly remarking that she had
fallen into the thraldom of some en-
chantment; and that he did not doubt
that the pretty Lady Clancare Vas
some "Irish night-tripping fairy,*' who
had carried her off, for special reasons^
known only to the high court of faery.

"By the bye," said Lord Frederick,
" I should like to be better acquainted
with that same Lady Clancare, who
chose to be made a prisoner, just/;oj^r
s'egayer! Does no one know any thing
about her?"

" Not a great deal, I believe,^' said
Miss Crawley, eagerly and pointedly.



108 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

"at least in this neighbourhood^ my
lord.'*

" More than is good/* muttered old
Crawley ; while Lady Georgina, not
perhaps quite satisfied w ith Lord Fre-
derick's inquiries, replied,

'^ Oh, you must have seen her last
season in London. Lady Dunore
shewed her oft' for a night or two, and
took her from old Lady Newbank, who
picked her up, as she picks up all odd
people and aid. china, nobody knows
where."

^^ What does she do ?'* said Lord
Frederick, sipping his coffee. " Is
she one of the ' Gultararie,' the ^ Tu
mi Chamas' ladies, who thrum 'd u»
to death, when Spain was in vogue ^
^ Et Dieu salt la i^aclerie que cctoit*
Or does she play the ^ devil P' or is
she a waltzer, or a quadriller? or does
she invent Chinese puzzles ? ox make
mottos and draw trophies, or what ?"



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 109

** I think she was brought abaut for
writing books/* said Lady Georgina,
languidly, ^^ as well as I remember."

^'Writing books!*' re-echoed Lord
Frederick in a tone of alarm: '^you
don't really mean that ?"

" Not absolutely books, I believe,
but tales^ stories^ something about
Ireland, and Spain, and South America.
I almost forget what; but I fancy peo-
ple thought they were very amusing
and odd.'* *^

^^ De tout mon coeur^'' said Lord Fre-
derick, " I have no objection. But
with respect to ladies that write books,
* en tout etpar tout, je quitte la partie^
It's a pity too, for she's a pretty, odd,
shy, sly looking concern enough. But
really Lady Dunore's bringing a live
author down upon us, dportefermiey
as we are living at present, is too bad ;
and the worst of all authors, a nohle
author. 'Tis misprision of treason;^ against



110 FLORENCE MACARTilY.

all ease, comfort, and ciijoyment. Has
she a husband belonging to her, do
you know ?'*

'^ Oh dear, no,*' said Miss Crawley,
eagerly. "" She is a peeress in her
own rigid — he! he! he! She has nothing
belonging to her ; she is a very in-
dependent sort of person :" and she
laughed aifectedly.

^^ In fact," said young Crawley, '^ we
know nothing of the lady whatever,
except that such a person came down,
to this neighbourhood two years ago ;
took an old ruined mansion, called Cas^
tie Macarthy, in the village of Bally- -
dab, jt?a^6W herself as the grand-daugh-
ter and heir of old Denis Macarthy,
commonly called the titular Earl of
Clancare, who died in Dublin in jail
about that period ; and w^ith no other
inheritance than an old greyhound,
and no other proof of the truth of her
story than her own assertion, entered



FLORENCE MACARTHY. Ill

at once upon a scheming course of
litigiousness^ broke some leases^ and — "

" Took my iligant mountain of Clot-
notty-joy from me/' interrupted old
Crawley^ despondingly.

The pathetic tone in which this was
pronounced excited some mirth ; and
Mr. Daly observed^ " if then she breaks
leases, and made good her claim to
Clotnotty-joy, there can be no doubt^
I sup230se, that she is the personage she
asserts herself to be." *

^' There is none whatever," said Judge
Aubrey, who had sat silently listening,
while Baron Boulter went to the stables,
to look after a favourite mare, ridden
by his crier, '^ there is none whatever.-
I have had opportunities of knowing
something of this young lady ; but I
did not know before that she labours
under the odium of writing books, for
there is certainly no personification of
authorship about her — no pretension
whatever."



112 FLORENCE MACAUTHY^

^ And that's the pitjj of it^' said
Lord Frederick : '^ there is^ on tlie con-
trary^ an odd melange of the shy and
the comic in her countenance, that one
would think pretty if she was not an
author."

^' Comic!" interrupted old Crawley,
gradually resuming his wonted tone of
spirits, by mere force of temperament,
while his eye occasionally turned on the
stranger with a look of doubtful anxiety,
as if some vague, unsatisfied suspicion
still lurked in his mind—" Odi ! she's
comical enough ;— a little too comical,
like Paddy Mooneyes goose, full of fun
and nothing to play with.'*

The coarse vulgarisms of Mr. Craw-
ley always excited unrestrained mirth in
the finer part of the society at Dunore
Castle ; and Lord Frederick, laughingly
replied,

^^ I should like then to know Mr.
Mooney's goose most particularly : for
I \ote Jun the best thing ahvej and if



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 113

your Lady Clancare has this talent in
common with Mr. Mooney's goose, I
beheve I should almost be inclined to
pardon the possession of others, even
though they went as far as writing
books. Pray, is this literary peeress in
her own rio^ht rich?"

'' Rich!" said young Crawley, ^^ no-
body knows how she exists ; and people
laugh at her pretension to rank. The
person last bearing the title of Clancare
died abroad without issue : and in Ire-
land titles are so frequently claimed by
pauper pretenders, that little attention
is paid to such events. We had, not
long; since, a basket boy a viscount,
and a tiu'f-cutter a baron ; and have still,
occasionally, all sorts of adventurers re-
turning to claim pennyless rank in this
country, in the hopes of obtaining a
pension from government along with it.'*

'' The stRtement which appeared re-
specting the extinction of this title was



114 FLORENCE MACARTHT,

incorrect " said Judc-c Aubrev ; ^' for al-
though the former Earl of Clancare died
in Italy without issue^ yet a represen-
tative of the title was found to exist in
the person of the late Mr. Macarthy,
whose lineal ancestors were included in
the general attainder of the Catholic
peers who supported James the Second
in the war of the Revolution. These
attainders^ however^ have^ with a few
exceptions^ been reversed. I sat upoiT
the Clancare cause^ which terminated in
the success and the ruin of the old chief-
tain. He obtained his title^ which de-
scends in the female line^ but died^ a*
Mr. Conway Crawley states^ a few days
after in prison^ where he had been de-
tained for costs for two years^ having
ruined himself for the honour of his fa«
milv. Since that event, I have had th^
pleasure of once meeting Lady Clancare
vipon an occasion that did equal honour
to her heart and her head. She inte-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 115

rested herself in the fate of a person
condemned to perpetual incarceration,
under the shameful Irish bye-law called
a RULE of bail. She came to me last
spring assizes twelvemonth^ and made
so clear and undeniable a statement of
the man's innocence^ and adduced so
many proofs^ that there was little dif-
ficulty and great justice in reversing
the order under which he suffered.
He is now grainino^ an honest live-
lihood, and runs a chaise and pair of
his own^ I understand, on some of the
bye-roads between Cork and Kerry.
Every one knows Owny, the Rabragh^ ''^
and is glad to employ him ; for he oc-
casionally realizes all that has been said
of the shrewdness and humour of an.
Irish postillion. ^^

^ ■■- - M I ■. I ,.. .-—■MM ■■■■I ■■..--■■■■■■■■!■■■I I ■■■^%

* An Irish scholar trfinslated (his term for
me — a '' hearty fellow :'^ it in fact means a
rustic " gay Loihario."



Il6 FLORENCE MACARTMY.

General Fitzwalter and Lord Adelm
eSxchanged glances of significance.

" A little hanjrino^ would do him no
harm for all that, with great deference
to your lordship/' said old Crawley ;
*^ for there was neither pace nor quiet
while he was in the barony, setting up
the fairs and patterns after they wxre
put down by iniUthary law, and burning
me in elegy ^ and thinking a beau-maison
of himself, as the French says; with
his white shirt sleeves and green rib-
bons, at all the hurling matches that
never would have been but for him, and
the likes of him, in the place ; and too
many of them there are, without having
him turned on our hands again/*

" I am glad of it,'* said Mr. Daly ;
" and I wish with all my soul we had
more rabraghs. The Irish peasantry
are not only more indigent than they
were forty years ago, but they have lost
much of the gaiety and cheerfulness



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 117

of spirit which set sorrow at de-
fiance. Their wakes and fairs, patterns,
and Sunday evening: cake, are almost
wholly laid aside : these, and the hurling
matches, that noble, athletic, and na-
tional sport, are quite gone by : and
of the troops of pipers and harpers that
used to perform daily in their villages,
or resort to the houses of the gentry^
wliere welcome entertainment and ample
remuneration awaited them, there scarce
remain any of the order. I remem-
ber as if it were but yesterday, fifty
years back, heading the Leitrim boys
asjainst the Kerries, who were led on
by old Florence Macarthy, the very
grandfather of this Lady Clancare, in
an hurling match between the coun-
ties. Macarthy won the match, and
more than the match, for he wqu the
heart of the pretty Honor O'Connor,
the toast of the two provinces, whom
he afterwards married^ and who^ with



118 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

all the reigning beauties of the day,
followed the fortunes of the contest.
^^ It warms one's old blood/' conti-
nued Mr. Daly, starting up, with ani-
mation, '^ even at seventy-three, to
think of the native energy, force, and
spirit of the genuine Irish character;
and it chills it;" he added, with a sigh,
and retaking his seat, " when one
thinks upon the means which must
have been employed within the last
thirty years to weaken and turn it from
its natural bias. To see that it is only
great, vigorous, and fortunate, when
transplanted from its native clime; but
withering, drooping, and fading at
home. — I doubt. Sir,*' he added, turn-
ing to General Fitzwalter, " that had
you remained at home (for I take it for
granted you are one of those gallant
Irishmen, who are forced by religious
proscription to seek glory in a foreign
land), I doubt that you vv^ould have de-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 1 I9

"veloped those great qualities in this
devoted country, which have obtained
for you, elsewhere, the epithet of the
liberator, and have enabled you in a
land of strangers to fight your way to
high command, and higher consider-
ation.'*

General Fitz waiter had given to the
details of this desultory conversation
that animated and earnest attention
which betokens deep interest. Thus
personally addressed, he replied, v/ith
the abrupt frankness of one vv ho rather
courts than shuns observation,

^^ I am an Irishman, Sir, and have
been long an exile, but not from reli-
gious proscription^ (for my family were
of the master cast), but by circum-
stances connected with the political state
of the country, through that demorali-
zation which the misrule of centuries
has impressed upon all the branches of
its population. Turned adrift upon the



1:20 FLORENCE MACARTMY.

world without compass or rudder, with-
out a home to love, friends to cherish,
or a country to defend or serve, I be-
came by necessity a commoner of na-
ture; and unfettered by the distinctions
of clime, country, or kindred, I have
early claimed alliance with all who suf-
fer, whatever might be the region they
inhabited.

" The chances which threw me on the
shores of America brought me early
in hfe in contact with Don Narino.'*^
Engaging in his glorious enterprise,
when the possible emancipation of
Spanish America was yet little more
than a philosophical speculation, it was
my good fortune to share his dungeon
in Santa Fe, his escape to Europe, and
his mission to England. I accom-



* Narino visited England in consequence of
certain plans entertained by the British ministry
for separating Terra Firmafrom Spain.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 121

panled him also in his venturous re^
turn to New Granada^ where, backed
by English protection^ he again risked
his hfe in his country's cause. Pro-
scrihcdj marked out for destruction^
pursued, discovered, taken, he expiated
the crime of patriotism by a long series
of misery and incarceration. Narino
has since appeared before the world
in all his original splendour; and I^
in common with many of my gallant
countrymen, (^) have continued to fol
low the standard of libertv, from the
moment it was openly unftirled among
the mighty regions of the Cordelliras/'

^^ Borne it, not followed it," said
Lord Adelm.

"^ The stranger," said Fitzwalter,
" w4io risks his fortune in a foreign land
on general principles of right and li-
berty, usually becomes the favourite of
the more interested partizans. I have,
therefore, occasionally led^ as well as

* S^e Note (1) at the enil of the volume,

VOL. in. o



122 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

served, in almost every part of Spanish
America, where the glorious impulsion
of freedom has been given. In a late
action, more than half the corps I com-
manded were massacred in a pass of the
Cordelliras ; for the war of Spain against
America is named, even by the Spaniards,
a ^ war of death.' As their chief, I was
reserved for torture, and for an ignomi-
nious death. It was a romantic event,
that one of the guards, placed over me,
had in early life done me an injury
that weighed heavily on his conscience.
He took this moment for reconciling
himself with heaven, released, and fled
with me. I escaped from the Caraccas
to Demerara, where, through the chan-
nel of the public papers, an event of
great personal interest accidentally
reached my knowledge, which the re-
moteness and occupation of my scene
of action, together with my more im-
mediate incarceration, prevented me
from sooner learning. — This event has



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 12.^

brought me to my native country:
and though, as an Irishman, I should,
on general grounds, lament the cir-
cumstances which introduced me to the
castle of Dunore, yet upon principles
of personal gratification I am not suf-
ficiently disinterested to regret them."

This brief sketch of auto-biography
was thrown off with a frankness and
energy of manner that gave it singular
effect, and bestowed upon it all the
evidence of truth, and all the graces
of modesty, while it obtained for the
brilliant and singular narrator an ad-
miration variously felt and expressed.

^^ Go on. General Fitz waiter, go on,*'
cried a voice from the door : ^^you have
no idea how you remind me of Kosi-
usko, when I went to see him in Lon-
don, lying wounded upon a sofa. You
raconter^o like him ; doesn't he, Georgy
love? I must say, after all, that patri-
otism and freedom and things always
sound delightfully."

G g



124 FLORENCE MACAIITHY.

This speech drew every eye to th«
spot from whence it proceeded ; and
Lady Dunore appeared, leaning her
back against the half-open door, con-
ceahng the figure of Lady Clan care,
whose dark eyes were just seen peep-
ing over her shoulder.

The ladies had entered thus far unob-
served, for the company sat with their
backs to the door, at the moment when
Mr. Daly had addressed General Fitz-
waiter ; and Lady Dunore, who loved to
hear every thing about every one, and
loved it the more in proportion as events
were extraordinary, stood spell-bound
w^hilc the general spoke, as forgetful of
her ' dear delightful judges,' as if they
had never existed. They were now,
however, recalled to her recollection by
the entrance of Baron Boulter, bearing
^the intelligence that all was ready for
their departure ; and Lady Dunore,
translating the reproachful look and
sliakc of her uncle's head, came for-



iLORENCE MACARTHY. 125

waid with a multitude of apologies for
her absence, many anxious intreaties
that they would prolong their stay, and
as deep-formed washes that they would
return, with all their wives and all
their children, to pass some time at
Dunore, where she was going to have
private plays and a chapel of ease, and
Lady Clancare, and perhaps more
trials.

The judges, however, seemed per-
fectly satisfied with the trials they had
already witnessed ; and Baron Boulter,
as spokesman, received and returned
her ladyship's compliments with all
the ardour and earnestness with which
they were made. The judges were
then conducted to their carriages by
Lord Adelm and Mr. Daly, and de-
parted.

Lady Dunore now led, or rather
forced forward, the really, or affectedly
timid Lady Clancare, w^ho, with the

G 3



I'JG FLORENCE MACARTHY.

manner that resembled the graceful
awkwardness of a pretty but froward
child^ still held back. Lady Dunore,
heated and dishevelled^ was still in her
morning dress^ with her sautoir de cash-
mir rolled round her head, and a grey
cloak of Lady Clancare's on her shoul-
ders, exhibiting a most sybil-like appear-
ance. Lady Clancare, on the contrary,
had exchanged her coarse unbecoming
costume of the morning, for a black
Spanish dress and mantillo, which were
then still in fashion, for whatever was
peninsular in sentiment or habiliment
had not yet fallen " into the sear" of
popularity.

Lady Dunore, whose eyes were fixed
upon her new protegee with delight and
admiration, now turned them on the
company, to observe the effect she had
produced, and at last fixed their eager
glances upon General Fitzwalter, with
an expression, which, if not attributable



FLORENCE MACARTHY, 12/

to her wonted extravagance, was wholly-
untranslatable. There was in this intense
stare a hope, a fear, something ex-
pected, something dreaded. General
Fitz waiter, whose eyes, like those ot
the rest of the company, were turned
on Lady Clancare, in mere curiosity,
at last met those of Lady Dunore.
For a moment they returned her fixed
look, till reddening under the inten-
sity of her gaze, he turned away,
and picking up a screen, which lay
^t Lady Georgina's feet, he seized on
this little act as an opportunity for
addressing her. Lady Dunore whis-
pered something to Lady Clancare,
who smiled, and threw down her eyes ;
and Mr. Daly, entering with Lord
Adelm, was commencing his attack on
his inconsequent niece, with '^ how
could you, my dear Emily, leave your
own house and the judges ?" when
Lady Dunore, impatiently putting her

G 4



128 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

hand on his mouthy interrupted him
with — ** there, there, I know all you
would say, all any one can say, on the
subject ; but you don't really w ant me
to bring the etiquette and tiresome
forms of the world into the wilds of
Ireland. Besides, if I have done
wrong, I bring my excuse in my hand,"
and she drew forward Lady Clancare.
'* You could not bring a fairer," said
Mr. DaH", with an air of p-allantrv^ ;
*^ and had I been so tempted, I too
should have so sinned I fear, thou2:h
the whole bench of bishops, and all the
judges of the land, had been making
claims on my attention. I had the
honour," he added, addressing Lady
Clancare, " of knowing your ladyship's
venerable grandfather, some short half
century back. He was not very vene-
rable then: — he was, indeed, as he is
now present in my recollection, of a
race of men, in stature, look, and cha



/



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 129

racter^ now almost passed away in this
country — we shall not look upon their
like again.'*

Lady Clancare bowed to this recollec-
tion of her grandfather; and though she
spoke not^ there was something passed
across her countenance, which induced
Mr. Daly to take her hand, under pre-
tence of leading Jier to her chair ; and
he felt (or he fancied he felt) a gentle
pressure of his, which he returned with
an ardour that did not quite belong to
seventy-three.

'^ Oh ! par example, for fine men,^'
said Lady Dunore, throwing herself into
an arm chair, ^^ I think they are really
quite extinct with us altogether. You
know, Georgy love, we were observing
at the opera, the last night we were
there, that we thought all the presump-
tive heirs of the great names were pig-
mies. There is nothing coming forward
now at all like the Dukes of A. and H— -,

G 5



130 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

the Marquis of A — , and the old Earl of
E — , in his coronation robes^ and that
sort of thing. The fact is^ though no
one can be more devoted to the present
ministry than I am^ I must say they
are by no means distinguished looking
men. None of that school at all ^ ahew
hlood^ as the old Duchess of B. used to
say. However, men may govern the
state very well without being beauties,
or poets either; for, as Lady C. says,
if the opposition have all the wit on
their side, the joJce*s all on ours. But
with respect to those magnificent crea-
tures that one used to meet in London,
I think all that sort of thing now is
i.'onfincd to the patriots, that is the
Poles, and South American chiefs. Don't
you think so, Georgy, love ?** and she
turned her eyes on General Fitzwalter.
To get rid of the awkwardness of this
pointed compliment, which evidently
distressed its object, Mr. Daly addressed



FLORENCE MACARTHV. 131

General Fitzwalter, with some observa-
tions on a country where he had played
so distinguished a part. ^^ South Ame-
rica/' he observed, '^^ is well known to
us in the Spanish histories of its early
discoverers, when Spain invaded it
under the simoniacal pretext of re*
ligion ; letting loose, at the same time^
hlood-hounds and apostles, while they
opened its mineral veins, and extermi-
nated its population. But it is only now
that it has become an object of interest
through the exertions of those states,
which are seeking to shake off the yoke,
that has almost deprived these great
regions of a place in the history of na-
tions ; the impulse, however, must have
been given long since.*'

General Fitz waiter replied. " The
oppression and cruelty of the colonial
legislatures, which have so long bathed
the richest country of the world with
the tears and the blood of her children,



13 f2 FLORENCE MACARTHV.

had excited, even as far back as the
middle of last century, events, which
seemed remotely to prepare a new
destiny for a population of fourteen
millions of its inhabitants. To a torpid
acquiescence of three centuries suc-
ceeded a gathering tempest, a kindling
resistance. The spirit of freedom, once
vivified, rapidly brightened into flame,
shining from north to south ; and the
period soon arrived, when every Ame-
rican heart beat in union under its in-
fluence. The oppressor and the op-
pressed stood before the world's eye,
opposed and armed. The Americans
would have made it a war of justice and
of mercy ; for they had suffered much,
and have learned to pity; but the fe-
rocity of Spain has made it a war of
extermination.* Internal divisions may

♦ The Spaniards term their contest with Amc-
Kca, ia Guerra a mucrta— the war of death •



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 133

render this conflict long and uncertain ;
but the cause belongs to humanity : it
springs from the laws of nature, and is
inevitable ; it is borne along by the
spirit of the age and the progress
of illumination, and it must finally
succeed/'

^^ To be sure it must/' said Lady
Dunore. ^' Don't you think so, Georgy,
love?''

" For my part, I don't know," said
Conway Crawley, with his brogue and
his effrontery, ^* what parsons mean
about giving liberty and independence
to an unformed race like the South
Americans ; a race defined by one of
the Spanish fiscals as creatures des-
tined by nature to work like moles in
the mines. We have all read the solemn
declaration of the consulado, or board
of trade, in Mexico, that the Indians are
a race of monkies, filled with vice and
ignorance: and they have extended






134 FLORENCE MACARTHY,

their remarks, I believe pretty justly,
to the Creoles, or degenerate descendants
of the first Spanish settlers."

'^ That, indeed, changes the thing-
altogether,'* said Lady Dunore, ^' not
but a race of monkies must be very
amusing and very mischievous. Don't
you think so Georgy, dear?"

" It was," said Mr. Daly, '' these
same sagacious Jiscals^ who ordered the
olive and the vine to be rooted out of
Chili, to compel a commerce with the
peninsula. And it was in the bosoms
of these American automata," he con-
tinued, "of these monkies, that the
British government, in 1797? resolved
to cherish the spark of independence,
already awakened there. We all know
Mr. Pitt's plans of giving freedom, and
a political existence, to Terra Firma ;
and that the promises of assistance
against Spain, then made, were nearly
realized^ when the British cabinet paid



FLORENCE MACARTHY* 135

the expedition of the gallant Miranda
to Venezuela."

" Poor, dear Pitt !" said Lady Du-
nore, " he was a clever creature. Mr.
Heneage, move the lamp a little from
under his engraving. He happened to
be my most particular friend."

^' Temporary measures of expediency
have nothing to do with general views/'
replied young Crawley, to Mr. Daly's
. observation. " What is wisdom to-day^
in the conduct of a government^ may be
madness to-morrowr

'•'- What is, generally speaking, the
condition of the lower orders ?" asked
Mr. Daly, turning cooly away from
young Crawley, and evidently anxious
to draw out the general.

" Borne down," he answered, ^^ by
* long slavery and injustice, the native
Indian submits to his vexatious ex-
istence, with an affected patience, a
seeming apathy, which veils the cunning



1.3b- FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

and ferocity of the enslaved and de-
graded in all countries ; for as^ what-
ever be the colour of man struggling
against oppression, the language of
energetic minds is still the same ; so
every where the slave exhibits the
same vice, jargon, and policy : and it
does happen^ that when a native Indian
rises by low arts to petty power, and
becomes the alcade, the magistrate, or
loyal man of the colonial government,
supported by that government, and
backed by the Sudelgado or priest-
hood ( for in South America, as else-
where, the priesthood are usually on
the side of oppression), he makes com*
mon cause with his superiors, and adds
by misrepresentations to the sufferings
of his country.'*

'' Och ! the thief of the world !" said
old Crawley, while his son changed
colour, for he felt the full force of the
remark', " If we had him in Ireland,



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 13?

we'd soon take away his commission
of the pace from him ''

A burst of good-humoured laughter
in Lady Clancare excited a pretty
universal sympathy ; and young Craw-
ley^ trembhng with acrimonious emo-
tion^ continued.

^ - The South Americans are naturally^
by temperament, a bloody and inhuman
people. Their very religion is a re-
ligion of blood."

" Oh, horrible !'* said Lady Dunore:
^^ If that's the case, I wonder how Pitfe
could propose their liberation."

" The Spaniards," said Crawley,
^^ found them sacrificing human beings
in their temples."

" Yes," interrupted Miss Crawley,
*• so we read in the abridgment of the
ife of Columbus."

*^ And there exists a sect," said young
Crawley, ransacking his school-boy
erudition, ^^ who preach purification by



138 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

blood. Such are tlie people who are
to overturn a Christian dynasty, a le-
gitimate sovereignty, and talk of rights,
humanity, and that sort of trash, that
one is sick of/^

" They are all naturally Atheists,
and Deists, and Idolaters,'* said Miss
Crawley, triumphantly.

" Georgy, love, did you ever hear any
thing so shocking ?" said Lady Dunore.
" How can any one wish well to such a
people. Mr. Heneage, bring me my
eau tie luce bottle,**

"Such facts,'* said Gen. Fitzwalter,
^^ are a proof of the feebleness of the
Ziuman mind. In South America, as
in all parts of the world, atonement by
human sacrifice is the dogma of nations
in their infancy ; because the first re-
ligion ot man is the religion of fear.
He suflers more than he enjoys, and
he propitiates accordingly. The early
Bri tains stained their sacred groves



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 139

with human blood ; the benevolent
Hindoos shed it on the altar of their
dark goddess Call; the enlightened
Egyptians rejected not such sanguinary-
rites ; and the polished Romans per-
formed them. Jeptha, like Agamem-
non, vowed away the life of his only
daughter ; and Spain still has her auto
dafi, and heaps her hecatombs on burn-
ing piles for the love of God, and the
recreation of the court."

^^ Yes," said Lady Dunore, " and a
charming opera it is. That is not the
auto dafe, but Ipiginie in AuUde*^

^^ But I believe," continued the ge-
neral, '^ we must not look too deeply
into the history of man ; whatever
region he inhabits, it is a fearful and an
humiliating history ; and when backed
by fanaticism, it is more than ordinarily
blood-stained and terrific. But let us
take him when we can, in his best
aspect^ free and enlightened ; so blessed



140 FLORENCE MACARTHV.

by singularity of temperament, so
formed of happy elements, that, like
the mild Peruvian, he performs the
rites of the heart, whose incense smells
to heaven^ and heaping on his sunny
altars 'he fruits and odours of his Uixu-
riant sou."

'^ How beautiful!" said Lady Dunorc:
" there is nothing like those Peruvians,
par example, and their odours.^*

^* Peruvians or Mexicans, they are
all a detestable race," said young Cravr-
ley, '^ unworthy of a better govern-
ment ; and any one who knows their
history, and has read their absurd my-
thology, their deluge of Coxcox, and
their-—"

'• Is he any thing to the Coxes of
county Kilkenny ?" interrupted old Craw-
ley, taking snuff, and always anxious to
say something to shew that he was not
ignorant of any thing. This question,
asked in great simplicity, for he had



FLOIl£NCE MACARXHY. 141

only caught the word " Cox/* produced
a very general laugh, in which Miss
Crawley and her nephew alone did not
share.

Lady Dunore, now a very violent
South American patriot, exclaimed — •
^* Good heavens ! General Fitzwalter, I
hope you are come to recruit here for
your grand cause, I dare say there are
a quantity of young men among our te-
nantry would go for nothing at all ;
don't you think they would, Mr. Craw-

ley?"

*^ Upon my credit, my lady, I can*t
take upon me to say,'' returned Mr.
Crawley, quite unconscious of the laugh
he had excited ; and now fearful that as
he had already bailed his own prisoner,
he would next be compelled to recruit in
the cause of rebellion ; " but I don't
think they have any turn to fighting
among the negers ; and then, I suppose^
it is a good step off, Madam/*



142 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

" Nothing to signify, my dear Mr.
Crawley," interrupted Lord Frederick;
*^ and provided you will take the com-
mand of the Ballydab and Dunore he-
roes, I don't care if I accompany you as
a volunteer whenever, you please to
sally forth ; for I look upon it, Mr.
Crawley, that you are one of those an-
cient preux, pour fendre giant, derom-
j)re harnoisy et porter en croupe belles
demoiselles sans leur parler de rien"

^^ Many thanks for your compliment,
my lord,'* said old Crawley, believing
Lord Frederick must be civil, as he
spoke in French. " I never was much
given to travel ; only oncet was going to
Ltsburn for my health, after my suf-
ferings on duty with the yeomanry in
the rebellion of ninety-eight."

" To Lisburn, my dear Mr. Crawley,"
said Lord Frederick, " is Lisbum the
MoNTPELLiER of Ireland ?"

^^Not at all, my lord^ I mane Lis-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 143

burn, the capital of Spain/* replied Mr.
Crawley,

^^ If I were twenty years younger,
Mr. Crawley/' said Mr. Daly, covering
out the general titter by addressing its
object, " I should myself he tempted
to go forth in this glorious cause. South
America is the great stage upon which
the world's eye is now fixed.'*

^^ A stage," said Lord Rosbrin, shak -
ing his head, " where every man must
play his part, and rnine a sad one."

^^ See that now," said Mr. Crawley,
^' and never heard tell of it before, only
the Yank ey-doodles and New- York, and
the likes."

" Man," said Lord Adelm, starting
up from a reverie, in which he had in-
dulged while leaning over the back of
Lady Georgina's chair, ^^ man, in what-
ever region he is found, may best be ty-
pified by a squirrel in a cage."

'^ A squirrel in a cage ! the Lord save



144 FLORENCE MACARTllY.

us!" exclaimed Mr. Crawley, in asto-
nishment.

" His little sphere is so planned/'
continued Lord Adelm, " that he can
be nothing but what he is, do nothing
but what he does. He goes round his
circle, and repeats his rotations, with no
difference in the performance, but a little
acceleration or a little retardment.
These South Americans, therefore, but
repeat an old story : they are savage
and unprotected, they are conquered; —
they are slaves^ and degraded, they
endure ; — they are pressed to the quick,
they turn and resist ; — they struggle
and succeed, become great, prosper-
ous, illumined ; conquer and oppress
in their turn, moulder away, and leave
to posterity the unheeded moral that
in every clime, state, or being, man
is neither to be praised nor blamed, ad-
mired nor abhorred. He is what he
is; otherwise he cannot be; for, after



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 145

all, he is but an engine, a mere en-

»»
gme.

" A steam-engine/' said old Crawley,
shaking his head, and anxious to agree
with Lord Fitzadelm, of whom he stood
in awe ; ^^ sorrow a thing else."
• ^^ Faith, pretty much," said Lord
Adelm, with a gravity none preserved
but himself, "except that a steam-engine
has this superiority over him, that it is
neither susceptible of caprice nor dis-
traction. It turns also upon a beneficial
principle, while the mainspring of the
machinery of man inevitably turns on

evil."

^^ Evil to him as evil thinks,'* re-
echoed old Crawley; " honey swa hey
-molly panse^ as the French says.*^

" That's not ill put, Mr. Crawley/'
«aid Mr. Daly, while every body else
laughed; " but, my dear Fitzadelm
you, at least, admit the principle of
good to exist conjointly with that of
evil. . You will not establish a doctrine

VOL. III. H



146 FLORENCE MACAHTHY.

less consoling than that of the dark de-
moniac, Indian mythology.*'

" Oh, I deny good as a principle al-
together," said Lord Adelm : " good is
merely relative, evil is positive. Evil is
necessary to man as the air he breathes ;
an inherent part of his existence : de-
prive him of his principle of evil, and
he becomes a vegetable.**

^^ A vegetable !" repeated old Craw-
ley; ^' see that now."

^^ Evil is the source, food, end, and
object of the passions ; or, to give them
their proper names, the appetites. It
is the grand agitator of life, its food and
occupation; without evil there would
be neither genius, virtue, nor valour ;
for what is virtue but an effort against
vice ? What genius ? — the nisus to over-
come suffering. What valour?— the nc^
ceissity of massacre and bloodshed."

'^ Christ save us!" exclaimed Mr.
Crawley.

" What is ambition ? — the selfish wish



FLORENCE MACARTHY. "i 4f

of rule. What friendship?— helplessness.
What love ? — a want. Whence arise the
liberal professions but from the innate
tendency of man to evil ? Law, for in-
stance," continued Lord Adelm, while
old Crawley drew back, '^ from the vil-
lany of the species. Physic from its in-
firmities ; the arts from vanity ; the
sciences from physical pressure. The
whole business of life, then, is but one
sustained effort against evil : and without
«vil, in a supereminent degree, those
talents and properties on which we most
pride ourselves, — skill, wisdom, virtue,
and courage, could not be developed,
because they would not be called for.
Taking then a just view of things^
there is little to move either our
wrath or admiration. He who feels
little and digests well; he who has a
bad heart and a good stomach, is>
after all, the true sage and the happy



man."



H 2



14$ FLORENCE MACARTHY.

Here Lord Adelm was interrupted hy
a servant^ who gave him a note. It filled
the room with perfume, and covered
Lord Adelm's face with blushes^ warm
as the hues of the paper he perused.
Every one smiled as he hurried out of
the room ; and though the established
laws of bon-ton prevented the slightest
notice being taken of this incident, Mr.
Daly could not help saying, with an
arch smile — ^^ So much for the philo-
sophy of indifference."

^* Philosophy !'* repeated Lord Ros-
brin, laying down his play-book :

* There never yet was found philosophy
Could bear the tooth-ach patiently."

The quick eye of Lady Dunore had
rested on the face, and observed the
emotions of her son. Her feelings of
maternity had been so little influenced
by his return, that the first pleasure
ovcr^ which surprise always occasioned



FLORENCE MACARTHY. I4f)

in her^ she had not been induced to
retire with him for a single half hour
since his arrival^ but had been quite sa-
tisfied with the few words he had said
to her in the hall, stating the motive of
his journey to have been his wish to
preside at his own election. Since then,
other objects had arisen to ingross her
attention, and obliterate the sensation
his return had roused into transient
existence. His sudden emotion and
exit now seized on her imagination.
She was not yet exhausted by the
events of the day ; and after struggling
for a moment in contest with her own
feelings, she arose and followed him.

The servant who had delivered the
note met her m the hall; but to her
inquiries whence it had come, the
answer was, it had been left in the
porter's lodge, and had come from the
post-house.

Meantime, Mr. Daly had ordered



150 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

the brag ttible ; and while the party
stood waiting for Lady Dunore to join
them, Lord Rosbrin proposed reciting
*' Collin s Ode on the Passions/' wdiicli
was by common consent over-ruled in
favour of his imitations of tho favour-
ite actors of the day. With Miss Craw-
ley's scarf bound round his head, a
cashmir of Lady Georgina's wound
round his body, a row of candles
placed at his feet, and the company
circled round him, he gave a very close
imitation of some of the best modern
tragedians^ in the parts of Othello,
Richard IIL Macbeth, and Hamlet,
successively. This imitation was, ia*
deed, so faithful, that it not only ren-
dered look for look, and tone for tone^
but every inflection, gesture, and gri-
mace, was preserved precisely the same
as in the original he copied. It was
curious, however, to observe, that the
representation^ which in public had ex-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 15X

eited admiration, in private elicited
only ridicule : that, which on the stage
was caWed Jine acting, was in the draw-
ing-room rank buiFoonery ; and tones,
gurghng in the throat, as in a cauldron,
heaved from the luncrs as from a se-
pulchre, or growled forth from lips dis-
tortingly compressed^ with a chin ele-
vated to the nose, an eye sunk under a
projected brow, or starting from its
isocket, and teeth ground, till they are aU
most broken, w^ith starts, pauses, groans,
strides, drags, drawls, and contortions,
so often termed ^^ true to nature^' and
*^ original conceptions^^ when viewed
©n a great theatre, and with a mind
ruled by conventional judgment, now,
when exhibited in the midst of real
life, appeared ludicrous, broad, and
coarse, as scene-painting compared tc^
the cabinet pictures of a master.

The audience could, however, have
*^ better spared a better man/' for if

H 4



162 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

the tragic throes of Lord Rosbrin did
not make them weep, it did better, it
made them laugh. No dehcate feehng
on their part inhibited the indulgence
of this enjoyment; and no sensibility
of his own ridiculous position on th$
part of Lord Rosbrin rendered him
alive to the ridicule he excited. To
have pitied such folly^ would have beei»
to have surpassed it.

This exhibition^ so well adapted te
the idle and the gay, as combining
(what the great love) amusement and
r»idicule, had so entirely occupied the
minds of the audience, that nearly two
hours had been passed in recitations,
accompanied by bravoes and encores,
(for the noble Roscius was always en-
cored, in proportion as he was ludicrous)
without Lady Dunore's protracted ab-
sence becoming a subject of notice to
her pre-occupicd guests. When at last
she returned to the drawing-room^ her



FLORENCE MAGARTHY. 153

cotmtenance was disturbed; there was
a cloud on her brow^ and her cheek was
stained with tears,

' The hghts on the floor^ however, the
turbaned head, and draped figure of
Lord Rosbrin, operated as tahsmans on
her oppressed spirits. He was com-
manded to go over the course again, and
was again rewarded with vociferated
bravoes and hysterical laughs. Plans
and schemes for building a new theatre
became an animating subject of discus-
sion, which occupied the general at-
tention, until LadyGeorgina observed
that both Lady Clancare and General
Fitzwalter had disappeared during the
representation.

^ ^' Gone ! and together ?" asked Lady
Dunore, starting up in emotion: "when>
where, how ?"

" Together !" repeated Lord Frede^
rick. " On crie d la scandale r Lady
Dunore repeated her question, but no

H 6



154 FLOREXCE .^lACAUTHY.

one coiild give any answer. While
Lord Rosbrin had strutted his hour,
none had eyes or ears but for him;
and the marchioness, in an agita-
tion no one could understand, left the
room.

" There she gees, like a sky-rocket,'*
said Lord Frederick. " I should like to
know her impulsion.'*

" If her ladyship means to watch
the extraordinary disappearances of
Lady Clancare," said Miss Crawley,
^^ she will have something to do. Her
stealing away with General Fitzwalter
was, however, a strong measure, if this
was their first acquaintance."

'^ You don't mean that, my dear
Miss Crawley,^' said Lord Frederick
with a significant look. " If this little
shy thing has had an illastrefoiblesse^
we must forgive her her authorship.'*
•' "I don't wish to say any thing injix*



FLORENCE MACARTIIY, 155

rious of the pseudo Lady Clancare/*
said Miss Crawley, " but it will cer-
tainly surprise the people of consequence
in this neighbourhood, when they hear
of her being received at Dunore. She
has now just returned from a myste-
rious disappearance of some months.'*

^^ Oh ! you are raising her' cent, per
cent, my dear Miss Crawley/' ex-
claimed Lord Frederick; " if you prove
this Irish Sappho is a Sappho, head,
heart, and all. You redeem her to all
intents and purposes.*'

Lady Dunore now re-entered, her
countenance brightening into smiles.

It is very extraordinary," she said,

that none of you could tell me Lady
Clancare went away twenty minutes be-
fore General Fitz weaker, which I find ii
the case."

*' Are we your lady's keeper ?" asked
Lord Frederick. " But, marchioness
of my soul; what is your extraordinary^






166 FLORENXE MACARTHY,

anxiety about these new god-sends, who
seem to have arrived here for the sole
purpose of keeping up the ebb and flow
of your sohcitude ? Your secret, lady.
Pray ^ let me not burst in ignorance.'*

'^ Secret !'* said Lady Dunore, laughr
ing: " why should you think I have
any ?

^' Well then. Lady Clancare's secret ;
for we know, as Rosbrin would say,
only he is now too tired to say any
thing, you ' eould a tale unfold;* and
Miss Crawley has just been giving us
some hints of Vaimahle sceleratesse of
your Irish peeress. In short, it seema
that the inhabitants of our good city of
Dunore do not visit her. It seems she
has come no one knows whence, goes,
no one knows where, and,^owr trancher
le mot, is just a little equivocal.^*

'^ And does Miss Crawley presume,"
said Lady Dunore, turning full upon;
tlie shrinking Miss Crawley, (the only



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 15/

one, save Lord Frederick, at that mo-
ment not engaged at the card table,)
^^ does Miss Crawley presume to throw
a breath of slander upon a friend of
mine, to talk over in village cominerage
a person of Lady Clancare's rank and
celebrity?"

'^ I assure your ladyship," said Miss
Crawley, pale with mortification and
fear, " I did not say — did not mean . .'!
' " No, no," said Lord Frederick, half
amused with the consternation he came
to relieve, '^ they are rather viy sur-
mises than Miss Crawdey's assertions^
who merely hinted thajt.

* Lips though loTeTy must still be fed,'

and that if this lady were not fed by the
gods with neetar and ambrosia, her
mode of existence was a mystery, if not
a miracle, unknown to any one."

^^ Yes,'^ said Lady Dunore tri-
umphantly^ " there is a miracle and a



158 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

mystery in Lady Clan care's retreat from
the world ; but its secret is known to
one person; and I am that jierson : for
the rest you may trust me. I would not
present in my own exclusive circle one
who was not in all points comme il
faut. One thing, however, I must ge-
nerally observe to you all, good people,
—Lady Clancare must not be obtruded
on : she receives no visits from either
sex; admits no strangers; and I alone
have obtained permission occasionally
to join her in her solitude. Meantime
I stand pledged that no constraint shall
be put upon her movements. She is
to have free ingress and egress, dplalsiry
at Dunore Castle, and is to creep in and
creep out like a pet kitten, as she ex-
presses it, ' without let 07' molestation^*
" But dear love," said Lady Geor-
gina, as she dealt round the cards with
sparkling fingers, " your kitten will at
least pur a little^ I hope^ for us. Da



FLORENCE MACARTHY. I59

you know she was not the least in the
world entertaining to-night."

" By the bye/' said Lord Frederick,
" now I think of it, she sat staring her
pretty round eyes out, like one of the
little sourds et muets of the Abbe Si-
card, looking unutterable things, but
speaking not a word. I thought the
female author species always talked as
it wrote, for the amusement of the
public, and got up things cut and dry
for the occasion; quotations, sentiments,
impromptus d loisir, and all that."

'' Well !" said Lady Dunore, " don't
judge her hastily ; leave her to time and
to me."^ — She looked oracularly mysteri-
ous as she spoke, cut in as Mr. Heneage
cut out ; and having convinced the com-
pany she had some profound secret
in her keeping, and won fifty pounds
from old Crawley, she retired to bed
at three in the morning, in great
elevatioia of spirits_, repeating to Lady



iCo



FLORENCE MAOARTHV.



G-eorglna^ as they parted on the cor-^
ridor, —

*' Well, after all, sweetest, there is
nothing like these wild, barbarous, re-
bellious countries, par example : and
gay as we are now, and amused as we
are with all these judges and Padreen
Gars boys, and Peruvian chiefs, and
things, there is ho saying but we may
be all murder edht^ove morninij.''

With this consolatory reflection, shQ
kissed the forehead of her sleepy^ smk.
ling friend J and retired.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. l6l



CHAPTER IV.

â– Fori will tell you no\r

What never yet was heard in tale or song,
From old or modern bard, in hall or bower.

Milton,



General Fitzwalter had alone ob-
served the retreat of Lady Clancare.
Amused as she had appeared to be in
common with the rest of the company,
by the buffoonery of the noble amateur,
the perpetual folly might at length have
wearied her; for she had taken the ad-
vantage of an open door to escape, half
an hour before the general had himself
retired. There was something in the
popularity which she enjoyed under the
rude title of the Bhan Tierna, some-



l62 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

thing in her story^ as the representative
of an illustrious but ruined family,
something in her sudden and unex-
pected appearance in the hall of Du-r
nore^ which^ taken together^ and con-
trasted with her youth, her very femi-
nine person, unprotected state, and ex-
treme reserve, powerfully interested
him. He had once or twice also, as ha
stood opposite to her, met her eyes, and
they were not eyes to be met with im-
punity; nor were their glances less
impressive, from being suddenly and
bashfully withdrawn. Still he fancied
that he could trace something sinister
in her looks; and the singular mobility
and intelligence of her peculiar counte*
nance (a countenance whose character
"wcas not unknown to him) were strangely
opposed to her timid and unbroken ta-
citurnity, leaving it doubtful which was
her natural habit, the reserve of a recluse,
for the acuteness of a practised observer.



I'LORENCE MACARTHY. 1 63

That she had '^ written books,'' as
Lady Georg ina termed it^ was a proof she
possessed either talents or pretension;
yet there was nothing in her address or
manners that bespoke the conscious-
ness of the former, or the importance
of the latter. While, therefore, General
Fitzwalter pursued his way along the
strand, he continued to puzzle himself
in the research after the cause of her
attraction (her attraction for him at
least, for after the first surprise of her
appearance, she seemed to have excited
little interest in others), he at last
summed it all up in her eyes. He had
somewhere met such eyes before; and
which ever way he now turned his
own, whether upon the stars, which
seemed to start from the heavens like
wandering fires, or downward upon
their fairy reflection in the smooth ebb
tide, still the full, dark, and fixed eyes
of Lady Clancare were before him.



l64 ILORENCE MACARTHY.

He had not proceeded many paces
from the rampart wall of the castle
when Lord Adelm overtook him.

"You are an hour before your ap-
pointment/' said Fitzwalter, "for the
castle clock now tells eleven."

"' How could you remain so long
among those tiresome people?** returned
Lord Adelm, petulantly.

" I came away as soon as decency
would permit. I waited for the return of
Lady Dunore."

"She had not then returned when
you came away?"

" Not to the drawing-room ; but I
heard her voice in the gallery as I
passed through the hall.**

" You can have no idea how she has
crossed my way to-i?ight/^ said Lord
Adelm, in a tone of vexation: ^' you sav/
me receive a note?"

" Yes, most appropriately. It pro-
duced in jour countenance a refutation



FLORENCE MACARTHY, l65

of your doctrine ; and eloquently proved
that mind is not wholly dependant on a
good stomach and a had heart for its
happiness,"

*^ Yes, I felt I was shewing up most
confoundedly. But the circulation is
still stronger than that moral mover we
call reason, which, after all, means no-
thing, but more or less of temperament.
You guess who the note was from/'
- " Certainly, by its hue and odour '^

^^ Well, she who has led me here,
has followed me here, or rather has
preceded me."

'' And where is she ?"

"^ Perhaps bedded in that rock, or
perched on the wing of the sea breeze
that whistles by us, for aught I know.
Now imagine, if you can, a contre tems
like this. The prettiest little French
billet, inclosed in an envelope, which
bore the post-mark of Dunore, sum-
moned me to a rock under the castle



l66 FLOIIEXCE MACARTHY.

terrace, called the Hag's Tooth, I was
to come alone; not before ten, nor
after eleven: this was the only stipula-
tion : I was to be astonished — this was
the only promise. The rest was sup-
posed; but hope was not idle. I found
the spot with some difficulty. All was
solitary and silent; not even the rip-
pling of the wave, nor the sigh of the
gale. I had been at my appointed
post but a few minutes when I per-
ceived a female form, gliding like a sea
nymph over the glittering sand, light
as air, and rapid as light. The dupe of
my heart, or my hopes, or what you
will, I stood spell-bound. Had I be-
held a vision descending from the
clouds, it could not have held more in-
fluence over my imagination. I had
scarcely power to breath, to stretch
forth a hand, to clasp that which was
presented to me.— I did however
clasp it.**



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 16/

'* Then it was a mortal band, true
:Sesh and blood, after all ?" interrupted
the general, eagerly.

/^ It was," said Lord Adelm, stamp-
ing his feet, and grinding out his words:
*' it was my mother's hand."

^* Then the promise of astanuhment
was at least fulfilled."

^' Lady Dunore, it seems, bad herself
received a note," continued Lord Adelm,
^^ advising her to watch my steps this
evening. I half suspect it was some
trick of those delectable Crawley s. She
followed me cut : I was annoyed, bored
beyond all expression, and not over
guarded in concealing my feelings. A
scene, often repeated, ensued between
us. I condemned and contemned her
interference upon all occasions : she re-
proached, retorted, and wept; then
grew hysterical as usual ; and in this
way I conducted her home. Trembling
with apprehension and solicitude, I



\6S FLORENCE MACARTHY.

again issued forth, when that petite eva^
jporeCy my mother's new Irish caprice,
appeared in the portico^ getting into her
mule cart, I had now to make a se-
cond retreat, and saw her take the
strand road with such feelings of patience
and pleasure as you may suppose ; at
last, literally speaking, the coast was
clear, and I bent my steps towards the
rock of my disappointed hopes ; for
there I found only this black handker-
chief or scarf, a token of my ill luck,
and an indication, of course, that my
sylph had been true to her appoint-
ment, and had kept it, while I was con-
ducting my mother home. Now what
think you of all this ?"

• " Think ! why, that your sylph is
some devoted woman ; so ingenious, so
zealous in her devotion, that did there
exist for me such a being "

• " I have examined the handkerchief,'^
interrupted Lord Adelm, " and I should



FLORKNCE MACARTHY. I69

think there was ^ magic in the web of
it ;' but that it bears a sign to conjure
away all magic: a red cross is em-
broidered on its centre ; it is too of
Spanish manufacture, of true Barcelona
workmanship."

^^ 'Tis altogether most strange, most
romantic, and most flattering," returned
the general, thoughtfully, as they pro-
ceeded arm in arm, and in silence, each
apparently wrapped in profound mus-
ings, till they arrived beneath a sweep
of irregular and massive cliffs, above
which, dr.rk and indistinct, rose the ruins
and cemetery of Monaster-ny-Oriel.
The pathway to the coast, cut cen-
turies back by the monks, and the
round topped perforated cross, which
they had raised at its entrance, to the
honour of St. Peter, the fisherman, and
as a land-mark to distressed mariners,
still remained. The friends ascended
this rude rocky avenue by a flight of

VOL. III. I



1/0 FLORENCE MACARtHV.

steep unevenly hewn steps, piled on
either side with a stratum of human
bones — a gloomy order of architecture
not unusual in the ancient burying
grounds of Ireland, and terminating in a
circular and spacious mandrae (2). The
night was still and dark ; a few stars
only glimmered in the cloudy firmament
The peculiar genius of Lord Adelm
w as well adapted to scenes and seasons
characterized by images gloomy and
fantastic as his own morbid fancy. He
paused frequently in his wearisome as-
cent, while his more active cojnpanion
strode on rapidly before him: and when
he had reached the summit of the rocks
which formed the site of the monastic
ruins, he halted, and looked around him.
The scene was wild, desolate, and
silent — rocks, ruins, remote mountains,
bounding the land view ; while the
steep Atlantic spread wide and dark,
and lost itself in the distant clouds. He



FLORENCE MACAKTHV. l/l

measured the tower, under which they
now stood, with his eye : a hght was
streaming from its loophole casement,
and it beetled over the cliff like some
lone watch-tower of the deep.

" These are scenes," said Lord Adelm,
" that transport us beyond the present,
that bear us into regions of thought and
feeling, beyond all mean ambition and
human cares.'*

^^ They are the better adapted to
prelude the tale I would unfold to you,"
said Fitzwalter, impressively.

" This tower," continued Lord Adelm,
^ resembles the cell of the ^ Subtil
Archimago* of Spencer, whose scenes in
the Fairy Queen are, indeed, all Irish.**

* Far from resort of people that did pass,
In travel to and fro. A litlle wyde
There was an holy chapel edifjed,
Wherein the hermit daily wont to saj
yis holy things each morn and even-tide.

I 2



172 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

He told of saints amrpopes, and evermore
He strowed an Ave-Mary after and before.'*

^^ The tale to which you are about
to Hsten/' said the general, as he raised
the latch of a low arched door, '^ is no-
thing less than of saints and popes : 'tis^
of men and sinners.*'

" Your story !" said Lord Adelm, in a
tone of recollection, for over the mirror
of his imagination reflections passed ra-
pidly ; and it was only now he recol-
lected the purpose for which he accom-
panied his new friend to the Friary of
ISt. John's at an hour so unseasonable.
Oh ! aye, I had half forgotten your
story/*

They now ascended the spiral stairs
of the tower. O'Leary, from above,
held forward a lamp, whose light pro-
duced uncertain shadows upon the dark
damp wall ; but when he perceived by
its flickering ray that his guest was ac-
companied by Lord Adclm Fitzadelm,



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 1 ^3

he started back^ then came again for-
ward, and drew up against the doorcase
to let them pass, changing the lamp to
his left hand, that he might make the
sign of the cross on his breast with his
right, as a sort of exorcism of an event,
which, to his confused and wandering
mind, appeared little less than mira-
culous. He then followed them into
the room, where a fire had already been
kindled in the open hearth; the can-
dles, also, stood ready lighted ; yet,
under various pretences, he lingered in
the apartment, occasionally coming for-
ward with the snuffers, and snatching
hasty and anxious looks at the two
gentlemen, who were already seated at
a little deal table, both leaning on their
elbows, both earnestly conversing in
Spanish. O'Leary, as he gazed on
them with an half-murmured exclama-
tion, crossed himself devoutly, and made
new causes for delay ; till the general,

I 3



XJi FLORENCE MACAKIHY.

telling lii in that lie had no further oc>?a-
sion for his services that nighty perenip*
torily desired him to retire to rest : he
then slowly retreated ; and was twice
called back to shut the door before he
obeyed.

The nioniing after this midnight in-
terview had taken place, O'Leary, at an
hour later than usual, entered the apart-
ment of the general to attend at his
toilette and breakfast. lie found him^
however, asleep in Friar O'Sulivan's
great chair, where he had left him seated
the night before, and his bed had not
been occupied. His repose was so pro-
found, that O'Leary had rekindled his
turf fire, and got ready his dressing
things, without awakening him. But
the heavy pacing about the room, and
murmured ejaculations of thepedagogue,
at last aroused him from his slumber.

*' Vm afeared I put the sleep astray



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 1/5

upon your honor/' said O'Leary^ with
an anxious look.

" It is time, I behcve, to rise,
0*Leary, is it not?" said the general,
starting up, and shaking off his ' ohe-
dient slumbers,^ as one accustomed to
snatch repose, when, where, and as he
could, and to dismiss it at will.

'^ To viae !' said O'Leary, shaking his
head, ^^ and your honor not in bed,
gineral, the whole live long night,
Sir!"

'^ How do you know that, OXeary?"

*' Flow do 1 know it ? Why, the day
was breaking on th' Atlantic, plaze
your honor, when I saw the young lord
going dow^n the rock there, and you look-
ing after him from the top of the friar's
leap, as it is called ; and wonders but
he'd be afeared to be wandering his lone
that away in the country. It's little his
father. Baron Gerald, would dare it,
great a Calebalaro as he was ; for he

I 4



l/fc^ FLORENCE MACARTHY.

was a sould nian^ Sir^ from the tmie l)€
planned the ruination of young De
Mkontenay ; and its only for him your
honor would be alive and hearty this
day: not all as one — that's his own ne-
phew I mane ; and when I saw you
both sated check by jowl last night, and
my Pacata Hibcrnia between yez, it
jninded me the last time I seen the two
. brothers at Court Fitzadelm together :
it was a little time after the Honorable
Gerald had married the great English
lady, th' ould marchioness that is now,
and came over his lone to Ireland.
They were seated together in th' oak
parlour, that's the two Tiernas, with
a tankard of claret, and a bottle of
brandy to qualify it, between them. I
was only called in about a date, being
then at the court, and comed to see the
child ; for the rumour was, he was
going to be carried to Dublm by his
uncle, and his motlier only buried the



FLORENCE MACARTHY. l^f

week before: and the Tierna Dhuhdcnded
me a glass of wine^ saying, pleasantly,
he believed I'd rather the whiskey ^

^^I'm afraid," said the general smil-
ing, and who was preparing for a sea
bath before he went to breakfast, "I'm
afraid, O'Leary, that preference still
clings to you ; and I was sorry when I
looked in on you this morning to find
you sleeping in your clothes, with a
bottle of spirits half consumed by your
side. This is not the way to recover
your health, and compose your mind,
O'Leary/'

" And did your honor look in on
me ?" said O'Leary, in a softened tone.
" And never felt * you, gineral, dear ;
for when I went to my truckle, I fell
asleep like a rock, Sir. But as to the
whiskey. Sir, you need not fear it, and



* A comraoa Irish idiom.
I 5



178 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

only laves it by way of two-ni ilk- whey
at my bed-side ; for whiskey, plaze
your honor, is so qualified in the mak-
ing, that it dryeth more, and inflameth
less, than other hot confections. It
sloweth age (saith the philosopher),
and helpeth youth; it reviveth the
heart, lighteneth the mind, quickeneth
the spirits, keepeth the veins from
crumpling, the bones from aching, and
the marrow from soaking^. Musha ! its
the elixir of life, and only for it, I'd be
dead long ago. For when the w^orld
deserted me, that staid by me, and when
I lost joy elsewhere, sure its there I
found it, Sir.*'

O'Leary had pronounced this eulo-
gium on his favourite beverage, as he
followed the general down the rocks to
a little creek, or basin, which was
alw^ays sufficiently full to afford a bath ;
and then having left him his dressing-
gown, at his desire he went back to



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 179

prepare his coffee. When the general
returned J and had seated himself at the
breakfast-table, with a book in his hand,
as he was wont, O'Leary, who attended
him, took his place in a window-seat,
at a respectful distance. He drew forth
an old tattered volume, which for a few
minutes fixed his attention ; but, ha-
bitually wandering and unsettled, his
rapid eyes glanced frequently from his
studies to the general, who, like himself,
-seemed incapable of giving a continued
attention to the book which he held
open in his hand. 0*Leary, perceiving
tha this guest had laid down the volume,
and leaned thoughtfully on his elbow,
closed also his own ; and advancing to
pour out some coffee, observed —

*' I think, your honor, the Memoir I
am perusing of the Fitzmaurices of Lix-
now, a great branch of the Geraldines,
and Lords of Muskerry, would plaze
you intirely. Och ! its a great legend I



180 TLORENCE MACARTHY.

Its done into rhyme. Sir, Irish rhyme,
by a priest, who was confessor to the
family. The argument runneth thus.
The young Lord Thomas Fitzmaurice,
of Lixnow, was in foreign parts fighting
against the Pagans, when the Barony of
Muskerry fell to him by right. And
it being reported that he was captured
by the Turks, an usurper, a bastard of
the family, did forthwith start up and
seize his title and domains. And the
Lord Thomas, when the wars were over,
would have returned a beggar, but for
his faithful fosterer, one Joan Harman,
Sir, an ould Irish servitor of the family,
married to an English bowman. She
was aged and infirm ; but when the
rumour was spread of the devised usur-
pation, she took ship at Dingle, then a
great port, and was landed in France,
when the young lord was at court, as
became his nobility, having changed
the service of the Emperor of Austria



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 181

for that of the French king. And there
Joan sought him out^ and made him
acquainted with the ill tidings, and
brought him back without delay ; and
saw him cross the threshold of his own
castle, and restored to his fair posses-
sions. And one calendar month, from
the date of her mission, as she foretold,
she died, being the day of the young
lord's investiture in his ancient rights.
For IVe heard tell the heart will break
with joy as well as sorrow ; and shews
the room to this hour where Joan Har-
man died. Och ! it would not grieve
me a taste to be old Joan Harman this
day, if it was the will of God ; for its
remarkable, that aifections of fosterage
never weaken, but

' Ner longas iavaluere moras.'

And there was little use in making
gossipping and fosterage treason, by the
famous statute of Kilkenny ; for they



182 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

both only just flourished the more,
though the queen, that's Ehzabetha
rcgina, sent down the great Earl of
Thomond, to aboUsh that same in his
palatinate ; and he entered recogni-
zances, and bound himself to her ma-
jesty in a thousand pounds, that he
should not marry, foster^ nor gossip,
contrary to the statute in that behalf
provided, without the special license
of the lord-deputy for the time being.

Now gossipprcd, or confraternity,
plaze your honor, was said to produce
confederacies of actions in all things,
whether lawful or unlawful ; but foster-
age proved an iron link to bind the affec-
Mons for laudible purposes, not only of
the fosterers and fostered, but of the
friends and relations on each side ; and
it bound the Irishry to the English by
descent; as the O'CaUighans to the
Butlers formerly^ and the O'Learys to
the Fitzadclms to this blessed hour.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 183

do you see, your honor ; for says ould
Stanihurst, and your honot knows him
well, Lib. p. 49, says he, you cannot
find one instance of perfidy, or deceit,
or treachery, among them. Nay, they
are ready to expose themselves to all
manner of dangers, for the safety of
those who sucked their wives' or mo-
thers' milk. You may beat them to a
mummy, you may put them upon the
rack, you may burn them on a grid-
iron, you may expose them to the
most exquisite tortures, that the crudest
tyrants could invent, yet you will never
remove them from that innate fidelity
which is grafted in them ; you will
never induce them to betray their duty.
And Cambrensis addeth (who was
loath to afford a good word for the
poor Irishry), ' if any love or faith be
found among the Irish, you must look
for it among the fosterers and the fos-
ter childre."



184 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

*^ But," said the general^ throwing^
down his book, which he had for a
moment resumed, rising in agitation, and
placing himself opposite to O'Leary,
who had resumed his seat^ but who
now rose also — " but, O'Leary, love and
faith are not alone sufficient, where
there is a perilous confidence to place,
where the point at issue may be pro-
perty, freedom, life itself; there must
also be discretion, prudence, firmness,
vigilance, command of thoughts, of
looks, of feelings, and of language.'*
As he spoke, O'Leary advanced step
by step, but trembling, and gradually
folding and compressing his hands, his
mouth half open, his colour livid, as
if he expected something he almost
feared to learn. "O'Leary,'' conti-
nued the general in a calmer voice,
and throwing himself back in his chair,
^^ O'Leary, sit down, compose yourself,
and hear me."



m^



FLORENCE MACARTHV. 185

0*Leary in part obeyed. He sat
down, but his composure was irrecover-
able. He remained for a few minutes
silent. Suspense, hope, fear, almost to
agony, were pictured in his counte-
nance ; while with a mechanical motioix,
he stooped to pick up a black silk hand-
kerchief which had fallen from his
breast, to wipe the cold drops that now
bedewed his furrov/ed forehead, and
rolled down his colourless cheek, when
a crimson cross worked in its centre
caught General Fitz waiter's eye. He
started up, and snatched the handker-
chief from OXeary's hand.

" How came you by this handker-
chief?" he asked eagerly.

OXeary, with a wild and wandering
look, his mind bent upon other objects,
made an effort at recollection, then re-
plied,

'- The kerchief. Sir ? is it the kerchief
with the cross on it ? Oh ! plaze your



186* FLORENCE MACARTilV.

lionor^ I did not mane to purloin \u
only return it, Sir, to the right owner,
plaze God.

'' And wlio is that?" demanded the
general with impatience.

" Is it who owns it, giueral ?" replied
O'Leary, endeavouring to recover him-
self. ^' If it is not the Spanish American
nun, Sir, owns it, one Madam Florence
Macarthy, I don't guess who can own
it, that s in respect of the blessed and
holy crucifix."

" Did you say Florence Macarthy ?"
asked the general with great emotion,
and in a voice scarcely articulate, — *' a
nun from Spanish America P"

" I did, your honor,'' rephed O'Leary
in a low voice, as he contemplated with
apprehension the change which had
taken place in the generafs counte-
nance, — '* Florence Macarthy, Sir. Did
you know her, gineral, in foreign parts?
Her father was son to the ould Earl



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 18^

®f Clancare's brother. He went to be
made a merchant of in some of the
West India islands ; and was the first
of the family that turned his hands to
business, which made a great bruite in
the country ; and then he went into
South America, and joined the wars
there when they first broke out, as
I heard tell, and was killed or died
there I disremember me which. And
his daughter, Florence Macarthy, his
only child, went into a convent, her
aunt being an abbess somewhere in
Spain, so Father O'Sulivan tould me;
and when it was broke up by the French
army, who let loose the craturs, she
fled back to Ireland, to her people in
her own barony,, which she had quit
when a child ; and none was in it left,
onlv the Bhan Tierna, and one Mrs.
Honor Macarthy, called Honor ni
Sancta, or Holy Honor, who is the
Bviperior of ' our Lady of the annun>



188 FLORENCE MACAKTilY.

elation/ near the Abbey of the Holy-
cross : and when there was a place
vaquent in the convent^ which was
soon, Madam Florence Macarthy went
to the convent^ and was brought there
by the countess, who has no vocation
that way, the Httle sow], with her caen^
cothar, as her ould grandadda used to
call her curley black head ; and the
mouth and teeth of her, just like a
young hound^s, m regard of her red
gums, gineral/*

A silence of many minutes succeeded
to this information, and accompanying
digression of O'Leary's, who usually
^' drew the thread of his verbosity finer
than his argument.*^

At last the general, who was walking
up and down the apartment in great agi-
tation, stopped opposite to O'Leary, and
asked, '^ Where did you find that hand-
kerchief? How came you by it?*'
" How came I by it^ Sir, is it i I



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 189

came by it. Sir, when I was just creep-
ing out for a mouthful of fresh air, be-
fore dawn, this morning, and was look-
ing up at the light in your casement,
gineral, and thinking there must be great
shanaos ^ between you and the young
lord, would keep you up talking all
night, and my foot caught in this ker-
chief. Sir, and I thought it was my
own ; only when day-light came I saw
it was not, for by the cross marked on it
in the centre I thought it must be
Madam Florence Macarthy's, in regard
of the cypher done in donny red letters.
Sir." O'Leary pointed to the small
F. M. in the corner as he spoke. '' But
the wonder of the world," he added,
^^ is, what would be bringing her here
amorcr the rocks, and she settled down
in her own convent, inTipperary county.
Sir, and is to take the vow in the begin-



^ Family tradition, genealogical details.



190 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

ning of the month^ and a great sight it
will be."

" Did you ever sec this Florence
Macarthy ?" asked the general after a
pause, and standing opposite toO'Leary,
with his eyes fixed on him.

" I did, gineral, often, when she was
for a month at Castle Macarthy, and
afore she went into her convent, and
used to come down here to the great
Macarthy-More's tomb in the monas-
tery, and remained half the length of
the day on her knees before it. Och!
Sir, that's the voteen *, and the saint,
if there's one upon earth : and it's ex-
traordinary, but her cousin oncet re-
moved, Lady Clancare would be taking
a turn that way too, — and she brought
up in a convent too, and never had a
calling, only laughing, and shewing
them white teeth of her's, and circum-

* Devotee.



FLORENCE MACARTHY, 1^1

venting the Crawleys, and has great
learning and fine Irish for all that, to
say nothing of her being mighty co-
mical.*'

" Does Miss Macarthy resemble her
cousin^ Lady Clancare?'*

" Why then, gineral, I could not
well tell vou that, in regrard of never
seeing her face, only with a thick black
veil over it, and never shewed it to sun
or moon, they say, barring Fra O'Suli-
van, who confesses both ladies?"

The general now resumed his seat
and book, requesting O^Leary to retm-n
to his school.

" You may lay out my writi-ng desk,

O'Leary," he added, " and no ;

don't take away that handkerchief;
and pray shut the door after you: I
wish to be left alone.'*

O'Leary sighed deeply, and laid
down one writing article after another ;
at last, taking up a pen to mend it, he
observed: —



192 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

" I thought, gineral, when I was
brushing your coat yesterday^ Sir, and
you dressing for the castle dinner,
that I heard you mintion a word of
going away in a day or two^ if the
wind was fair, Sir; and a bit of a
ship coming into port at Cork ; and
that-— and then — and I thought your
honor said something, Sir, about the say
sickness being good for my complaint ;
and that you was going to—-— and the
kerchief then came in the way ; that'
this morning, gineral, a bit ago."

" And would you, O'Leary," said the
general, in a voice of great kindness,
^' would you leave your home, your
country, to follow me, uncertain as you



must be whom ^"

'' Would I ?" interrupted O'Leary,
with a burst of emotion, in which con-
sciousness and insanity seemed to strug-
gle ibr supremacy — " would I ?" and
he fell at the general's feet, and seized
his hands, while his tears fell fast.



FLORENCE MACARTUY. I93

^^ Would I follow you^ is it ? Did not I
lose my senses for you ? Did not I
leave home^ and kin, and friends, to
wander the world over for you, when -
you were nt in it ? And now that you
are before me with your mother's smile,
see here, gineral," and he attempted a
tone of firm composure; ^^ if you are'nt
yourself, and would tell me that at once,
there would be an end of all ; and I
would be what I was before I met you
in the mountains, and still would go on
quietly, and would just, some fine
morning, lie down in the sun, like old
Cumhal, and die."

The general, in irrepressible emotion,
with difficulty released his hand from
the maniac grasp of 0*Leary: then
drawing from his breast an ancient mis-
sal, he opened its clasps, and shewed,
opposite to one of its illuminated pages,
two certificates of a marriage and a
birth. OXeary seized the sacred vo-

VOL. III. K



194 FLORENCE MACAUTHY.

lumc^and kissed it eagerly and devoutly,
with a look of anxious recognition.
The general hurried it back to his
breast.

" You stand pledged to God and to
me, O'Leary," said the general, in a
deep and affecting voice.

O'Leary remained silent, but his lips
moved rapidly ; his eyes wandered
wildly over the face that fascinated his
gaze, till at last his clasp relaxed its
firmness, his eyes closed, and he would
have fallen to the earth, if the general
had not received him in his arms.

" O'Leary, my old boy !" he said,
bearing him to the fresh air admitted
at the open window ; and at this well
remembered epithet, OXeary, shaking
off his faintness, cried, with a burst of
hysteric laughter —

" That's it ! that's the voice I have
heard in the lone mountains by day and
by night. They tould me it was my



FLORENCE MACARTHY. ]^5

fitch. My fitch ! oh, Jasus !" and he
wept freely. Then suddenly drying his
eyes, and throwing their rapid glances
over the face of Fitzwalter, whose hand
he still held, new lineaments seemed to
start forth to his recollection, and he
continued to repeat : — " And there was
a mole under the curls of the left tem-
ple ; and axes your honor's pardon-
yes, there it is; and the curls too, only
far blacker. Shoosheen used to call
it the fairy's lock, because the world
would not take the curl out of it: and
weren't drownded after all ; sure I said
so. And them transport ships off the
coast, from Cork. And how was it,
gineral, dear? And the boat there,
turned upside down, when we went out
to look for you; and your foster-
mother had sat up all night, and had a
warning. And not many nights she sat
up after — barring at her own wake,
God help her: and that was too much
for any man; and twenty-two years

K 2



196 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

ago! and all that time never to claim
your own, nor just write one's own
foster-father a line from foreign parts;
and so ready at the pen formerly, in re-
spect of them themes 2Lnd exercises !^*

" O'Leary/* said the general, in a
firm and imposing voice, " let it suffice
that I live, and am here ; that I have
returned to my native country with a
name as distinguished, through my own
exertions, as that which I received from
my forefathers ; a name too not as-
sumed, but inherited : for, after the an-
cient manner of my family, I have but
given the Norman prefix to my father's
baptismal appellation/'

O'Leary started, "Fitz waiter! Walter,
the Black Baron, and never thought of
that. Och ! I've a poor head now, and
a beating in it that wears the life out
of me by times. — To be sure, Walter
de Montenay Fitzwalter ; the ould
Geraldine fashion evermore."

^^ For the rest, OXeary, secrecy the



FLORENCE MACARTllY. l^f

most profound of my present existence
in this neighbourhood is necessary. It
is for the interest of many that I should
never re-appear. My presence here, if
even suspected, might endanger my life
or liberty : besides, I wish to avoid all
publicity— to compromise rather than
contend, and to save the honour of my
family, by touching lightly on the crimes
of one of its members ; or, if possible,
by burying them in eternal obhvion.'*

'' That's the Honorable Gerald," in-
terrupted OXeary, " the Marquis, and
Lord Adelm's father."

^^ It matters not whom, O'Leary,"
said the general eagerly ; " and now
leave me for the present ; resume your
ordinary habits ; be secret — be circum-
spect—my life is in your hands; but
hold yourself in readiness to depart at
a moment's warning. Had it not been
for a circumstance that has become ac_
eidentally known to me this morning, I

K 3



igB FLORENCE MACARTHY.

should have left this country to-night,
and even as it is perhaps."

" To-night !*' repeated O'Leary, who
had moved a few paces^ but who still
loitered at the door.

" To-night. Imustfirst^ however, see
the Countess of Clancare; and I think
I will try my fortune at her door in an
hour hence."

^^ You will^ Sir!" said O'Leary, in
astonishment. ^^ See that — and in amity,
plaze your honour ?"

'^ Certainly not in enmity ^^ returned
the general, smiling. " But you seem
surprised by my intention, O Leary."

'^ No, plaze yovu' lord — , your ho-
nour, I mane ; not a taste ; for sure
'twas just the same anno 1321, when
the English by blood leagued with
the Irish mere in the common cause,
that^s ould Ireland, Sir; and enemies
before, became fast friends si thence,
as Ayphraim against Menasses, and Me-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. IQQ

nasses against Ayphraim ; and both
united against the tribe of Judah, that's
the Crawleys, Sir^ the land pirates ! —
and will step down and order your fine
new charger from Cork, Sir, to be
brought from the Dunore Arms, and will
put on my Sunday apparel, and mount
the little Kerry asturiones, and ride
after your honor in the capacity of an
ecury, as is right and fitting, till you're
Lord — , till you have a better — — and
will just induct TeagueRourke, my head
Homer, into the oflice of my coad-
jutor and assistant in the seminary :
that is, gineral, he'll tache the classes,
while ril attind your honor."

^^ No, O'Leary,'^ said the general,
shaking his head, ^^ that will never
do. You must return to your learned
runagates, of whom I found you so
justly proud when I arrived here : and
if you do not wish me to repent of the
confidence I have placed in you, you

K 4



200 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

will in no respect change your wonted
habits."

*^ Then 1*11 engage I won't, Sir ; re-
plied O^Leary, emphatically, " and
never will call you my lord, till the
day of judgment ; that is, till all's
proved ; and your lordship, the great
Marquis of Dunore (which you are at
this blessed moment), taking possession
of your castle : for fortune, though she
be pourtrayed to stand upon a rolling
stone, as being flighty by nature, yet
for the most part she helpeth such as
be of courageous mind, and valiant
stomach. — Did not Thomyris the Scy-
thian queen, and collateral ancestor of
the Macarthies, by her great spirit,
with a few hundred followers, bate
Cyrus intirely, with many thousands ?

and did not , but I will not bother

your lordship with needless tediousness,
only just will defy the world, from this
day out, to prove that I care a tcstoon



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 201

for you ; and thought. Sir, that I'd ride
the asturiones after you, to shew you
the way. Sir, to Castle Macarthy."

^^ I should, for many reasons, pre-
fer going alone," said the general.

^^ Och ! very well, gineral : sure I
have no control over you now. Sir,
why would I, only in respect of finding
out the Bhan-Tierna, who does not care
to be in the way of the quality ; foreby
being always in the fields, or on her own
mountains, from sun-rise to sun-set,
just like a little grasshopper, the sowl !
chirping and hopping, and living on
dews and air, as one would say ; that's
as Anacreon says. Sir ; — and remembers
your construing that same into mighty
pretty Latin; and you only twelve years
old and three months/'

^^ You may order my horse in an hour
hence ,** said the general.

0*Leary now drew towards the door,
throwing back one eagei', anxious, and

K 5



202 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

affectionate look^ which the general
returned with an expressive smile.
O'Leary raised his eyes in thanksgiving,
murmured an Irish prayer, dashed the
gathering tears from his eyes, and
crossing his hands behind him, retired
muttering to himself as he slowly de-
scended the steep stairs, " And Cumhal
the cratur, not alive to see this day !"

An hour had scarcely elapsed when
O'Leary, mounted on the fine horse he
had alluded to, appeared under the
window of the general's apartment. He
had thrown off his pedagogue costume,
was habited in his gala dress of many
coats, had put on a new wig and hat,
was shaved unusually close, and exhi-
bited a countenance far indeed from
placid, but from which every trace of
anxiety and solicitude was banished.
The flutter of new-born, unexpected
happiness still distinguished his manner.
He had given his boys an holiday, and



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 203

was incapable of fixing his attention to
his daily habits ; but there was an air
of contentment about him which in-
dicated an evident revolution in feelings
and ideas. His short cough, and ex-
pressions of kindness to the animal on
v^hich he was mounted, drew General
Fitzwalter to the window ; and he stood
for a moment contemplating this warm-
hearted, . zealous, and devoted being,
with an emotion of pride and bene-
volence, as one, who true to human
sympathy, beholds with triumph the
happiness he has created.

In a few minutes he was mounted on
his steed ; and O'Leary continued to
walk beside him, wnth one hand behind
his back, and the other leaning on the
horse's flank.

" I'll just step on a taste with your
honor," he observed, to excuse his in-
trusion, ^^ to shew the good road, Sir,
and open the little gates, and remove



204 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

the brambles that stop up the gaps in
the mearings betwixt the pratie grounds
of the Dunore tenants."

To this the general made no objec-
tion; and O'Leary continued,

" And so, you are going, gineral,
jewel, to make your courtesies, and to
pay your obeysance to the Countess of
Clancare, which makes the friar's words
come true, anno 1505."

'^ What friar, and what words,
O'Leary ?"

"Och! an holy man your honor,"
said O'Leary, lowering his voice, and
raising his head towards the general's
ear, "who was superior of the order
here, in the time of the first Lord Du-
nore, who got the castle after the Ma-
carthies, and who chased away the
brotherhood^ He left a curse on Du-
nore castle, which remains unredeemed
to this day. His prophecy, which is iu
Irishj may be thus construed :



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 205

Macarthy More shall have his won,
When, after battles lost and won,
The Norman shall cross the theshold floor,
To woe the heir of Macarthy More :
When the dexter hand from the clouds shall bend,
And the moose deer* to its home shall wend;
When he shall return, who was dead and gone,
Macarthy More shall have his own-
Such are the words of Friar Con,"

^^.The prediction of your friar,
O'Leary/* said the general, smiling,
*nike most prophecies, is sufficiently
vague and indefinite. It may mean
anything or nothing."

^' Anything or nothing!" returned
O'Leary, quickly. '^ Does battles lost
and won mane nothing? And the re-
trate of Masha-na-glass, and the Foray
of Dooghna-go-hoone, between the
Fitzadelms and the Macarthies, about
a prey of cattle, and divers other com-



* Tlte dexter arm, the crest of the Fitzadelms:
—the moose deer, that of the Macarthies,



^06 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

bats, as will be seen in my Genealogical
History, written in the Phoenician
vulgo vocata Irish; do they mane no-
thing ? And does the Norman crossing
the threshold floor ^ to woo the heir of
Macarthy More, mane nothing, gineral?
and your honor" (here he lowered his
voice to a whisper), *' and your honor
going to make your obeisance to the .
Bhan Tierna of the world? And does

*' The dexter hand from the cloud shall bend^
And the moose deer to its home shall wendy*

mane nothing? when the dexter hand's
the device of the Fitzadelms; and is
going, in lowly suit, to tender itself to
the Macarthy's heir: and the moose
deer, the crest of the Macarthies, which
was found cut beautifully in stone
among the rubbish at Castle Macarthy,
and set up over the portal, by Lady
Clancare, when she came home, a
wandering deer herself, the cratur! the



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 20/

wide world over ? And then— ^" he

added, in emotion^ '^ fo^' ^^^^^ "f^ho shall
return^ heing "

"Yes, yes/* interrupted Fitzwalter^
" that is plain: but it is by no means
so certain, because a Norman stranger
visits the heiress, or representative of
the Macarthy family, that he is to woo
her. And if the restoration of the
greatness and property of the Macar-
thies rests upon that part of your Friar s
prophecy, I*m afraid, O'Leaiy, the
whole falls to the ground/'

^' If she chooses it, plaze your honor,
she'll make you woo her, and win her
too," said O'Leary, with an air of mys-
terious doggedness.

"Indeed!"

" Troth ! and deed. Sir. Sure she
rules the world intirely, Sir : and has
greatly quelled the Crawleys since she
came into it. — And is like her great an-
cestor, the famed lUen Macarthy, the



208 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

first Countess of Clancare, only child
to the great Florence : she, who rescued
the title from Daniel the base-born, and
bestowed it upon her own husband
(the queen consenting thereunto), Sir
Donach Macarthy Reagh of Carberry;
and like her the Bhan Tierna is sharp
witted, a great lover of learning, capa-
ble of any study, and has, at this
present speaking, my Irish and Latin
dictionary, which she walked down
herself to borrow, the very evening of
the day your honor set off to Cork;
which was the day. Sir, she arrived
from England, where she had been so-
journing, to the intire loss of the coun-
try ; and the Crawleys waxing cockish
the moment her back was turned; and
brings me home this piece of antiquity;
and thinks it will plaze you., O'Leary,
says she, here it is, plaze your honor.'*
He pulled from his breast a tattered
volume, adding, '' It is entitled ' Tom



rLORENCE MACARTHY. 209

Loodles' rhymes^ Sir^ ^ nipping hy
name divers honorable and worshipful
of the realm, and certain officers of the
deputy^ s household, for grieving the
land with impositions— .hemng date Jan.
28, Anno Dom. 1576.' Making, with
the deputy's answer, and a speech of
one James Stanihurst, an Esquire of
worship. Warder of Dubhn, but eight
sheets closely indited — which, with
your lave, gineral, 111 peruse aloud to
beguile the way, which is bare and
bleak.''

" I would rather you would explain
to me, O'Leary," said the general,
alighting^ and throwing the bridle of the
horse over his arm, " why, talking as
you did, so much and so frequently of
the ancient state and fortunes of this
Macarthy family, you should have said
nothing of their present existence ; of
this Lady Clancare, for instance, whom
you merely mentioned as an ancient



210 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

lady, absent from the country, and
whom I naturally supposed to be the
widow of the late earl."

^' And isn't she an ancient countess,
though a young faimale, your honor?
Anno, 1565 ; estates regranted by letters
patent, to hold them of the crown after
the English fashion ; and sat in parlia-
ment afore 1584 : and as for not cosher*
ing* about her with a stranger in the
mountains (no stranger to the heart if
strange to the eye), would you ax one
of the Pobble O'Leary's to betray their
Tanista, their Bhan Tierna? and her
last words, laving the country in Owny,
the Rabragh's ould chay, being "

" Owny, the Rabragh !" repeated the
general, with a little start.

" Yes, my lord. Sir, I mane ; the
last words laving the country, and the
first when she came back was, not to

♦ Coshering, literally, gossipping.



FLOR£NC£ MACARTHV, 211

be talking her over with strangers ; nor,'
'hove all^ with any of the Fitzadehns^
who were expected over every day them
two years : and when I tould her that
I was sure I had the Lord Adelm
houselled under my roof, and described
your honor to her verbatim et literatim,
she swore me over again that I would
not sell her to yez."

'^ Sell her ! but what v/as her object
in this concealment ?"

^^ Pride, Sir ; what else w^ould it be.
The pride of the Macarthies, Sir, the
proudest race in Christendom, dead or
alive, this day : and didn't choose, the
sowl, to be overshadowed by them Du-
nores and their greatness, in her poor
ould castle, (3) without her tiernas or
clans, her bonagh, sorohen, cuddy,
shragh, or mart ; without her warder, or
constable, or gallowglasses, or calivers,
or hand weapons; - but only just Ulic
Macshane, the cow-boy, and Sibby, her



212 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

little bit of a handmaid, with only thirty
pounds per annum, chief-rents of great
estates on the Kerry side of Clotnotty-
joy, that are worth thousands to their
owners; and that's all coming to her
now, who by right is king of the Cori-
anddi ; and all that's left of her barony,
town-lands, plough-lands, castle, and
manor, with all royalties, mines, quar-
ries, suit and service, knight's fees,
wardships and marriages, escheats,
waifs, strays, goods proclaimed, persons
of bondmen, estovers, villains and their
follow^ers, fairs, markets, tolls, and all
franchises and privileges whatsoever,
with a court baron at Ballydab for the
Cork estates, and another at Clancare
for Keny ; to say nothing of chief-
tainries all through the province, sowled
scrubal by scrubal to such land pirates
as the Crawleys ; and broke some of
their sword-blade company bargains
since she came home. Now to see her



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 213

rinting her own castle, and going a foot
to mass, barring when the mules isn't at
work, and has them put to her cabriole,
made by ould Cormack the wheel-
wright. Mules! BachalEssu! she that
had her Spanish jennets, and her Ho-
bellers, and Asturiones, and Arabians,
sent over by Don Jacobus Macarthy
as a gift to the great Florence; foreby
her steeds ready caparisoned afore the
rack in case of a sudden foray, and
the O'Driscols comin^^ down the moun-
tains to make a prey of kine ; and
that is the raison, plaze your honor,
why she'd wish to keep aloof of them
English quality, who might stand upon
the pantoufles of their English rank,
and treat her, as she pithily observed
to me, as the Saxon King John and his
Norman gallants did the great Milesian
O'Connors, and O'Briens, and O'Byrnes,
and Macarthics, who set the Irish
chiefs at nought, laughed at their man-



214 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

tics and truiscs, mocked their glibbs
and beards^ and with flaps on their hps,
and thumps on their backs, discourte-
ously received the courtesies of the na-
tive nobility of the land. Besides, she
might not like, being a lone lady, to
come in the way of the young Lord
Adelm, who is, according to rumour, a,
rake and raparee, one in whom there is
no stay, no sobriety, likening his father
the Honorable Gerald."

" And yet," said the general, ^^ Lady
Clancare chose to let herself be taken
prisoner to Dunore, when a word would
have saved her the mortification of
standing in so humiliating a position be-
fore those persons she was so anxious to
avoid."

" And if she did," said O'Leary,
with a significant look, *^ I'll ingage
she had her reasons for that same : and
did not you mind, that secret and
drifty as them Crawleys was, to ruin



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 215

the world rounds and your honor to
bootj they were all outwitted and cir-
cumvented every step; and mark my
words, the Bhan Tierna was at the bot-
tom of all, overthrowing their complots
and their policies ; and when I saw
your honour there in the midst of them,
your natural kin, it minded me of the
secret enemies of the great ould Earl of
Kildare, and their accusations against
him, deposed before Henry the Seventh,
anno 1501, charging him with burning
the cathedral church of Cashell ; and
he, baited at the stake, did confess the
fact : and when it was looked for that
he should justify the same, ^ By Jasus,*
quoth he, ^ I would never done it,
plaze your majesty, had they not tould
me the archbishop was within;' and
merrily laughed the king at the plain-
ness of the man, the archbishop being
present ; and when it was deposed that
all Ireland could not govern this earl.



21 6 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

^ No !' quoth the king, ^ then in good
faith shall this earl govern all Ireland ;*
and forthwith he made him lord-deputy
and knight of the garter, to the discom-
fiture of his enemies, and is ancestor to
the young Duke of Leinster to this
day;'

0*Leary chuckled over this anecdote;
and though General Fitzwalter could
perceive no parallel between the Earl of
Kildare*s case and his own, yet there
was such animation and cheerfulness in
O'Leary's manner, out of the abundance
of whose heart the mouth now spoke,
that he was unwilling to chill it by a
dissentient opinion upon a subject which
it seemed to give him such pleasure to
maintain.

They had now passed the last fence of
the potatoe grounds, had got upon the
highway, the general had mounted his
horse, and was declining O'Leary's offer
of accompanying him to Castle Macar-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. SI?

thy, when Lord Adelm, followed by a
groom, appeared galloping towards
them. He stretched out his hand to
General Fitz waiter, who rode up to
him, and took it cordially. O'Leary
stood with his head uncovered, and with
something between amazement and con-
sternation painted in his looks.

'^ I have met with a great loss,**
said Fitzadelm, as they rode on toge-
ther.

^^ You bear losses with such philoso-
phy," said Fitzwalter, " that it would
be throwing away sympathy to offer it
to you. But what further trials has
your disinterested generosity been put
to?**

'^ I have lost,'' said Lord Adelin,
with a melancholy look, ^'^ my sybil's
kerchief.'* ""

General Fitzwalter rode close up to
him, and throwing his arm over Lord
Adelm's shoulder, said— '^ And what^ if I

t^ojL. in. 1.^



^



218 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

have discovered the sybil who owns
that handkerchief?"

" Discovered !" said Lord Adelm,
ahnost springing from his horse, and
taking the bridle of the general's, so as
to draw them still closer together —
*^ discovered, say you! how? when?
where ? what is she, sybil, sylph, wo-
man, maid, widow, or wife ? Speak, I
conjure you."

^^ A woman and a wife ; almost, at
least, a wife," replied Fitzwalter, with
St half-repressed sigh.

'^ Whose wife V* demanded Lord
Fitzadelm, with the blood mantling to
his cheek.

^^ Mine," was the abrupt reply.

A short silence succeeded to this sin*
gular and most unexpected answer;
till Lord Adelm, recovering from the
shock a reply so mysterious was calcu-
lated to give, at last, with a look, in
which some faint indication of plea-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 21^

surable triumph was discernible, • ob-
served: —

^^ Every thing about you is extra-
ordinary. You are out of the pale of
every-day creation. All things con-
nected with you are calculated for
amazement or admiration : but that
any one you have deigned to-— to—
should turn her eyes on me!— in short,
you trifle ivith my folly, you play with
my credulity — you — *'

^^ At the present moment," said the
general, '' I cannot satisfy your doubts,
or clear up your perplexities. I am
fnyself doubtful and uncertain; per^
plexed in the extreme. If the owner
of the mystic kerchief is the person I
suspect she is, or might be still — but I
demand your indulgence, and the sus-
pension of your curiosity. To-night it
may be in my power to become more
explicit. Till then, or till that moment
arrives when I can fully explain my*

L 2



/'



220 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

self, confide in my truth, rely on my
friendship, and believe that my feelings
are not more at ease than your own.
Where can I see you this evening?"

^' Where ! where, but at the castle ?
My mother's dinner card of general in-
vitation is now on its way to you. It
was with difficulty I could confine her
to that; not but that I consider your
delicacy as morbid and sickly upon this
point."

- ^^ It must not, and it ought not to be/*
said the general,

^^ It must, and ought. It's folly to
act otherwise. To me it is privation,
and in you suspicious. I will call on
you in my way home, and we will re-
turn to dinner together; or, rather, I
wish you would accompany me now.**

^' Where are you bound to ?'^

" To Glannacrime. This morning,
at breakfast, I thought I perceived a
little intelligence between my mother



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 221

and her election agent, to keep me for
some time out of the scene of action;
so I ordered my horse, and came off to
canvass the ^ most sweet voices of those
purchaseable worthies, in person. But
this most extraordinary intelligence,
mysterious and unsatisfactory as it is,
which you have now communicated to
me, leaves me without thought or view
for any other object^ save that which
has so long occupied my existence ;

that which . Your wife ! Oh !

you jest. Impossible ! you never men-
tioned, never hinted, that you were
married before ; and now . . . ."

" To tell the truth,'' said Fitzwalter,
shrugging his shoulders, '^ I had almost
forgotten it myself. It was an event
in my life brief and fantastic as a
dream, made up of circumstances as
wild and as discordant; occurring amidst
scenes, perilous and foreign to such an
engagement, amidst the crash of war^

L 3



/



'222 FLORENCE MACARTttV.

the groans of the dying; when the vow,
half breathed^ remained unratified ; the
benediction, half pronounced, was un-
finished ; and the ceremony, all but
concluded, was broken off in time to
render the forms which had passed
binding only to faith, to honour, and to
gratitude. These ties all remain ; and
if they are to be irrevocably broken, 'tis
not by me. This jon are going to say
is all enigma ; and so it is. Yet now
I will be pressed no further. To-nighj,
pe haps . . . till then, farewell.'^

xie now spurred his horse, and in a
moment was out of sight. There was
in the tone, the air, and the manner,
more than in his wonls, an imposing
firmness, and indisputable decision upon
all occasions, when he chose to be pe-
remptory, which left persuasion hope-
less.

'^ He is his own destiny and mine,"
said Lord Adelm^ with a sigh, as he



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 223

looked after him. " To contend with
him, or to oppose him, were to struggle
with fatahty." In this conviction there
was something extremely accordant to
the habits of mind and morbid ima-
gination of him who embraced it.
Mystery was his element; and whatever
was wild or terrible, dark or extra-
ordinary, whatever roused profound
emotion, or gave feeling to extraordi-
nary conjecture, was calculated to in-
gross and interest him. The com-
Haander of // Lihrador did both.



L 4



224 FLORENCE MACARTHV.



CHAPITER V.



Even SO, this happy creature^ of herself is all
sufficient.

WORDSWOUTH,

There stand — for you are spell. stopped.

Shakespeare.



* ♦



It was a bright^ warm September
morning (one of those days so rare in a
climate impregnated with the vapours
of the greatest ocean of the earth), that^
for the first time since his arrival in the
country. General Fitzwalter entered the
village of Ballydab. But neither the
noon-day sun which shone on its views,
nor the mountain breeze that blew over
them, rich in the perfumes of plants
peculiar to the southern mountains of



FLORENCE MACAUTHY. 225

Ireland, could lend a charm to this
ruinous retreat of indigence and misery.
Bally dab, the El Dorado of O'Leary ;
the once fair dependency of its own feu-
dal castle, an ancient borough, which
had formerly sent two members to par-
liament by prescriptive right (for its
charter was not upon record), Bally-
dab, once noted in military and eccle-
siastical history, was now a desolate
and. ruinous village, scarcely less im-
posing or less miserable in its appear-
ance than the deserted city of Kilmal-
lock in the same province (4). The
remains of a wall which once surrounded
the town were still visible. The site
of a Dominican abbey of Black Friars,
erected in the fifteenth century, by
" the sovereign, brethren, and com-
monalty,'' was yet ascertainable ; and
the ruins of other castles and monas-
teries afforded shelter to many wretched
families, who had built their perishable^

L 5



226' FLORENCE MACARTHV.

huts against tlie walls of edifices, whose
strength had stood the shock of ages.
Ballvdab, which liad been founded bv
the Macartiiies, had long since been
transferred to the Dunore family, and
jiad been included in the great sale of
boroughs^ which, while it sanctified
the principle of corruption, by acknow-
ledging the landlord's pecuniary in-
terest in the votes of his tenantry, and
his possession of the borough, had pur-
chased the transfer of all right in the
annihilation of the national legislature.
Desolate^ impoverished, and neglected,
the surrounding land given up to jobbers^
it bore all the signs, not only of distress,
but of squalid and hopeless pauperism.
Its inhabitants were deemed lawless,
they were, indeed, occasionally des-
perate; no natural demand being made
upon their native ajctivity, their rest-
lessness bad some tunes degenerated to
mischief: and it was, perhaps, as much



i'LORENCE MACARTHY. 237

their misery that they had few wants,
as that they had still fewer means of
supplying them. Their cabins were,
for the most part, ruined hovels ; and
in the centre of the town, a swampy
marsh, where an annual fair was held
by ancient usage, sent up ordinarily a
pestilential vapour, though now un-
usually dry.

Yet, amidst these symptoms of ge-
neral wretchedness, evidences of recent
and progressive improvement were to
be seen. The mountain which shel-
tered the town was cultivated and green
to its summit. Several of the hovels
were newly whitewashed ; and, in a
few instances, freshly plaistered chim-
nies emitted the smoke, which mor$
commonly found egress at the door.
In the front of one cabin, a poor man
was employed in filling up a stagnate
pool, and an heap of manure was re-
moving from^ before another. At the



225 FLOIIENCE MaCAHTHY.

door of a barn a number of chiklrea
were employed in making green rush
matting, and at a little shebeen house,
a piper sat upon a stone bench playing
a gay Irish lilt.

The general as he passed along had
to return the low bows of all he met,
for there were strangely mingled with
the general aspect of misery and wild-
ness an air of courtesy, and a civilization
of manner, which formed a curious con-
trast. From every point of the village
the castle was conspicuous, for it stood
on the brow of a hill that overhung it,
and upon a precipice which immediately
arose from a river, formed of many tri-
butary streams, and flowing into one of
the many bays, which, a mile further
on^ indented the coast. All that now
remained of the original edifice of Castle
Macarthy was a coarse square building,
rude, inelegant, and wholly destitute
cf the architectural ornament which



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 220

distinguished the beautiful and perfect
Castle of Dunore, a building more mo-
dern by about a century. The ballium,
the barbican^ the parapets, the em-
brazures and crenelles, described by
O'Leary, and existing only in the me-
mory of what he read, or the imagina-
tion of what he wished, were vainly
sought for in the chapter of realities.
His castle was literally " a castle in the
air.

As General Fitzwalter approached
more closely, and ascended the steep
and rutted lane, or approach, he per-
ceived a fosse partly filled up, and a
flagged causeway crossing it. The stone
pillars of tlie gates still remained ; and
the castle bawn, the demesne of feudal
recreation, lay to the left, and was still
fenced round with a low wall of mud
and brambles. It was now, however,
planted with potatoes, rich in their
bright silver and orange flowers. The



230 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

mountain rose almost perpendicularly
above the castle ; and to the left a ro-
mantic glen^ wild^ irregular, and rocky,
afforded a passage to the many moun-
tain brooks which swelled the s^reater
streams and fell into the sea. Two or
three irregular sashed windows appeared
scattered over the front of the castle,
but it was principally lighted by loop-
hole casements. The hall door of black
bog oak lay open, and the crest of the
Macarthies, alluded to by O'Leary, the
moose deer, cut in stone, was raised
above it, with the date of 1500. A
knocker would have been vainly sought
for ; nor w as any person visible, ex-
cept two women, who appeared at a
distance, weeding a patch of ground at
the extremity of the potatoe ridges;
while a venerable greyhound, which
lay basking in the sun before the
door, the sole guardian of these ru-
ined towers^ only growled at the



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 231

stranger's approach, half raised himself,
and then lay down again to sleep.
General Fitzwalter entered the stone-
roofed hall; and in the hope that some
one might accidentally appear, occupied
himself in examining the singular orna-
ments with which it was decorated. A
wolfs head, the last caught in Ireland,
as was inscribed on a brass plate, bear-
ing date 1 7 1 O5 hung from the centre of
the ceiling. Beneath it, on an old stone
table, the enormous fossil horns of a
moose deer were extended: a few old
pictures were dropping from their
frames ; and on either side of the hall,
two narrow arched ways led to dark,
damp, stone passages. He was at
last tempted to proceed through that
on the left, guided by the sound of
a voice, which had suddenly raised
a lilt, and as suddenly stopped it,
when some one ran forcibly against
Jaim^ hastily drawing back and exclaim-



T32 FLORENCE MACAllTHY.

ing, ^^ The blessed Virgin save us.
Allien !'* The general followed the per-
son whose surprise or fears had ex-
torted this ejaculation^ and found him-
self at the door of an old spacious
smoaky kitchen. In removing the
alarm he had just awakened, he in-
creased the surprise of the intimidated
person. It was a young woman, who
courtesied and blushed, with something
like recognition in her looks ; and put-
ting back her locks beneath her round-
eared cap, she remained silent and con-
fused. On the inquiry whether Lady
Clancare was at home, she courtesied
still lower, and said, ^^ Is it my lady, Sir?
Oh yes, to be sure she is, your honor—
I ax your pardon. This a way, if you
plaze. Sir. Have a care, there is a
little stooleen in your way. I'll but step
afore your honor a taste," — and still
engaged in arranging her dress, she led
the way to the stone passage, on the



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 23$

other side the hall, and passing under a
gothic arched way, she threw open a
door at the further extremity of the
passage, and ushered the visitor into a
low-roofed but spacious room. Hii
conductress having wiped a large arnj
chair, and pulled it near the dying em*
bers of a turf fire, which she replenished
from an huge tui-f-box that stood near
the hearth, (for the room was chilly
notwithstanding the warmth of the day),
she was retiring, when he called her
back, and giving her his card, desired
her to carry it, with his respectful com-
pliments, to the Countess of Clancare,
The girl looked at the card, and then at
him, and a smile just visible stole over
her features as she retired.

The room into which he had been
shewn occupied his attention during
the moment of waiting. It was of di-
mensions disproportionate to its height,
and from its dark and irregular figure^



234 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

and the immense width of the wall
(marked by the deep recess of its only
window)^ it appeared to occupy one of
the towers which flanked the castle
towards the precipitous glen, and was
not, therefore, perceptible from the
front.

The walls, neither wainscotted nor
papered, were partially covered with
faded tapestry, the figures of which
were antique and grotesque. It was
the work of Irish nuns, whose looms a
century and a half ago had contri-
buted to the decoration of many Irish
castles. (5) Above the ample and un-
grated hearth, a lofty, cumbrous, but
handsome chimney-piece of grey mar-
ble, the produce of the acljoining quar-
ries, arose nearly half way to the ceiling.
For two feet above the floor, it was
incrusted with brick, and seemed to
have been but lately discovered. On
its entablature was carved the following



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 233

inscription: DonaghMacarthy Comes
PE Clancare me fecit, 1565. The
floor was of beaten earth, mixed with
free-stone sand, and was covered near the
fire-place with some new rush matting:
an oak table, a tattered Indian skreen^
a high ponderous japan chest, and a
few long-backed curiously carved oak
chairs, composed the whole furniture of
this antique and gloomy apartment: a
spinning wheel stood near the hearth,
and a Spanish guitar, and a parasol,
oddly contrasted to it, lay on the table.
The recess window was evidently de-
voted to the purposes of a study. The
yiew it commanded was enchanting, for
it hung immediately over a glen ; and a
river seen sparkling through the rich
underwood brawled beneath ; and rushed
through a cleft in the rocks towards the
distant bay.

The floor of this recess \^'as covered
with a piece of old but once rich Turkey



236 FLOKENCE MACARTHY.

carpet: the table^ which nearly oc-
cupied it (leaving space only for a
chair), was heaped with books and
manuscrij)ts ; the latter, however, not
bearing the stamp of antiquity, but
fresh written; for the humid pen was
evidently but just laid down. Two
books stood open, marked with a pencil
and a flower. The one was Hanmers
Chronicle^ the other Campions His*
tory of Ireland', an Irish and Latin
Dictionary, and an odd volume of Lopez
de Vega, Burn s poems, and a small
edition of Shakespeare, with an antique
missal, bound in crimson velvet, with
the arms and coronet of the Clancares,
formed the whole of this little collec-
tion. Some flowers, seemingly just
gathered, in a handsome china vase,
stood upon the table, and an embroi-
dered work-bag, such as are worked
in foreign convents, with a silver cross
and rosary, hung over the back of the



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 23 7

chair, and compleated the parapher-
nalia of this httle recess, which might
have served equally for the retreat of
the sage or the saint, or as a reposoir
for the fantastic taste of a petite mai-
tresse. The flowers and the work-
bas were at once assig^nable to the
gout musque of the timid, but evidently-
affected Lady Clancare — for Lord
Adelm's epithet of the petite evaporei
seemed not ill-placed. The rosary
and the cross, and the missal, were as
markedly appropriate to the Spanish
nun, Florence Macarthy, who had
been so lately an inmate at the castle.
General Fitzwalter had learned, by
experience, to distrust the extravagant
exaggerations of O'Leary, when the
family of his hereditary Tiernas was
eoncerned. He had no doubt that
the character of Lady Clancare had
been confounded in his wandering ima-
gination with that of the celebrated



238 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

Illen Macartluj, of Queen Elizabeth's
days ; and that the learning and po-
tency, attached to this female Tanalst
in his descriptions, had no more certain
existence than the halliums, crenelles,
and barbican, which he had given to
her dilapidated castle. Even the exer-
tions she had made to liberate an op-
pressed man, through her application
to Judge Aubrey, v^hile it evinced great
goodness of heart, was deemed sufficient
to explain the popularity she so e\4-
dently enjoyed among a people equally
alive to kindness and neglect. But
whatever might be the character of
this fair recluse, her tastes, like her
appearance, were manifestly delicate
and feminine : and there was some-
thing peculiarly touching, and even
pitiable, in the indigence betrayed in
this ruinous asylum, of one so young,
50 nobly born, so destitute, and so un-
protected. Her assumption of a title



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 239

she had no means of supporting, her
retirement from the world to a sohtude
so dreary, shewed at least the pride of
birth ; and pride, from whatever source
it springs, when at variance with poverty,
forms one of the most painful contests
of feeling to which humanity is sub-
ject.

As these thoughts passed rapidly
through the mind of Fitzwalter, he
almost unconsciously took down an
antique sword, which hung against the
wall ; and mused, as he examined its
curious structure, on the untowardness
©f a fate, in which he found some pa*
rallel to his own.

" Man,'^ he involuntarily exclaimed;,
brandishing the weapon, and clasping it
with a warrior's grasp; — ^^ man, with
such an instrument as this, can always
cut his way to fortune or to death; and
rushing forward to meet the evils of
his destiny, by opposing^ end them:
but woman ! hapless woman ! what is



240 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

her resource when fortune deserts,
when adversity assails her ? Desolate
and unguarded, with scarce one path
open to her exertions, scarce one stay
left to her weakness, endangered even
by her perfections, risked and enfeebled
by all that makes the delicious excel-
lence of her nature, — woman! — -"

The door opened, and she, whose des-
tiny had probably given birth to this
apostrophe, interrupted its conclusion.
There was a sort of half start, a sudden
pause in the approach of Lady Clan-
care, as if the visit and the visitor were
equally unexpected, which communi-
cated something of its brief confusion
to her guest. He bowed, then stood
for a moment, slightly embarrassed; and
still armed with the antique sword of
Macarthy-More, he not inaptly realized
to the eyes of his fair descendant the
picture left on historic record, of that
magnificent chieftain. (6) Lady Clan-
care, with that promptitude and pre-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 241

sehce of mind^ which peculiarly belong
to woman s quick perception, was the
first to recover herself, and, slightly cour-
tesying, addressed her guest by name,
motioned him to a chair, and advanced
with a light quick step to the centre of
the room. With a disengaged air, she
gradually disencumbered herself of a
deep straw bonnet, a grey cloak, gloves
incrusted with earth, and a black apron
full of mountain ash berries, all of
which articles were deliberately laid
upon the table. Thus engaged, she
stood with her profile towards General
Fitzwalter, who had not taken the chair
she had pointed out to his notice. He
remained looking at a person and coun-
tenance, that seemed to have changed
much of their character since he had
last seen them ; hut where the change
had occurred, he could not detect.

Lady Clancare, as she now stood, was
the very personification of health, in all

VOL. III. M



24^ FLORENCE MACARTHY.

its force and freshness, vigour and elas-
ticity. The crimson of haste and exer-
cise glowed in her cheek; and there
was a hfe palpitating through the whole
frame, throbbing in every pulse, and
vibrating in every fibre, that was visible
to the observer's eye. But whether she
was animated or agitated, breathless
from hurry, or from emotion, it would
have been difficult to ascertain. Her
countenance had lost nothing of its pe-
culiar modesty; but from her half-
closed eyes one glance met his, that, to
him at least, seemed charged with tri-
umph; a sort of smiling malicious tri-
umph; the triumph of conscious suc-
cess, of conscious superiority, and in-
felt power; such a look as he had seen
her wear, when, in carrying off Lady
Dunore, she had bowed her laughing
and almost insolent salutation to the
discomfitted Crawleys. This look, whe-
ther real or fancied, was, however.



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 24,?»

transient as lightning; and no w^ disen-
cumbered of her coarse out-of-door gar-
ments, she turned round a face dimpled
with a thousand smiles; and, with the
ease of a woman of the world, but the
naivete of one beyond its forms and
formalities, she apologized for having
so long detained him. " This is," she
added, pointing again to a chair, and
throwine: herself into an immense old
fashioned fatiteuil, " this is my farming
season, and farming hour. We are dig-
ging our potatoes to-day ; for you
must know. General Fitz waiter, the
potatoe vintage is to us poor Irish of as
great moment and interest, though not
quite so susceptible of picturesque de-
scription, as the gathering of the rich
grapes in the luxuriant vineyards of the
Loire and the Garonne. I always pre-
side on these occasions myself," she
added, carelessly untying a silk hand-
kerchief which encircled her neck,

m2



244 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

^^ for I dare say you will agree with
mc^ that no work goes on so lightly as
that which is shared by the master."

To this proposition General Fitz-
walter returned no answer. He had
mechanically taken the chair assigned
him, and sat with his right arm thrown
over its back, and his left leaning on
the old sword. His eves were rivetted
on Lady Clancare, with that eager, ani-
mated penetrating gaze natural to them,
when he sought to discover or dive at
once into the secret of a character that
appeared to elude observation. Her s,
however, as it now equivocally ap-
peared through her easy, animated, dis-
engaged manners, opposed to her " out-
ward seeming'' at the castle of Dunore,
was all enigma. Her childish shyness,
her timid and affected carriage, which
had mduced Lord Adelm to o^ive her
the epithet of a minaudlere, had dis-
appeared. There was now something



FLORENCE MACARTHY, 245

of the sybil in her looks ; and her in-
comprehensible change of manner assi-
milated with the present character of
her person and character. Meantime
his silence, though marked and singular,
scarcely confused, and seemed not to
displease her ; and she sat demurely pat-
ting and caressing the old greyhound
which had followed her into the room,
as if she awaited an explanation of the
visit, which appeared wholly unex-
pected, and which, it was natural to
suppose, was not without cause or ex-
cuse. At last, as if to relieve the awk-
wardness of the pause, she stretched
forth a very pretty little hand, and
asked smilingly —

" Shall I take that sword from you?
'tis a cumbrous article." He laid the
sword upon the table, and she drew it
towards her. " Have you examined this
antique weapon. General Fitz waiter ? I
am told it was found in a bog in 1748.

m3



24G FLORENCE MACARTHY.

It was sent to me the other day by a
neighbouring farmer, into whose hands
it fell accidentally, for he was pleased,
2)oor man, to consider me as the lady of
the manor. What makes these brazen
swords a valuable relic to the Irish anti*
quarian is, that they serve to corrobo-
rate the opinion that the Phoenicians co^
Ionised this country ; for they insist that
the sword-blades found upon the field
of Cannes were of the same metal and
construction, and being used by the
Carthaginians; who were originally Ty-
rians, they establish the certainty that
these Irish weapons were Phcemcian
also. Consequently, you know. Ge-
neral Fitzwalter, something more than
a mere presumption arises that Ireland
had her arts and letters from the coun-
try of Cadmus,, as all her traditions af-
firm, in spite of all Dr. Ledwich ha^
said to the contrary."

All this was uttered with a sort of



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 24/

mock emphasis, that left it very doubt-
ful whether she believed a word she
spoke, or whether it was mere ironical
badinage, or antiquarian credulity — it
served only to involve General Fitz-
waiter in deeper perplexity.

"Now, what is your opinion?" she
added with emphatic gravity. " Do
you really think we are Tyrians hy de-
scent P" Then laughing, and resuming
her gay tone, she added, '^ O ! I see
you are no antiquarian, though you are
the guest of my friend O'Leary. Well
then, neither am I ; and to confess the
truth, the present state of this poor
country interests me more than its
ancient real or fabled greatness ; and I
should rather see my neighbours of
Ballydab succeed in reclaiming and
cultivating that mountain, to the right
of the casement (my dear Clotnotty-
joy), or improve in the rush and straw
work, I am endeavouring to teach their

M 4



248 FLORENCE MACARTHT.

idle, helpless, naked children, than es-
tablish, beyond all controversy, that the
Macarthies are descended from the
Tyrian Hercules, or that Ireland was
the seat of arts and letters, when the
rest of the world was, according to my
family genealogist, the sage O'Leary,
buried in utter darkness. Do yoa
know — apropos to ancient greatness,'*
she added with a quick transition of
voice, " that as I entered this room,
there was something in your appear-
ance, as you stood brandishing that
antique weapon, that reminded me of
a picture I have seen, of our family
hero, (7) Florence Macarthy; though
to Miss Crawley's deep-read mind,
and ready literary associations, I dare
«ay you would have recalled the
image of Achilles, in the court of
Lycomedes.

" In questa mano,

Lampeggi il ferro ah recomincio atlesso,



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 249

A ravissar me stesso, ah ! forse a fronte,
A mllle squadre, e mille !'*

" And if I were/' said General Fitz-
walter, interrupting her impulsively,
and borne away by her animation, for
she had repeated these lines with an
almost dramatic effect ; " and if I were
^ a front e a mille squadre e mille /'
my position, perhaps, would be less
hazardous than that I at present oc-
cupy/'

^^ It would at least be more in your
WAY," she replied significantly.

^^ How do you know that ?" he asked
eagerly.

'^ Oh ! I know nothing. I merely
guess it. I have a true woman's mind:
no judgment, no reflection, no know-
ledge, but some intelligence, and a
rapidity of perception, that goes before
all experience, and lights upon facts
by accident, which it would take an
age for philosophy to puzzle at." .

M 5



260 FLORENCE MACARTHY.






Then perhaps/' he returned^ "you
are already intuitively aware of the
cause of this intrusion upon proscribed
ground, where the soles of unblessed
feet are not, I understand, permitted to
press/'

'^ Oh ! to be sure I am. The cause
is, — that of most of the untoward
things men do ; — heroes, as well as
others,— a w6man — "

'^ Thaty my visit to your ladyship
sufficiently indicates. But the pur-
port of this visit to a ivoman, whose
dwelling is forbidden to a stranger's
steps— to all male intrusion I under-
stand — "

" That I confess," returned Lady
Clancare, laughing, " surpasses my
oracular divinations. I trust, however,
it is suihcient to sanction the infringe-
ment of one of the most strictly ob-
served laws in the statute book of—
Ballydab. — But whatever be the pur-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 251

port of your visits I honestly confess
you owe your admission to the sim-
phcity of my maid — a httle Tipperary
nymph^ and a stranger, whom I have
just brought to this country, and whom
I have not yet had time to initiate into
all the mysteries of her vocation. My
seclusion," she added earnestly, ^^ is no
affectation^ no lure to quicken curiosity^
or attract attention. It is indispensable
that I should live much alone; my pe-
culiar situation demands it, my cir-
cumstances enforce it, my avocations re-
quire it. You, however, have taken me
by surprise ; may I, therefore, beg to
know the purport of the visit so un-
expected?"

" The purport, Madam,'* said Gene-
ral Fitzwalter, " of this visit, which
certainly demands an apology for
such unw^arranted intrusion, is to rec-
tum this handkerchief to its right



oivne7\'^



252 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

He arose as he spoke, and drawing
from his breast the handkerchief, dropped
])y Lord Fitzadelm, presented it to Lady
Clancare. Her complexion, which had
varied to hues of every shade of red as
fhe spoke, now faded to an unearthly
paleness. The ardent eyes of General
Fitzwalter pursued its flight, and con-
tributed, perhaps, by the intensity of
their gaze, to recall it to the surface it
had deserted.

" And to whom, then," she asked,
in a low and unsteady voice, *^ do
t/ou suppose this handkerchief be-
longs ?'*

*^ I did," he replied, emphatically,
*^ suppose this morning, from parti-
cular circumstances, that it might be-
long to a lady of the name of Florence
Macarthy, a kinswoman of your lady-
j^hip, a refugee nun from Spanish Ame-
rica, and now, as I have just acciden-
tally learned, a resident in a convent in



PLORENCE MACARTHV. 253

the neighbourhood of Holy-cross. Her
father served for a short time in the
Guerilla war of South America : his
death^ which w^as the purchase of mj
life^ imposed on me an obligation I
would have requited to his daughter ;
but — " he paused in some confusion, then
rapidly added — " Of the early part of
this gallant man's story I know little ;
for he had assumed a Caraquian name^
having in horror and disgust abandoned
the royal and persecuting army. It was
from his death- words only that I ga-
thered his connexion with the illustrious
house of Macarthy in this country.
That he was high-spirited and brave, I
collected from my own observation;
that he was unfortunate, and in exile, it
was natural to suppose, for he was an
Irishman, and a catholic.'*

Lady Clancare had listened to this-
detail with an averted head ; she now
turned rouQd, with the deep inspiration



254 FLORENCE MACARTUY.

of one who suddenly recovers from a
shock in which the mind and body had
alike participated. She opened the
handkerchief, ran her eyes rapidly over
it, and observed, carelessly — " There
is no doubt this little scarf must be
Florence Macarthy's : here is the cross,
the holy device of these fanciful saints,
who you see, general, must have their
prettinesses in piety, and are women
even to the last ; and here are the ini-
tials of her name, f. m. Now Florence is
spelled with an F, and Macarthy with
an M. Here, then, you see are proofs
incontrovertible, internal evidences. I
know the caligraphy of her needle ;
this is her work ; there is her favourite
stitch ; take two threads, drop three,
and cross over. I remember it well.
I have seen it thrown over her shoul-
ders an hundred times in our stolen
twilight walks ; for these cloistered
creatures are coy even to the very



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 255

air ; ^ the - chartered hbertine/ which
blows on all alike, the sinner or the
saint; and yet, to my knowledge, my
cousin has not been in this part of
the country since she took up her re-
sidence with our lady of the Annun-
ciation ; and though she has not yet
renewed her vows, I believe she holds
herself religiously bound

' For aye, io be in shady cloister mewed,
Chaunting faint hymns to the cold fruitless
moon.'

Besides, she is so sober, stedfast, and de-
mure, that she would scarcely step out of
her way to woo a soul to heaven, much
less to Jiing the handkerchief. Come,
confess ; have you then been besieging
her convent, opposing your military
tactics to the whole army of martyrs,
and has she sent you this appropriate
device as a flag of defiance or of truce^



256 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

till further parley, and am I to be the
herald, the negotiator ?"

The sudden transition of Lady Clan-
care's look, the playful ease which
succeeded to her evident but transient
consternation, the rapidity of her ut-
terance, and the directness of her ques-
tion, confounded General Fitzwalter.
A new-born surmise, which for a mo-
ment had arisen out of her confusion,
was stifled in its birth; and his suspi-
cions, as to the mysterious and invisible
mistress of Lord Adelm, were lost, or
rather no longer remembered, as he
listened to a rallying pleasantry which
he was wholly unprepared to answer,
and unconsciously took up the hand-
kerchief which Lady Clancare had
thrown on the table.

" I have only this morning learned,"
he replied, " that Miss Macarthy was
in this country : nor do I hold myself
at liberty to reveal more of the strange



FLORENCE MACARTHY. '267

t?ircumstances connected with this hand-
kerchief, which your ladyship insists to
have been hers, than that it came by
romantic and singular means into the
hands of a person who prized it much^
who knows not that it is now in mine;
and that we are both, though from dif-
ferent motives, interested in discovering
the real owner."

" I think the initials sufficiently indi-
cate," said Lady Clancare, gravely,
*^ that it is, or has been, the property
of Florence Macarthy: but, after all,
the fact may be that she has bestowed
it upon some young novice, or convent
boarder ; some fondled little friend
de par Veglise, These feminine inter-
changes of good-will are perpetually
passing between the ladies and their
laical companions. It makes a part of
the occupation of their pious idleness:
and the young w^orldlings frequently
exhibit in a ball-ro4)m what has been



258 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

worked in a cell. If the handkerchief,
therefore, has been thrown at you.
General Fitzwalter, as you loitered in
some country town, or reproachfully
sent to you with the pretty device of

* When this you sec.

Remember me,

Though far asunder we may be."*

or if you yourself took it, the owner
nothing loath to wipe away tears worth
an Hebe's smiles, and now wish to
return it, with an heart wrapped up in
it, no longer of any use to the present
owner; or if you— — "

^^ To spare your ladyship any further
conjectures," said General Fitz waiter,
with a countenance rather expressive of
annoyance, ^' I must repeat to you, the
handkerchief is not mine, was neither
sent to, nor intended for me; and the
object of this intrusion goes no further
than to learn from your ladyship if —



FLORENCE MACARAHY. 26^

that is^ where/or how — " he paused and
coloured. The eyes of Lady Clancare
now archly fixed his^ and again con-
founded him. He threw himself back
into his chair^ and petulantly, but with
the naivete of one whose feelings
goaded him beyond all power of dis-
guise, added, '' The fact is. Madam, I
scarcely remember what was the object
of my visit."

" Pray, do not hurry yourself," said
Lady Clancare, resuming her serious
and demure look. " I will await your
leisure. General Fitz waiter. It is now
sufficient for me to know that you were
the friend of the gallant Colonel Ma-
carthy, that you are interested for his
daughter. You may, therefore, of
course, command me. Her interests,
her happiness, are mine. I might al-
most say her story is mine; and adcj
with Celia, of her cousin Rosalind, who
was, like myself, one out of sorts with
fortune^



260 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

* Wc still have slept together,

Rose at an instant, learned, played, cat togctlrer,

Still coupled and inseparable.*

I would do much to effect the happiness
of Florence Macarthy : I have done
much; — too much, perhaps; but hither-
to I have failed, wholly failed.'*

She spoke with a voice of great em-
phasis^ a countenance of great emotion,
indicating a capability of powerful and
passionate feelings : then hemmed away a
sigh, drew forward her spinning wheel,
and gave up her attention very strenu-
ously to arranging the cobweb thread
upon its real: then placing her little
foot upon the pedal, and turning the
wheel rapidly round, she gave one sly
demure look at General Fitzwalter, and
awaited in patient expectation the nar-
ration which she anticipated, but which
he was less than ever enabled to make.
He had hung earnestly upon her em-
phatic declaration of friendship for



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 26l

Florence Macarthy ; be had watched the
arrangements of the primitive and pic-
turesque task on which she was now
engaged. The quick motion of the
pl-ettiest foot he had ever seen, careless-
ly, but mevitably displayed, the delicate
fingers which twisted and drew out the
fine-spun thread, with fairy nimblencss,
the occasional throwing^ back of her
dark divided hair, and the changing
-hues of a complexion which bore tes-
timony to the consciousness of being
gazed at, rendered even her silence elo-
quent, and combined to form a picture
new, and, therefore, fascinating to her
sole observer. His modes of existence
had indeed led him but rarely into
those walks of society in which woman
appears with all the superadded at-
traction of mind^ talent, and the graces.
He now leaned on his arm, with his
eyes fixed on her figure, silent, intent,
^^md yielding to the fascination of an in-



2(52 FLORENCE MACAllTIIY.

fluencc, of which, at the moment, he
was scarcely conscious. All that he
heard and saw was new to him ; hig
own position was a novelty ; and his
fresh unworn feelings, his vehement
and impetuous passions, took warmly
and deeply the impressions, which, an
object to him so extraordinary and so
attractive, was so unsuspectingly mak-
ing. The conventional tastes of certain
circles were no indisputable guides to his
preferences ; his feelings, not his vanity,
decided his prepossessions : he w as a
man whom the world had not yet spoiled;
passionate, ardent, energetic. He saw
before him a woman betraying her
vocation, to feel and to please in every
fibre, lineament, feature and motion :
he beheld her distinguished by spirit,
feeling, softness, and gaiety; and by
that talent, so pardonable even in a
woman, the talent of amusing, by that
charm so delightful in all^ in every thing



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 26S

that possesses it^ the charm of endless
variety; the whole guarded by a mo-
desty which even licentiousness dared
not violate^ and set off with an occasional
shyness, the lingering habit of seclusion
sometimes dispelled, but never totally
overpowered. He saw all this, and
saw — nought beside. Lord Adelm, the
handkerchief. Miss Macarthy, the pur-
port and object of his visit, were all
alike forgotten ; even O'Leary's pro-
phecy and assurance of the potency of
his liege lady were no longer remem-
bered. There was now but one object
in creation for him, and that was the
Bhan Tierna. Meantime the wheel
went merrily round ; many a circling
thread was spun off, many an impulse
given to the twirling reel, and its mono-
tonous hum was alone interrupted by
Lady Clancare's carelessly adverting to
the primitiveness of her occupation^
probably for the purpose of breaking an
awkward silence.



•264 FLORENCE MACARTIIY.

"This is a rude rustic work/' she
observed, " for ladies fingers, but our
gi-andmothcrs of the highest rank in
Ireland were all spinners. This wheel
belonged to the last Lady Clancare,
who had the blood royal of Ireland in
her veins. My grandfather preserved
it for me, and he had little else to be-
queath me. It has already obtained me
some celebrity. I am reckoned an
excellent spinner ; and in fact I like
it beyond all other work. I like its
humming noise, which disturbs the
dreary tranquillity of the long winter
evenings, which I pass here alone in
my ' Val chiusa.' It relieves my worn-
out eyes from the dazzle of the paper,
on which necessity has urged me to
trace so much nonsense, that I may
live, and others may laugh ; for pos-
sibly you have heard. General Fitz-
walter, that I am, by divine indigna-
tion, a— a sor^t of an author un maniere
d'esprit, and it is quite true. With



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 265

Ireland in my heart, and epitomizing
something of her humour and her
sufferings in my own character and
story, I do trade upon the materials
she furnishes me ; and turning my pa-
triotism into pounds, shilHngs, and
pence, endeavour, at the same moment,
to serve her and support myself. Mean-
time my wheel, like my brain, runs
round. I spin my story and my flax
together; draw out a chapter and an
hank in the same moment ; and fre-
quently break off the thread of my reel
and of my narration under the influence
of the same association ; for facts will
obtrude upon fictions, and the sorrows
I idly feign are too frequently lost in
the sufferings I actually endure."

^' The sufferings you endure!" in-
terrupted Fitzwalter. " You ! gracious
heaven ! You, who look the very per-
sonification of health, spirit, and en-
joyment !^'

" Enjo, ment !" she repeated, shaking

VOL. III. N



266 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

her head, and throwing her eyes sig-
nificantly from the bare walls of the
gloomy apartment to its cold earth
floor.

'^ Yes/' he said, replying to her
look, " if external objects were any
thing to you^ that may be true : but
with a spirit apparently so buoyant —
a spirit that sparkles in your eye, varies
your complexion, gives life, soul, and
animation to every feature, and every
word you utter ; with an imagination
to create around you a perpetual Para-
dise, an imagination "

*' An imagination,^' she interrupted
eagerly, " to exalt every anguish, to
exaggerate every suffering, to embellish
the distant good, and embitter the pre-
sent evil, to oppose the dreariness and
privation of a rude and ungenial soli-
tude, to all the refined and elegant
tastes of polished social life, whose
details passing through the prismatic
medium of fancy, like the broken and



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 267

worthless particles flung into the kaleido-
scope, arrange themselves in symmetric
beauty and harmonic colouring, to
charm and to deceive, and to assume
forms, hues, and lustre, beyond their
own intrinsic qualities."

"But, good God!'* he exclaimed,
seduced by a frankness so flattering,
struck by a detail, which in delivery
opposed the energy of strong feelings
to the playfulness of constitutional
gaiety, '^ your solitude after all must
be an act of choice, an election made
for the noblest purposes — for serving
your compatriots; for cherishing in
retreat the enthusiasm, the true source
of genius, and which is so soon lost in
the passionless trifling circles of society.
You have only to appear in the world
and to "

*^ And to be shewn off like a wild
beast ; as the woman that writes the
hooks ; to be added to the menagerie
of such lion leaders as that half ma-

N 2



Z6S FLORENCE MACARTllY.

niac Lady Dimorc ; to ' con wit by
rote,* and ^ desennuyer la sottise ; and
then, having worn out curiosity with
noveUy, to be sent back to ni}^ den,
witli an assurance from my keeper
tliat I am perfectly liarmless, and not
half so dangerous as might be supposed.
Oh ! no^ better, far better, that I should
be shut up with my Irish inheritance
of pride, poverty, and talent ; better
leave the mind in the spacious circuit
of its own musing, to feed upon its own
resources, to associate only with the
deep loneliness of its own feelings : bet-
ter remain amidst the scenes of my
wild, uncultivated childhood, and un-
known, unseen, steal silently through
an insignificant life, ^/atch through
each successive



* Drizzling day



Again too trace the wintry brake of snow;
Or sooth'd by western airs, again survey

The self. same hawthorn bud and cowslipi
blow."



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 26^J

She smiled, paused, and then conti-
nued : — ^^ Here, at least, I stand aloof
from dehasing protection, from the taunt
of envy, and the sneer of malignity,
the overbearing of upstart pride, tha
contumely of self-satislied ignorance.
Here, too, I still do some good. I
thwart the evil genii of the place, the
OGRisH Crawleys ; immortalize the su-
percilious folly of my neighbours,
which, even here, ivould look down upon
me witli that hatred, ' all blockheads
bear to wit ; colonize my dear littla
Clotnotty-joy ; encourage the arts, by al-
lowing two and eightpence halipenny
per week to a piper ; and give ' mi/ little
senate latvs' — the Cato and Lycurgus
of the flourishing city of Baiiydab.
Besides, I do much in giving an exam-
ple of constant ceaseless industry and
activity to my people. When I am not
writing, for I write for bread, I am
planting potatoes^ or presiding over turf

N3



2/0 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

bogs; or I am seated with my wheel in a
barn^ in the midst of the would-be loiter-
ing^ lounging, lazy matrons of Clotnotty-
joy ; and when the Bhan Tierna*s wheel
goes round, every wheel in the parish
turns with it. For in these remote dis-
tricts, as all through Ireland, a long
train of unhappy circumstances, politi-
cal and local, greatly increased since the
Union by the absence of our nobility
and gentry, have reduced the peasantry
to an indigence only to be estimated by
being seen ; and from the very inade-
quate remuneration of labour, have
introduced inveterate habits of sloth.
Labour is pain, and idleness must natu-
rally prevail, wherever the incitements
to industry are w^anting to overpower
the constant tendency of human nature
to inertness. A few insulated examples
of well-meaning individuals are not
sufficient to effect a very general refor-
mation, which will not take place till



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 271

artificial wants become as pressing as
the natural ones. Yet poor and unas-
sisted as I am, I think even I could do
much, could I only persuade the people
about me to want bacon for their din-
ner, and shoes for their feet. But as
long as they are content to subsist on
potatoes, and are satisfied to go bare-
footed, there is nothing to be done.
What must have been the state and go-
vernment of that land, in which a vi-
gorous and spirited population, a people
naturally so acute, so active, and inge-
nious, are reduced to submit, without
repining, to privations the most degra-
ding, and to wretchedness below the
unaccommodated ambition of beasts of
the field. With the prejudices which
run so strongly in favour of the repre-
sentatives of their ancient chiefs on my
side, born and reared among them,
speaking their language, and assimila-
ting to them in a thousand ways, I

N 4



27^ FLORENCE MACARTHY.

have excited rebellion against my sove-
reign authority, by the innovations of
erecting chimneys and filling up pools ;
and all my arguments are answered
with — ^ Och ! long life to you, my
lady ; sure you II lave us our taste of
smoke, Madam, any how, that keeps the
heat in us through the long winter, and
not a skreed to cover us. And musha!
sure the pool, why, is the life of us, Ma-
darn, in regard of the little ducks and
pigs ; for what would we do with them,
only for the pool, my lady ? and only
them to pay the rint, and keep a rag on
the childre' The worst of it is that it
is all true,'^ she added, shaking her
head. '^ But pray, what do you think
of me, General Fitzwalter, in th«
character of Mrs. Larry Hooleghan,
pleading the cause of her pigs and
poultry P"

As she asked this question, she laid
her laughing face on her arms, which



~ FLORENCE MACARTHY. 2JS

were now folded on her silent wheel,
and fixed her dark, round arched eyes
on those of her auditor.

" iVhat do I think of you, ^' he ex-
claimed abruptly, and drawing his chair
closer to hers, yet with an air of eager
impressiveness, which shewed him un-
conscious of the act. " To tell you all
I think of you, would perhaps be as
impossible as to follow the changes of
your character and your countenance,
which have all the brightness and evan-
escence of a rainbow. What I think
of you now is lost in what I think of
you a moment after. Nor can I, in the
Ladv Clancare of to-dav, trace one fea-
ture of the Lady Clancare, whom I be«
held, for the first time, a prisoner in the
hall of Dunore castle.'*

^^ Well," she replied laughing, ^^ I
sometimes almost lose my own identity;
for I am absolutely beyond my own
control, and the mere creature of cir-

N 5



274 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

cum stances, giving out properties like
certain plants, according to the region
in which T am placed ; and resembling
the blossom of the Chinese shrub,
which is red in the sunshine and white
in the shade, and fades and revives un-
der the influence of the peculiar atmos-
phere in which it is accidentally placed.
The strong extremes, and wild vicissi-
tudes of my life, have perhaps given a
variegated tone to my character, and a
versatility to my mind, not its natural
endowments. Abandoned in my infan-
cy by my parents, who went to Spain^
my mother s native land ; left to the
care of my genuinely Irish, improvi-
dent, and enthusiastic grandfather;
brought up with all his Irish pride and
prepossessions, among his greyhounds
and finders, on the mountains; left a
charge upon the rent-roll of Providence;
forced by poverty, and the prejudice of
my mother, into a Spanish convent;



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 275

breaking the thraldom which held me
in bigotted slavery ; and joyfully fol-
lowing a widowed father amidst the
privations of a military life^ in a distant
land^ reduced to close his eyes among
the dying and the dead; helpless^ hope-
less, returning to my native land, to
seek the protection of my aged grand-
father — to find it in a jail; to labour for
his support and my own ; and, by the
light which shone through his prison
bars, to trace scenes of fancied joy
and ideal happiness ; thrown upon life,
friendless, unprotected, and dependent
upon my own exertions for subsistence,
I have continued always before the
world, yet always in seclusion ; known
to all in my public capacity, to none in
my private character; carrying into
society the awkwardness of a recluse,
the susceptibility of sensitive feeling
equally alive to notice or to slight ; but
in the freedom of intimacy, to the touch



276 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

of sympathy, in communion with kin-
dred minds, borne away by the ardour
of my nature, and indulging the easy,
extravagant playfuhiess of my constitu-
tional gaiety ; still loving the world, yet
unable to live in it ; enduring solitude,
not enjoying it ; living without hope,
as without fear ; blessed with health,
and animated by a spirit, that never yet
struck sail, to vileness, dependence, or
oppression; noble by bhance, an author

by necessity, and a woman ^' she

paused for an instant, and then hastily
added, " I have given you this little
auto-biography. General Fitzwalter, to
save you the trouble of guessing at vie^
for I see you have been conning mc
over, as children do conundrums, be-
ginning with my first, and getting on to
my second, but quite in the dark as to
the strange combination which makes
my tout. It now lies before you ; and
I have thus intruded upon the right of



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 277

intimacy, and kidnapped you into an
unsought conlidencc, because you have
been long known to me ; because your
position, with respect to Florence Ma-
carthy, is known to me : this is my
sanction, my excuse. 1 know you arc
going to employ me, and I thus put
you in possession of my bearings, be-
fore you instal me in my agency/'

They had now both arisen ; General
Fitzwalter in amazement, in emotion,
and admiration, he had no power or in-
clination to conceal ; Lady Clancare,
with the colour heightening in her
cheek, and her manner less collected,
less easy, less dii^engaged, than when
she had first began to speak. Tlierc
was a breathless anxiety in her coun-
tenance when she paused ; an a})pre-
hensiveness that seemed relieved by the
door opening, and entrance of the maid,
who stepped up and whispered something
in her car. Whatever this communi-



278 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

cation might be^ it excited considerable
confusion ; and when the girl had re-
ceived her answer, and had hurried out
of the room, Lady Clancare, turning
round in great embarrassment, said,
" General Fitzwalter, you must leave
me instantly. Whatever you may have
to say relative to Colonel Macarthy's
daughter, it must be reserved for another
moment ; not now — pray go. This may
seem strange, but it is inevitable ; and
let me entreat " " she clasped her
hands, and spoke with great earnest-
ness '^ let me entreat you will not

take the road you came — the Dunore
road.-— Turning to your left, you will
come out upon the beach. My maid
will conduct you. The tide must be
outy or in : if out, you can ride along
the strand ; if in, my boat is moored
among the rocks. You can paddle it
easily: I do myself— and your horse
shall be sent after you to OXeary^s. I



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 279

had it put up as L entered. Now then
go— farewell/' He took the hand she
extended to him, and holding it firmly,
though it gently struggled in his grasp,
he said, ^^ I will go in any way you wish
me to go ; but tell me as frankly as I
ask the question, is Lord Adelni Fitz-
adelni the person you expect ? for I
perceive I am in somebody's way."

Lady Clancare interrupted him with
the quickness of lightning, andhaughtily
liberating her hand, she repeated, ''Lord
Adelm ! — General Fitz waiter, you are
the first person of your sex and rank
who ever obtruded upon this solitude,
where pride and poverty have sought
an asylum which delicacy and prudence
should have rendered inviolable."

JShe turned away her head ; but not
before he had perceived her eyes glis-
tening with tears, prompt as her smiles,
but infinitely more dangerous. They
were the first tears he had ever brought



280 FLORENCE MACARlHY.

to a woman's eye ; and from whatever
source they sprang, however inadequate
their cause, and he felt they ivere in-
adequate, their effect was electric : they
left him shocked and confounded, co-
vered with shame and self-reproach.
Lady Clancare was moving towards the
door : he followed^ and prevented her
exit.

^^ Lady Clancare," he said, "you must
take me as I am, as one under the in-
fluence of tyrannical feelings, habitually
but vainly combatted. You have thrown
me off my guard. I have oiiended you
unwarily: hear me a moment; I will

explain to you "

^' No^ no, not now. You must leave
me ; you must not be seen here," she
answered in a hurried voice.

^' I will not leave you be the conse-
quence what it may, till you promise
me another, an immediate opportunity
of seeing you. I must see you, for my



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 281

own sake, for Florence Macarthy's sake,
for your sake, perhaps."

Lady Clancare turned aside her head
as he spoke. Something between a smile
and a frown struggled on her counte-
nance, and she replied,

*^ I ought not, I cannot receive you
here by appointment under my own
roof. You can write to Florence Ma-
carthy: I will convey your letter: 1
will do every thing to forward her haj)-
piness, short of endangering my own
character; but leave mc now, I entreat,
/ Insist, ' '

" I have written," he said, producing
a letter, " but — '* he hesitated, and still
held it back, as if unwilling to part with
it, — " but I know not how far this letter
may now — ^'

Lady Clancare snatched it eagerly,
and placed it in her bosom. '' There,'*
she said, ^^ she shall have it immedi-
ately : you may depend on me where she



282 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

is concerned^ and I will forward you her
answer. 1 told you you would employ
me : but remember, this visit^ so unex-
pected on my part, so unwarranted on
your s, is not to be repeated, and never
to be revealed — remember that.^'

" Never to be revealed ! 1 swear so-
lemnly," he replied with energy : " but
by all that is sacred, I will not leave
this country without seeing you again ;
without seeing you here. Observe me^
Lady Clancare, I am a man who has
fought against^ a wayward fortune : by
the force of perseverance, firmness, de-
cision, and cnterprize, success has foU
lowed the bias of these natural im-
pulsions. I have no other guides, and
I shall still obey them. If you are the
owner of that handkerchief; if you are
the person who — *' He paused, and then
added in a hurried tone, '^ that ascer-
tained, I shall then eome once more, and
bid you an eternal farewell. If Florence



FLORENCE MACARTHV. 283

Macarthy, on the contrary, is the in-
visible demon or angel who follows, or
rather leads the steps of Lord Adelm,
then—"

" The marchioness is walking up the
court, my ladv, and has left her coach
at the gates below," said the maid, put-
ting in her wild head with a fluttered
look. Lady Clancare stamped her little
foot with impatience. " Go now, for
God's sake," she cried.

" Do 1/021 then," he said, seizing her
hand, and with a countenance which
had undergone a rapid change since the
maid had announced Lady Dunore as
the expected visitor, " do you return to
the castle with her — with Lady Dunore

to-day ?"

^^ Yes, yes, I dine there; but if you
notice me there, or any where, without
my special permission, you lose me for
ever — that is, you lose the benefit of
my agency with Florence Macarthy.



284 FLORENCE MACAUTHV.

Now then, pi'aj follow the servant, she
will conduct you to the beach."

He had half raised her hand to his
lips while she was speaking, but he
suddenly dropped it and followed the
maid, who led him through the stone
passage to a little door that opened on
the strand. There he found his horse
fastened by the bridle to an iron an-
chorage ring in the rocks. The tide
was coming in, but he out-galloped its
stealing progress, and arrived with in-
credible celerity at Monaster-ny-Oriel.

He found O'Leary before the door of
the chauntry, exposing to the air a large
open deal box, lined with pictures of
saints and devils, sacrifices and canoni-
zations, his countenance full of bustling
importance, and his voice raised to the
highest pitch, singing Carolan^s famous
'* Receipt for Drinking.''^

" I was just, plaze your honor," said
O'Leary, coming forward to take the ge-



FLORENCE MACARTHY. ^285

neral's horse as he ahghted^ ^^ I was just
airing my chest, Sir, in respect of getting
ready for our journey, and was conning
in my own mind, when your honor gal-
loped up, whether it would contain my
Genealogical Flistoiy of the Macarthies,
or whether I'd divide them into two
turf kishes, just to make a shew tra-
velling through the country ; for when
Carte got lave to take the Ormonde
papers out of the evidence chamher at
Kilkenny castle, to compose the life of
the great Duhe of Ormonde, he filled
three Irhh cars with them; and I'd be
sorry, troth, but the documents of the
real Irish Macarthies-More, Kings of
Munster, would be of less bulk than
the papers of them Saxon churls, the
Butlers."

^^ I am afraid, however," said the
general, smiling, '' we must dispense
with their honourable burthen in our
ii^mediate journey^ O'Leary."



286 FLORENCE MACARTHY.

*^ We must, gineralP'' replied O'Leary,
in a tone of mortification^ '^ and there
being mixed through the Macarthy
papers many notes and codices/' he
added, in a whispering voice, ^^ that
might be sarvicable on the trial ; for
they'll fight a great fight afore they
give up, Sir, and right vanquisheth
might."

'' I am not so certain of that," said
General Fitz waiter, *^ but at all events,
OLeary, I shall not leave this country
so soon as I expected.''

" You won't, gineral?" he replied^
with a countenance expressive of curio-
sity and surprise; then, after a pause,
he added, " och, then I'll have my do-
cuments home from the lord-deputy
before we start. And thinks Moriagh
will plaze you the day in regard of a
dinner. Sir, and ordered a bottle of
Portugal wine from the Dunore Arms
for myself^ your honor, just iii honor



FLORENCE MACARTHY. 2S7

of the day/* and he looked at the ge-
neral significantly.

^^ I'm glad of it/' said the general ;
'^ but I shall not dine here ; 1 dine at
Dunore castle/^

O'Leary started, put his hand under
his wig, with a look of perplexity, but
only repeated '* at Dunore Castle!"
then giving the horse to one of his
scholars, who was w^aiting about the
ruins, he followed the general to his
tower, observing, " Well, gineral, so
you didn't see the Bhan Tierna after
all, I'll ingage."

" Why should you think that ?"

'^ Because, plazc your honor, I heard
she was in the mountains the morning,
seeing the praties got in, and sorrow a
foot she'd lave that for the King of
England if he was to come to see her.
Och ! she's a great farmer, and has done
more for Clotnotty-joy in a year and
a half than the Crawleys ever could, in



SfiS VLORENCE MACARTHY.

respect of the hearts and hands of the
whole country being with her^ and her
giving every man his own Httle lase."

To this observation the general made
no reply ; and they ascended the stairs
together; the guest to dress, and the
host, under pretence of assisting him^ to
loiter about his person.



NOTES.



(1) Page 121. — It. is natural that the natives
of an oppressed country should sympathize with
the oppressed "wherever they may exist. Many
Irish names are to be found among the gallant
advocates of liberty in South America.

Colonel O'lliggens was appointed commander-
in-chief of the patriot army in 1813, and after-
wards was made supreme director of Chili. Co-
lonel JSbKcnna was appointed second in com-
mand; and JMr. Brown, with the title of admi-
ral, took command of a llotilla, and blockaded
Montevidio.



(2) Page 170. — " Though the number of monks
and nuns now recited is by no mt ans to be de-
pended on, yet it suggested to their presidents
the necessity of stone inclosiires or classes ;
these in the east were called mandrae. The
•word originally imported a sheep-fold, and was
applied to those monastic buildings, wherein the
archimandrite presided over his disciples, as the
shepherd superintended his flock in the fold.
VOL. III. O



290 NOTES.

There are many of these mandrae dispersed OTcr
this kingdom, hitherto unnoticed. One remark-
able is Dun Aengus. This is in the greater Isle
of Arran, on the coast of Galway, situated on
a high cliff over the sea, and is a circle of mon-
strous stones, without cement, and capable of
containing two hundred cows. The tradition
relative to it is, that Aengus, King of Cashel,
' about 490, granted this isle, called Arrannaomh,
or Arran of Ihe Saints, to Saint Ennaor Endeus,
to build ten churches on.'*

Ledzctch,



(3) Page 2^11. — ''These tiernas were what Da-
"vis calls confinues, canfiimies. con finnie — (he
heads of clans. We hud our Clanbreassil, Clan-
carty, Cianaboy, Clancolnian, Clanfergal, and
many more. In most cases the tierna's sirname
was that of his clan. Macarthy was Riagh, or
King of Desmond ; his tiernas were the clans
O'Keefe, O'Donaughu, O'Callaghan, O'SuUi-
Tan, and the last by his tenure was obliged —
First — To aid Macarthy with all his strength,
and to be marshal of his army. Second — He was
to pny for every arable plough-land five gallo-
glasses or kerns, or six shillings and eightpence,
or a beef for each, at the option of Macarthy.
Third — Macarthy was to receive half-a-crowa
for every ship that came to fish or trade in O'Sul-



kotes. 291

Vivan's harbour. Fourth — O'SuHivan was to give
Macarthy merchandize at the rate he purchased
it. Fifth — O'SuHivan nas to entertain Macarthy
"and all his train two nights at Dunbay, and when-
ever he travelled that way. Sixth — O'Suliivan
was to send horse-meat to Paillice for Macarthy's
saddle horses, and pay the groom three shillings
and fourpence out of every arable plough-land.
Seventh — O'Suliivan was to find hounds, grey-
hounds, and spaniels for Macarthy, whenever he
came, and one shilling and eightpence annually
to his huntsman out of every plough-land.'*

Ledwich's Antiquities of Ireland,

The first head of O'Sullivan's tenure proves
that a military association and subordination
universally prevailed, and these wore the essen-
tials of the feudal system. His being marshal of
Macarthy clearly evinces that grand serjeantry
was in use. As this is a tenure in capite, and
could only be held from a sovereign prince, if
this wasa feudal tennre, as it must be allowed it
was, then there can be no doubt but the other
services were likewise feudal. Through all the
subinfeudation, there was the same obligation of
military duty. If any from neglect or perfidy
disobeyed the call of their lord, he compelled
them by force of arms, or expelled them from
their possessions, for they owed military servica

o2



292 J^OTES.

I

by their tenures. An ancient poet thus expresses
the feudaK call and penalty.

'' ^i he original exactions of the Irish kings were:

Bonaht — a tax for the maintenance of the gal-
loglasses, kerns, and other military.

Scrohen — a tax on freeholders for the enter-
tainment of soldiers.

Coshery — a custom of exacting entertainment
for the king and his followers from those under
his jurisdiction.

Cuddy, or suppers.

Shragh and mart — imposed at the will of the
lord, and levied partly in cattle or food."



(4) Page ^25. — Kilmallock, in the County
of Limerick, a city of conspicuous figure in
the military history of Ireland, and still ex-
hibiting one of the most curious monuments of
antiquity, being a desolate and nearly unin-
habited town, with castles, antique mansions,
ruinous indeed, but preserving extant the pecu-
liar features of domestic architecture in Ireland
as it existed many centuries back.



(5) Page 234.^-Specimens still remain of this
manufacture in raany ancient Irish mansions.



NOTES. 29'

The author believes that some of the tapestry ia
Kilkenncy Castle was done by Irish nuns.



(6) Page 240.— ^< When Florence Macarthy
submitted to the queen, in the midst of a troop
of forty of his clan, himself, like Saul, higher by
an head and shoulders than his followers, the
president entertained him greatly, hoping by his
submission that the wars were ended in Mun-
ster. Florence left two hostages, his base-bro-
ther and his foster-brother, both of whom he
held in precious esteem.

** Among all the Irish septs in Desmond, or
South Munster, the Macarihys, before the ar-
rifal of the English, were by far the most emi-
nent, being sovereigns of the whole country;
but after their best lands were subdued by th«
English adventurers, the chief of this potent clan
retired into Kerry, as to a place of security, the
southern part of the country being then almost
inaccessible, because of its mountains, woods,
and fastnesses. His successor, Daniel Ma-
carthy. More-ni-Carra, so named from the river
Carra in this country, concluded a peace with
the English in 1196. Their posterity were very
eminent people, and great disturbers of the En-
glish, particularly the Fitzgerald family, who
dispossessed them of a considerable part of their



^4 l^OTES.

country. In these contests great numbers wci*e
slain; and at Gallon, in this country, the Ma-
carthys gained a complete victory, anno 1261,
over the Fitzgeralds ; but at length dissen-
sions arising among the followers of Macarthy,
the Fitzgeralds (or Geraldines) prevailed in
their turn, and kept them under for many years.
However, a great regard was always paid to the
chiefs of this family, who retained the title of
Macarthy- More, one of whom, named Donald,
was ennobled by Queen Elizabeth, who, in 1565,
created him earl of Glencare, a tract of land
in this country between the Bay of Dingle and
the River of Kinmare. This earl having re-
signed his estates to the queen, had it restored
and re-granted by letters-patent, to hold it of
the crown after the English manner. She also
conferred many ample privileges on him, and
paid the expense of his journey into England ;
but by the advice of O'Neil, who rebelled in
Ulster, Macarthy pursued his example in the
south, and even assumed the title of king of
Munster. These chiefs joined their forces toge-
ther in 1560, but before the expiration of the
year Macarthy was forced to submit to the lord-
deputy, and craved the queen's pardon. This
carl afterwards sat in a parliament held at Dublin
on the 26th of April, 1584, by Sir John Perrat,
who, from the presidency of Munster, was ap-



NOTES. 295

poiated lord deputy of Ireland. He gave the
goyernment of the county of Desmond to this
carl of Glencare, Avho died soon after, leaving
behind him an only daughter, llin or Eilcn, and
an illegitimate son, called Daniel, who assumed
the title of earl, but was dis[)ossessed of it by
Florence Macarlhy, son to Sir Donough Ma-
carthy, Reagh of Carberry, in the county of
Cork, who marrying Ellen, took possession of
the estate, and assumed the title of Macarthy-
More, which was confirmed to him by O'Neil,
who called himself king of Ireland. Florence
and his followers joined O'Neil, who, by tho
queen, was created Earl of Tyrone, and also the
Earl of Desmond, in their rebellion, as may be
seen in the annals of this country."

See Smith's Cork and Kerr^,



END OF VOL. III.

Teeth cleaning guide

Is Tooth Cleaning a Scam?

By Ian Ayres

One of my earliest and happiest memories was being released from a hospital oxygen tent when I was a small child. I had developed pneumonia and was in pretty bad shape. They not only kept me under an oxygen tent for several days at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, but they also gave me massive amounts of tetracycline.
The good news is that I recovered. The bad news is that from then on, my teeth have had pretty severe tetracycline staining. This is not just surface discoloration — my enamel through and through is grayer than I’d like. I tell you this because I’ve always had an uncomfortable relationship with my teeth, and this feeling might bias my view of dentists. I don’t like going to my dentist’s office every six months and having my teeth cleaned. Recently, as I was sitting in the chair, a thought occurred to me.
I began to wonder if there was such a thing as “evidence-based dentistry.” In my book Super Crunchers (naked self-promotion), I wrote an entire chapter about evidence-based medicine — which is, in part, an effort to test whether medical treatments are statistically proven to be effective. I figured there had to be a parallel movement in dentistry, and maybe someone had analyzed whether hygienist teeth cleaning helps or not.
Thank God for Google. It turns out there is an entire journal called “Evidence Based Dentistry.” And in just a few minutes, I was looking at a formal Cochrane review titled “Insufficient evidence to understand effect of routine scaling and polishing.”
The review looked for evidence to answer two related questions:
The first is, do scale and polish procedures [having your teeth cleaned] lead to any difference in periodontal health compared with no scale and polish? Second, does the interval between these scale and polishing procedures make any difference?

The results were not heartening for those of us who have suffered through dozens upon dozens of cleanings. The meta analysis of qualifying studies suggested that the evidence was mixed, at best. For example, there is not strong evidence that hygienist cleaning reduces gingivitis:
[T]he authors of the only study that found differences in gingivitis scores (at 6, 12 and 22 months) deemed those differences clinically irrelevant….
One reasonable reaction to this is to simply reject the Cochrane review methodology. Evidence-based medicine ranks the quality of different types of evidence — and tends to give inordinate weight to randomized control trials. Indeed, Cochrane reviews often give no weight to the results of any non-randomized clinical study. As the review acknowledges:
[This Review] carries with it the limitation inherent in most of these reviews, of including only randomized clinical trials. For this particular question, the quantity of non-randomized trials identified in the exclusion list suggests that an independent review of this more ‘‘risky’’ literature might be profitable.
But another reaction is to question whether it is really necessary to put dental patients through so much financial and physical discomfort. Dentists, like other agents (real estate agents, car sales people), do not have the best economic incentives when advising how much to clean.
My dad always told me that dealership rust-proofing was a scam to give dealerships some extra cash without providing your car with any extra protection. Could getting your teeth cleaned be the economic equivalent to having a car dealership rust-proof your car?
Like I said before, this post is probably just working out some wounded inner child issue. (And let me be clear that I’m not calling into question the value of brushing and flossing your teeth, or visiting your dentist regularly to check for cavities, as well as other potential problems). But it’s food for thought. The next time your dentist asks you to make an appointment to have your teeth cleaned, you might reasonably ask, “Why?”
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1.March 11th,
2008
1:50 pm What you fail to recognize is that dentists often find and diagnose more serious problems, like cavities or gingivitis, during routine cleaning examinations. So even if the cleaning isn’t statistically proven, the tangential benefits make going to a dentist worthwhile.

— Posted by Gregory
2.March 11th,
2008
1:51 pm but doesn’t a professional cleaning make your teeth look nicer ?

— Posted by helen
3.March 11th,
2008
2:00 pm Does the report check against incidence of gingivitis only, or cavies as well? Further, most dental problems take longer than 6-22 months to show up. I’d rather see a study like this conducted over the course of at least 5 years.

— Posted by Liam
4.March 11th,
2008
2:04 pm The last time I visited my dentist was one summer in between college semesters. It had been a while since the prior visit, about 10 years. The hygienist commented that my body chemistry must protect my teeth…or something of the sort. When the dentist came in, after reading my chart, he questioned: “Have you been seeing another dentist?” I thought that that was an odd question, so I responded: “No Doc. I have been faithful to ya!” He did not quite know what to say… Anyway, it has now been about 15 years since that visit to my dentist. I have not seen him since, but I have still been faithful to him. I have never had a cavity, braces, or a retainer. I may be an anomaly, because I never had third molars either.

— Posted by BriteSmileDave
5.March 11th,
2008
2:08 pm You’re missing the real money issue here. (And, temporarily, I’ll ignore the point that teeth cleaning might not have any benefits.)

The money charged for a dental cleaning is ridiculous. A dental hygienist can charge a reasonable rate for a dental cleaning, and if allowed to practice alone, probably would. The second a dentist peeks at your teeth (usually, after a ~30 min cleaning, about 2 minutes for a credentialed dentist), the bill doubles.

1) This causes dental services to be needlessly high; hygienists are capable enough to call in a dentist if needed (similar to the way a family doctor calls in a specialist for a diagnosis).

2) This causes the actual availability of services to be geographically limited. E.g., not many dental offices near low-income neighborhoods.

3) Dentists know they made a killing on this, and if ever a legislature brings up the question, they inevitably ask advice from a dental association, which says it’s risky medicine (without any stats to back it up).

If you want to talk about financial incentives, you’ve got to look at the whole racket.

(As far as health benefits, the fluoride treatment that typically accompanies a dental cleaning has serious anti-cavity effects.)

— Posted by Marc
6.March 11th,
2008
2:21 pm It’s very possible that people who are more likely to get frequent cleanings are those very same people who floss and brush regularly. That would seem to make it difficult to tease out the brush vs. cleaning effect, no?

— Posted by Mitch
7.March 11th,
2008
2:27 pm Good home care can not remove calculus (tartar) which is a primary goal of routine cleaning.
As a dentist, I have some patients that need cleanings every 3 months, some every 2 or 3 years. Your article touches on the difficulty involved in doing good research. Patients will often change their hygeine practice just by being included in a research project. The bottom line is that if you dont feel you need the cleaning, ask your dentist.
If you don’t like the answer, get a second opinion. Personally I am more wary of any professional who seems more interested in selling services than discussing my health and welfare.

— Posted by aurispector
8.March 11th,
2008
2:30 pm If Liam (comment #3) has cavies in his teeth, he has problems that no dentist can help him with. And I rather doubt that checking for guinea pigs is part of the normal scale-and-polish process.

— Posted by Mike Scott
9.March 11th,
2008
2:31 pm we folks in “third-world” countries don’t visit the dentist routinely… we don’t visit dentists until and unless something’s terribly wrong. and we all do just fine.
i was in tenth grade when my molar broke in half. the dentist put a temporary filling on it and asked me to come back in two weeks to have it capped.
my exams came in the way, and then i moved away. when i did go back, it was three years later, when i was a freshman at college.. and he asked to come back two weeks later. i promptly forgot, and haven’t gone back… and my teeth are fine.

— Posted by priya
10.March 11th,
2008
2:33 pm I’ve wondered the same thing, but I’m not going to make any effort to find out. I enjoy having my teeth cleaned. I think it is like a massage in my mouth. If I had the cash to spend on luxuries, I’d go every month.

— Posted by Jim
11.March 11th,
2008
2:38 pm I think dentists are running a minor scam. They perform a very useful and necessary function, but not at the frequencies they recommend. It takes years to develop a cavity, even in the worst oral hygiene situations.

Anecdotally: I went eight years (from age 22 to age 30) without visiting a dentist. In that time I developed one cavity — below the gumline adjacent to a void where a wisdom tooth once resided.

I now visit a dentist every 12 to 18 months, depending on my insurance situation. Every time I visit they fret about the imminent demise of my teeth due to advanced scale, gingivitis, gum recession, and good old fashioned decay…none of which has obtained.

I do not have a good genetic history for teeth. My parents both have mouths full of fillings. Three of my grandparents wore dentures. I and my brother have had extensive orthodontia. My teeth are full of chips from bike accidents and opening beer bottles with my teeth. And yet, in 37 years of disinterested dentist visits: one cavity. Which took 8 years to develop. In a place I never brushed.

The outlying variables in my case might be: 1) my parents’ insistence on fluoride treatments AND fluoride pills when I was a child, in addition to growing up in places with fluoridated water; and 2) twice-daily brushing and once-weekly flossing, religiously, since I was a teenager. (In fact, several dentists have commented that I brush my teeth “too well,” causing gum recession.)

Of course, the plural of “anecdote” isn’t “data.”

— Posted by Paul S.
12.March 11th,
2008
2:40 pm I go to a dental co-operative and they say that cleanings differ by person.
I am genetically predisposed to healthy teeth and take pretty good care of them; so I see my hygienist once a year, mostly just to make sure there are no problems developing.
In fact I rarely see my dentist,which is a shame as he is quite handsome.

— Posted by q.
13.March 11th,
2008
2:46 pm I thought that this was common knowledge. I always thought that frequent cleaning could potentially be harmful because it removes enamel (which is also why Consumer Reports’ report on toothpaste is useless at best and probably a public disservice).

— Posted by Leo
14.March 11th,
2008
2:47 pm When I was in high school, my buddy Rex blew my mind by revealing that neither he nor his brother had ever been to the dentist. He said they dutifully brushed their teeth twice a day, and had never had any problems. We lost touch after high school. I’m 29 now, and whenever I get my teeth cleaned I still wonder, “has Rex been to the dentist yet?”

— Posted by Paul
15.March 11th,
2008
2:47 pm Treat the routine cleaning as a value-added marketing strategy, if you will. Even if you have dental insurance, you may have to pay a co-pay for every visit. From the moment you sit in the chair to the moment a routine examination is finished, it may have taken 5 minutes. For the resources you have to spend (making an appointment, finding a parking space, waiting in the office, paying your co-pay, and other associated costs such as babysitting), the dentist’s time you receive in return is diminutively small. Thus it becomes a disincentive to visit the dentist in the first place.

On the other hand, if you sit there for 30 minutes having your teeth cleaned and an x-ray taken, and at the end having the dentist come in for a quick examination of your dental health, you the consumer feel like something important has been done and is more willing to pay (even paying more) for the services received.

Sadly, this doesn’t seem to apply to unmotivated students and their frustrated teachers.

— Posted by Gene Shiau
16.March 11th,
2008
2:48 pm Last time I had my teeth cleaned during my regular visit, I had a lot of nasty staining (apparently brought on by a change in caffeinated beverage type, no names because I need some evidence-based testing on that) that I was not able to clear up at home.

The dental tech was able to completely eradicate it with that super-polisher brush along with the gritty compound they use. Stains all gone.

I love that polishing compound. Even a couple days after the visit, a random chunk of whatever grit they use will shake loose and I’ll crunch down on it and go - aaaaaah.
So that was worth it.

On the other hand, why can’t I do the same thing at home?

— Posted by Mark Nelson
17.March 11th,
2008
2:54 pm My experiment:

I used to go to the dentist every 6 months for the cleaning and so forth but every time the dentist commented how clean my teeth were (I use and highly recommend Sonicare).

So I didn’t go to the dentist for 7 years and went in recently. Dentist comments on how clean my teeth were and did the same 10 minutes of cleaning that he did back when I went every 6 months.

— Posted by tde
18.March 11th,
2008
2:56 pm I agree this is somewhat of a scam. Every trip to the dentist results in the same story: floss and brush regularly. I understand those benefits, but to me, it is not worth the discomfort nor the burden of scheduling an appointment every 6 months. I’m not saying do away with dentists, but I am confident that if I show up every 6 years instead of 6 months, I will be given the exact same speech.

— Posted by Bucky
19.March 11th,
2008
3:06 pm Mr. Ayres needs to search the literature to educate himself regarding the well established links between periodontitis and heart disease, stroke, pancreatic cancer, preterm birth and low birth weight babies. Regular dental cleanings eliminate the build-up which causes gingivitis and periodontitis.

— Posted by G Meinecke, DMD, FAGD
20.March 11th,
2008
3:09 pm About 10 years ago when I was 12, I used to brush my teeth a couple times a week at most. One day my mom told me that she was taking me to the dentist and that I was probably going to have a cavity for the lack of brushing. I was so frightened that I spent nearly a half hour brushing my teeth before going in. The dentist told me that I had great teeth and that I was doing a good job cleaning them.

— Posted by Hani
21.March 11th,
2008
3:28 pm I long ago quit going to the dentist every six months. I’ve never had a cavity, and though they always threaten me with further gum damage I’ve stopped believing them on that, too. They used to tell me if I flossed my gums would get healthier. They still tell me that. The difference? I floss 5+ times a week now.

Now I try to make it once a year or so, as long as I have insurance. They do tell me I have more plaque buildup when I go now, but the cleaning is excruciating either way, so I might as well go through it less frequently.

— Posted by Grant
22.March 11th,
2008
3:29 pm I was always under the impression that the entire purpose of the tooth-cleaning dentist visit was not to clean your teeth so much as have a regular check-up with your dentist. The cleaning merely guarantees that the dentist can actually evaluate your teeth, as opposed to the plaque that’s built up–that and the amount of plaque they clean is probably somewhat indicative of your brushing habits.

At my regular cleanings, other things happen at regular intervals: fluoride, x-rays, and various things related to tooth health. Those aren’t as effective (I’m given to understand) if your teeth aren’t cleaned.

But that’s just my understanding; an actual dentist could probably explain better.

— Posted by Keith
23.March 11th,
2008
3:30 pm I go to the dentist for a cleaning every six months, but I haven’t been to see a doctor in over a decade. I think I have my priorities backwards.

— Posted by Joe
24.March 11th,
2008
3:32 pm FYI: If you start seeing brown stains after you start using the “Crest Pro Health” mouthwash, you might want to look at this: http://consumerist.com/363684/crest-pro+health-mouthwas h-i-woke-up-with-brown-spots-on-my-teeth

This of course does not affect everyone, but seems to be something to keep in mind that your mouthwash might be the one that allows your coffee to stain your teeth.

— Posted by Karl
25.March 11th,
2008
3:35 pm And what about those oil change places. They put a sticker saying you should come back in 3000 miles. My manual says 10,000 miles under normal driving conditions.

— Posted by David
26.March 11th,
2008
3:48 pm My dentist used to encourage regular xrays. One day I decided I had enough of that as well as the flouride treatments. When I asked why I needed the xrays, I was told that they could see the cavity forming inside the tooth or below the gum-line. I asked what they did if they discovered a cavity forming. I was told that they would wait until it surfaced and then fill it. Well, I replied then you can just fill it in when you see it and I don’t require an xray. I have not had flouride or xrays for many years and no cavities either. I don’t floss, and apart from the tartar build up am always told my teeth are healthy. I do quite a bit of tongue brushing which I believe helps and there is more than enough flouride in my water and toothpaste to provide that protection. If I were to pay extra for a particular treatment, I would choose the protective coating that was painted on my children’s teeth. I believe there is plenty of evidence to show the benefit of that procedure in children and I think it would go further than flouride or tooth cleaning as far as protection from cavities. But what do I know other than my own experiences?

— Posted by juno@mail.com
27.March 11th,
2008
3:53 pm I figured the same thing. I recently had a root canal on an infected molar. But when I went to the Dentist, before treating this gaping hole in my jaw, she recommended I spend $300 on a high intensity cleaning. I later thought this was a bit like going to the hospital with a knife sticking out of your chest and then being treated for excess knuckle hair. I have an infected painful tooth! Treat that!

— Posted by The Don'tist
28.March 11th,
2008
3:54 pm Financially speaking why don’t you just have all your teeth pulled out? One and done. Then you won’t have to publish ridiculous articles. Think of all the money you’ll save on toothpaste, mouth wash, flosh, dates (dinner and movies are expensive), a wedding, a honeymoon or kids. Female companionship is overrated. Yes that is sarcastic.

— Posted by Gary
29.March 11th,
2008
3:57 pm “It’s very possible that people who are more likely to get frequent cleanings are those very same people who floss and brush regularly. That would seem to make it difficult to tease out the brush vs. cleaning effect, no?”

That depends. It would make it easier to interpret if there were no significant differences. I’m a bit disturbed by the lack of evidence (citations plzkthnx) being offered by the dentistry reps here.

— Posted by Stephen
30.March 11th,
2008
4:00 pm Having lived both below and above the poverty line I am always struck but the disparity of information I receive at the dentist’s office. When living above the poverty line I was constantly warned to floss more lest eroding gums lead to serious problems, to brush better, and generally made to feel shame toward the state of my mouth. When living below the poverty line my dental hygiene was praised. Did the dental clinic truly think I possessed good hygiene or were they trying to make me feel better? Did my regular dentist’s office really think that my hygiene was subpar or were they trying to sell me on more frequent visits or that bonding they offered?
In the end, it looks like the exact same teeth are good for a poor person but bad for middleclass.

— Posted by E to the M
31.March 11th,
2008
4:26 pm I get my teeth cleaned irregularly. At one cleaning the dentist told me I had a cavity and that it would need to be filled. I “forgot” to tell my mother and I moved away to college. I came back to a different dentist who found no cavity. 6 years later and on the third dentist, still no cavity.
I’m glad I didn’t pay the dentist to drill a big hole in my molar.

Conclusion: while I like the way my teeth look and feel after a cleaning, I have had less “cavities” since I stopped going to the dentist every six months. If I get any more of them I will be finding a second and perhaps third opinion before excavation.

— Posted by Alex
32.March 11th,
2008
4:48 pm I grew up in Chile, where dentists do not clean your teeth the way you do here, although they still recommend a visit every six months, where they take x-rays to check for cavities. So I never had my teeth cleaned until a couple of weeks ago. They felt clean, although not extraordinarily so. After I got it, it felt like a scam.

— Posted by Ignacio
33.March 11th,
2008
5:37 pm Dental cleanings are necessary. Brushing and flossing do not remove tartar - only plaque. If you wanted to remove tartar you’d need a metal scrapper like the dentist have.

— Posted by Brian
34.March 11th,
2008
5:39 pm #16. Mark, you crack me up!!

The Dental industry is just like any other. You just have to do your homework and shop around for a decent one. Half of them do a good job while the other half are just salesmen — selling useless and harmful bleaching products.

— Posted by Phil T
35.March 11th,
2008
5:51 pm My comment is a bit outside the debate regarding the need for regular cleanings. My interest is in bringing dental health coverage parity to the masses, similar to mental health coverage parity laws that have passed over the last 10 or so years.

I have spent the last ten years dealing with the repercussions of a bike accident that knocked out my front two teeth out in 1997. When I learned that the work the dentist did had failed by a new dentist in 2004, my parents spent about $20k to cover all the work that had to be done. Much of it was NOT cosmetic - “apical” surgery to clean out lingering infections (what they do if root canals fail, as my did), etc.

Apparently if you have infections in your jaw health insurance doesn’t cover it because surgery it’s done at an endodontist’s office rather than a hospital, making it “dental.” Crowns aren’t covered if the teeth you are born with crack or are broken in half like one of mine.

More and more links between diseases and dental health, such as heart disease and dental plaque, are being observed by researchers. I think we could better use our energy on dental health parity.

— Posted by Tracey
36.March 11th,
2008
7:27 pm I was told I didn’t need a cleaning for a few years (no insurance for a while) but when I went back I had a dead spot on a tooth from tartar build-up. The best advice my dentist now gives me is take it easy on the enamel and gums. She doesn’t use very abrasive cleaners, (and everyone should avoid the toothpaste with tiny plastic beads (yes, some have plastic beads) as they persist in the environment.)

— Posted by Suzanne
37.March 11th,
2008
7:33 pm I visit a dentist for cleaning/check-up every 6 months, get X-Rays according to his recommendation every 2 years.

What gets me is the suggestion to floss. Not only do I hate it, I also don’t have the time for it. After the first “instruction” to floss, the hygienist told me on the next visit she noticed the condition of my gum has improved. Except I never flossed, in fact I changed nothing about my routine.

When I was in primary school we had a dentist come over for routine checks and he explained how to brush your teeth. His recommendation was 3 times a day - I got two cavities despite following that direction every day. Nowadays I brush them in the morning and in the evening, rarely maybe just in the morning. Haven’t had a cavity since.

I once talked to a dentist who believed toothpaste was a scam and only brushed his teeth with water - claimed not to have any cavities.

Of course this is just anecdotal evidence… but I wonder how much of this just depends on the individual and how much really is necessary. I don’t doubt the good intentions of my dentist, he doesn’t sell any products beyond his services so he has nothing to gain from recommending pointless stuff.

— Posted by David
38.March 11th,
2008
7:40 pm I think I have a different view on going to the dentist. My mouth has needed a lot of work. I have had multiple teeth pulled, gum reduction surgery, braces (twice), and all sorts of other fun. Though I have never had a cavity my mouth would look very different now (in a bad way) if not for all the work that has been done. I am thankful for the dental work I have received.

— Posted by Bryce
39.March 11th,
2008
9:36 pm Speaking as someone who had painful periodontal surgery a few days ago, I am comfortable going for a cleaning every six months. Dentists should schedule care to reflect the needs of patients.

In my case, I have often avoided flossing and I’ve had a couple of areas in my mouth where stuff easily gets stuck between my teeth. I’d have done better with more nagging earlier. The dentist did try to encourage me to get a good quality electric toothbrush for years. The trouble was, I always felt I was receiving a sales pitch, not professional advice. For me, an academic article about the effectiveness of the brush might have been more helpful, since I prefer evidence before I buy an expensive appliance.

Now I ask myself why I didn’t floss more, but I actually know the reason for it. I don’t like most dental floss. When I found a type that worked for me, I used it a lot. Then they changed the product so it was only available in a peppermint flavor. Peppermint burns my (apparently sensitive) mouth, so I avoided flossing because I kept trying to find more of the non-peppermint floss I liked. I went to flossing once a week. Turns out that wasn’t enough for my situation. I really wish more people would refuse to buy mint floss so plain floss was easier to get in the type I use.

If the dentist or the hygenist warns you that you need to improve your flossing or cleaning, then you probably need cleanings every six months and you need to take better care. The Sonicare toothbrush really is better than other, cheaper electric toothbrushes, and a decent electric toothbrush really is better than manual brushing, my anecdotal evidence says.

If health insurers wanted people to have better dental care (in order to protect general health now that links between dental health and other health problems are emerging), they should cover the cost of good-quality electronic toothbrushes and replacement brushes. Preventive health strategies remain a weakness of health care and insurance for health care.

— Posted by Ruth
40.March 11th,
2008
9:47 pm I remember when my dentist told me to NEVER eat sugary foods as they would give me cavities. A few weeks later, I saw him and his son eating ice cream at a local ice cream shop.
I haven’t trusted him since.

Also, what’s the deal with all dentists promoting Sonicare? $60 for a toothbrush? They now have regular-priced disposable electric brushes at CVS that don’t weigh a ton.

— Posted by Stacy
41.March 11th,
2008
10:24 pm I live in Japan. Getting upper and lower teeth cleaned costs about $10. We joke that if you were well off and lazy you could just give up brushing yourself and go to the dentist every couple of weeks…

— Posted by Robert Laing
42.March 11th,
2008
11:15 pm I didn’t have dental insurance when I was in college and quit going for cleanings, seeing the dentist only once when a tooth broke and I needed a crown (that hurt financially as a college student with no dental insurance!). Once I got a job and had insurance again — seven years after my last cleaning — I scheduled a visit and learned I had a cavity. I got it filled and scheduled another cleaning for six months later. Guess what? Another cavity. Long story short, this pattern continued, and nearly every tooth cleaning resulted in some sort of additional service rendered. I couldn’t believe that teeth that had been so healthy for seven years without a dentist had suddenly become so needy, so I simply quit going in for cleanings.

As of now, I haven’t been to the dentist since 1996. I’m no expert on cavities, but as far as I can tell I have no dental problems whatsoever beyond a little discoloration from tartar buildup. I’ll probably go later this year for no other reason than to get the tartar scraped off. Just another anecdote, I know….

Oh, and a couple of people have brought up the link between periodontitis and heart disease, etc. I have a question for them: Has it been shown that periodontitis causes heart disease, or is there simply a correlation between heart disease and periodontitis? If the latter then the suggestion that tooth cleaning can prevent heart disease is disingenuous fear-mongering at best and unethical (at least on the part of the medical professional who suggested it) at worst.

— Posted by Stanley
43.March 12th,
2008
12:15 am The recommended interval between oral health reviews should be determined specifically for each patient, and tailored to meet his or her needs, on the basis of an assessment of disease levels and risk of or from dental disease.

This assessment should integrate the evidence presented in this guideline with the clinical judgment and expertise of the dental team, and should be discussed with the patient.

During an oral health review, the dental team (led by the dentist) should ensure that comprehensive histories are taken, examinations are conducted and initial preventive advice is given. This will allow the dental team and the patient (and/or his or her parent, guardian or carer) to discuss, where appropriate:

* the effects of oral hygiene, diet, fluoride use, tobacco and alcohol on oral health;
* the risk factors that may influence the patient’s oral health, and their implications for deciding the appropriate recall interval;
* the outcome of previous care episodes and the suitability of previously recommended intervals;
* the patient’s ability or desire to visit the dentist at the recommended interval;
* the financial costs to the patient of having the oral health review and any subsequent treatments.

The interval before the next oral health review should be chosen, either at the end of an oral health review if no further treatment is indicated, or on completion of a specific treatment journey.

The recommended shortest and longest intervals between oral health reviews are as follows:

* The shortest interval between oral health reviews for all patients should be 3 months.
* The longest interval between oral health reviews for patients younger than 18 years should be 12 months.
* The longest interval between oral health reviews for patients aged 18 years and older should be 24 months.

For practical reasons, the patient should be assigned a recall interval of 3, 6, 9 or 12 months if he or she is younger than 18 years, or 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 or 24 months if he or she is aged 18 years or more.

The dentist should discuss the recommended recall interval with the patient and record this interval, and the patient’s agreement or disagreement with it, in the current record-keeping system.

The recall interval should be reviewed again at the next oral health review, in order to learn from the patient’s responses to the oral care provided and the health outcomes achieved. This feedback and the findings of the oral health review should be used to adjust the next recall interval chosen. Patients should be informed that their recommended recall interval may vary over time.

http://www.nature.com/ebd/journal/v6/n1/full/6400305a.h tml

— Posted by dr. drew
44.March 12th,
2008
1:51 am A British-trained Chinese dentist said it was too often when I suggested that I might want to get my teeth cleaned every 6 months when my teeth didn’t otherwise have any problems.

–
http://wtanaka.com/taxonomy/term/5

— Posted by wtanaka.com
45.March 12th,
2008
9:15 am yeah, routine dentistry is a scam- the only reason there are so many dentists now was the historical evolution of reimbursement where dentists started to charge exorbitant fees (the e.g. of the walk thru at the end of the cleaning and doubling the bill)- this siphoned off some med students who could now make big bucks as the ‘other’ kind of doctor- that being said, there is causality involved between gingivitis and heart disease- in fact, any chronic inflammatory state (the gums included) can exacerbate the progression of atherosclerosis- no doubt minimizing gingivitis is good public health policy

— Posted by frankenduf
46.March 12th,
2008
10:40 am Not looking from statistics here… Hygienists have tools that can reach under the gum line, where you and I typically can’t, do get rid of tartar and food debris. This helps a lot against gingivitis and abscesses, but it is far more effective on people who already have a developing problem with their gums (and thus have significant “gapping” between the gum and tooth, which traps debris) than people who keep very clean teeth at home.

So, I think that any statistical measure of whether hygienist cleanings help against gum disease must take the patient’s dental history and pre-cleaning condition as a factor. It would certainly make for a good paper.

— Posted by Brian
47.March 12th,
2008
11:16 am One word, “fluoride”

— Posted by Dave
48.March 12th,
2008
11:46 am I haven’t been to the dentist in years. I would be happy to go to the dentist for a brief check up and x-rays, but am put off by the fact that these check ups are now only conducted via the cleanings, which I strongly dislike.

I would love to hear more about the “links” to other diseases that a poster above points to. Without seeing solid evidence I’d suspect that it is just a correlation, and not causation.

— Posted by Stephen de las Heras
49.March 12th,
2008
12:46 pm Not sure if anyone remembers the young boy who DIED of septicemia from having an abscessed tooth, which was caused by decay. Could’ve been diagnosed, treated and saved his life had he seen a dentist routinely.

— Posted by megan
50.March 12th,
2008
1:29 pm The article Megan (#49) mentions was in the Washington Post last year or the year before. I have the link on my blog if you search on the Medical category (Mapgirl’s Fiscal Challenge, FWIW). But what I find most interesting is that my dentist also has a copy of that article framed in his waiting room so that his patients can read it.

I think the frequency of cleanings depends on your general dental health. I didn’t have insurance for many years and after that I was just afraid to go. I had pains so bad I was eating Tylenol like candy and finally made an appointment after probably a decade or more of not going. Turns out I needed lots of dental work.

Now that I go and get cleanings done more regularly, I was told to come back every 3 mos at first because there were some deep spots that the dentist couldn’t reach within the alloted 60-90 minutes. Now that my teeth look great, I go back every 6-9 mos, whatever the dental insurance allows in the calendar year and whatever schedule timing I’m on. (They are really strict about not covering you if you have an appointment 6 mos-1 week from your last appt. Quelle stupide!)

Mind you, I am a crappy flosser. I have gaps from new dental implants where gobs of food get stuck, that are very hard to reach in the back of my mouth. I count on the dental cleanings to get in there and make sure that it’s getting clean.

I think a lot of it is genetic as well as your coffee/tobacco consumption, so do whatever is least threatening to your own health. I know ppl who have amazingly white teeth all the time, and others who bleach to get such a pretty smile. As long as your health isn’t being impacted, do whatever suits you best.

— Posted by mapgirl
51.March 12th,
2008
6:05 pm Fluoride is toxic, dentists give fluoride ‘treatments’. Your body absorbs the fluoride.

Mercury is toxic, the silver fillings are mercury based and deteriorate rapidly with heat (such as from hot coffee) due to mercury gas (which we inhale) seeping out of the fillings. This is why they need replaced sooner than they should be. Mercury(Hg) and other heavy metals have been suspected of as the leading cause of Alzheimer’s in adults and Autism in children (some vaccinations use Hg in the base)

Radiation(x-ray)is dangerous, it destroys cells.

There are natural cleaners, and self cleaning tools which will not harm your body. Why trust someone else to take care of your teeth? Personal responsibility.

I believe dentists are needed only when there needs to be severe repair such as a broken tooth etc etc, but they gotta make a living, so either break more teeth, or go get a cleaning every 6 months.

— Posted by bnr
52.March 12th,
2008
7:30 pm As a hygieinst for 12 years, let me tell you some of the “benefits” that my patients and other patients of other hygieinst that I know have benefitted from:
Multiple oral cancers caught at an early stage; blocked carotid arteries (which will show up on panoramnic radiographs); high blood pressures; problems with the medications that pts. are taking; liver failure (I noticed yellowing of their eyes); thyroid problems detected; skin cancer detected; smoking cessation education; etc.

A good hygieinst should be doing a thorough intraoral and extraoral exam which consists of taking the pts. vitals (blood pressure, temperature, and rate), looking for oral cancer, looking at x-rays for not only cavities but also abcesses and infection, checking the pts. thyroid and TMJ, doing an overall assessment of the pts. overall being, and doing a thorough check of their medical history. I have had pts. on drugs that contradict each other because they were seeing two different doctors who did not know what the other doctor had prescribed for the pt. This can be life threatening.
People do not go to their medical doctor for regular check-up, so a lot of times it is the hygienist or dentist that catches medical problems that have nothing to do with their teeth, but that can be very life threatening. I could write a whole book on what the dental benefits are (heart disease related to periodontal disease, premature births due to periodontal disease, the relationship of diabetes and periodontal disease, etc), but if you take the time to look at more than just one study on-line, you can find this information out on your own.
If your dentist or hygienist is not being this thorough at your dental visit, then yes you should question why you are going to that person.

— Posted by Betsy
53.March 13th,
2008
2:25 pm I have been a hygienist for over 25 years and I feel that you are all entitled to your opinions no matter how erronius they are. To all of you who do not visit the dentist-please do not call me at 6:00 AM on a Saturday with your tooth ache that is due to your neglect, and please stand further away from me when you speak because your breath stinks.

— Posted by amf
54.March 13th,
2008
6:52 pm Periodontal disease is linked to:
1. 2 times the risk of fatal heart attack or stroke
2. diabetes
3. respiratory diseases
4.premature low birth weight babies
4. 63% increase in pancreatic cancer in men

Small problems have small solutions, big problems have big solutions. You decide who owns the problem and how often you should have your teeth checked and cleaned. Its your body!

— Posted by mike
55.March 13th,
2008
8:25 pm Hi Ian:
Just as you suggest cleanings are a scam,I suggest that you do not seeing your internist for your yearly annual is also a scam. This way he/she will not be able to detect any conditions and prevent them from progressing. Just wait for your cholestorol to clog your arteries and give you a heart attack, or until your blood sugar goes out of control and gives you a diabetic coma, or till your high blood pressure gives you a stroke. It does make sense doesn’t it. Patients don’t have to have cleanings, they just need to wait till the gingivitis gets out of control and leads to gum disease. Implants or false teeth are not that bad. Periodontal disease is a silent chronic disease just like heart disease. You are not aware of its presence unless it is in a advanced stage. You should take the time to read the time to read the Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health. It will enlighten you. As stated in the report; “oral health is integral to general health, and the oral cavity is a portal of entry as well as the site of disease for microbial infections that affect general health status”.
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/oralhealth/
It is called preventive medicine.

— Posted by gs
56.March 13th,
2008
8:46 pm As a dentist, let me assure you its not about the money. Ask a patient with dentures if they wished they took better care of their teeth. Ask a patient in the hospital with a dental abscess that spread to their brain if regular dental visits would have prevented it. Ask the thousands of people diagnosed with oral cancer in its late stages if they wished they had gone to the dentist. Ask the patient that had their dentist pick up diabetes, or gastric reflux disease, or high blood pressure if it was worth it. Even ask someone who just got a root canal if they wished they caught the cavity earlier.

Can we at least agree that insurance companies rufuse all but necessary care? Then ask yourself why all dental insurance pays for two cleanings, xrays and exams a year… the answer is that we are more likely to find problems when they are small (read less costly).

The truth about “rubber cup” cleanings is that very few dental offices only provide this surface. Most people know the noise of the cavitron scaler or the feeling of hand scalers as a hygienists works to remove the calcified remains of bacteria (tartar or calculus) from their teeth. Without this treatment, you’d be out of luck, and soon, out of teeth.

A scam? Frequency of continuing care visits are tailored to the individual patient. Some need more frequent cleanings, some less. Your dentist should discuss this with you. If not, ask him/her about it.

At a bare minimum, the oral exam should take place yearly.

— Posted by Dr. Joe
57.March 13th,
2008
9:25 pm The only thing I can say to you, Ian, is feel free to go without having your “scaling and polishings” with your hygienist but know that you will most likely be saying hello to your periodontist quicker than you would like.

— Posted by Rhonda, RDH
58.March 14th,
2008
12:03 am As a practicing dentist, I would like to say a few random things to add to the discussion. I was sorry to see that several people posted negative comments alluding to the point that dentists are running a “scam”. I will admit that no two dentists are created equal, and these people may have had a bad experience or feel they are receiving no value during their regular checkup cleanings. I wish my patients would regularly ask me, “Why do I need to receive these regular cleanings?” It would provide me an excellent opportunity for patient education, which is what I feel is one of our most important jobs as a specialist in oral health. And I feel this should go on beyond just the basic “brush and floss” routine.

I have seen many things written here that are completely nonfactual. For just one example, cavities CAN arise in a matter of a few months, not always several years. I have also seen many people here post their personal experience as to why they do not need a regular cleaning or “checkup” exam. However, that is quite subjective and does not make for good “evidence based” findings. I would highly discourage those reading this to base their opinions or feelings about dentists and checkup cleanings on those writings and in some cases, rantings. And as an aside, modern dental literature is continually full of articles discussing and promoting evidence-based dentistry.

Recent posters #52 and #54 speak of many excellent areas both hygienists and dentists alike should be concerned with taking a role in–not just as a “tooth doctor”, but being concerned with seeing the big picture of how oral health fits in with a person’s overall systemic health. Since I know Ian Byrnes loves stats, I will leave off with some stats:

Cervical cancer is commonly screened by the pap smear screening test. WebMD estimates that 61 million women in the US had pap smears performed in the year 2000. Oral cancer is commonly screened for by visual examination and sometimes non-invasive tests sent to labs (e.g. brush biopsy). According to the American Cancer Society, new cases of cervical cancer in the year 2007 were at 11,150 with 3,670 deaths occurring from the disease. They also report that in the year 2007, new cases of oral cancer were at 34,360 with 7,550 deaths occurring from the disease. Another startling statistic is that oral cancer is as common as leukemia and kills more people than melanoma. Oral cancer needs to be talked about in this country, and what better time than at a cleaning? So all this being said, maybe another good question to ask your dentist next time you have a checkup cleaning is, “Why are you not screening me for oral cancer?”

— Posted by Dr. Brad, DMD
59.March 15th,
2008
4:47 pm I just got back from China where the dentists recommend regular rinsing with salt water for gingivitis and peridontal disease. Although this treatment is effective, my dentist does not recommend it because of the negative effect it would have on his bottom line.

— Posted by John Koroloff
60.March 16th,
2008
12:07 pm John Koroloff I am a hygienist. Last week I treated a young Chinese woman who at the age of 25 was exhibiting 10%-30% irreversible bone loss. Rinsing with salt water will not bring the bone back or cure her perio.

— Posted by RDH83
61.March 17th,
2008
9:32 pm As a dental hygienist and dental educator I always find articles and perceptions of patients so challenging.
With the link to heart attacks, stroke,diabetes, and low birth weight babies to mention some and the prevelance of oral cancer, you would like to think an intelligent person would like to be screened and treated for periodontal disease and referred for biopsy to the oral surgeon. It has been decades since the public has been made aware of how important early detection of all disease is crucial for the success of treatment and return to good health. If patients were more serious with their oral home maintenance as they were as going to the gym/having facials and manicures perhaps the health of their whole body would be improved. I have dedicated my professional life to the improvement of my patients health as a whole. According to this article and many of the editorials I have wasted the last 29 years of my life.
-Posted by PROFESSOR RDH ‘79

— Posted by Professor Barbara Greene RDH
62.March 20th,
2008
12:22 am Many of the people commenting here talk about how they have health gums and teeth, and by brushing and flossing they are able to avoid gingivitis and avoid developing cavities. For one thing, cavities are caused by much more than just not brushing or flossing. They require the person to be susceptible to them, you must have a cariogenic (high sugar) diet, and inadequate biofilm removal (ie, not brushing teeth properly).
It’s true, some people don’t need cleaning as often as other people. If you are one of those people, that is great, keep up the good work and discuss with your hygienist an appropriate recall interval. I have clients that come in once a year…at the same time, I have clients who come in every 3 months. And every 3 months I have moderate to heavy amouts of calculus (that hard stuff on teeth) to remove. If these deposits are not removed, the client risks developing gingivits, which can become periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss. And trust me, maintaining dentures is much more expensive than routine cleanings. Also, these deposits can lead to painful abscess’ in the mouth.

The bottom line is, if you are concerned about cleanings, ask your hygienist. They have spent a lot of time in school, and are highly trained in answering your questions. And if you are concerned that hygienists only want your money, remember that essentially they make money from you retaining your teeth, therefore they will help you keep them. No, not everyone needs fluoride. Ask your hygienist why. Not everyone needs a polish. You can’t use the same polishing paste at home because it removes a small layer of enamel - ask your hygienist if this is detramental or not. And if your hygienist doesn’t want to answer your questions, find one who does.

— Posted by RDH84
63.March 20th,
2008
9:00 pm I just had full upper implants and I am trying to find out exactly what does the dentist do when I go for my 6 month routine checkup, do they remover my dental implants to clean them or how exactly do they clean them. I brush at least twice a day and also use my water pik. One dentist told me he will remove then in order to make sure everything is clean, and another told me he will not remove them.
Does anyone know who is right? please answer me.
If any of you still have your own teeth, I suggest you take real good care of them and go for that routine cleaning. Thank you

— Posted by Gladys
64.March 27th,
2008
5:10 pm I love having so many diverse opinions to read and think about. Plus, the spur me to do further research. There is a great (old) book called The Illteracy of the Literate; I recommend everyone buy a copy, and read it, then reread it. Basically, we have to think well so we can read, listen, write and act well. This is a capitalistic nation so everyone, in one way or another, is out to make money. It’s a matter, then (generally) of motive, among other considerations, and the majority of “professionals” I meet, regardless of the profession, are out to make boo-coo bucks. A lot of shopping around to find someone competent, and then not “too” money-motivated, is in order for most business exchanges, which is why, when it comes to teeth (just like other body parts and important issues) it’s best to find that competent, less money-motivated person before you have an emergency on your hands.

It’s so funny (not) that “anecdotal” is the tag smacked on all personal experience, and “science” or “proven” or “data” and such is applied to all second-hand (or further away from us) reports. I trust my personal experience when it jibes with what I’ve read, especially if what I’ve read is offered up using sound logic, and in the case of “studies” done longitudinal, and not financed by someone with a clear profit motive. So, on that note, let me add this:

Six months ago I went to my regular dentist. Never felt comfortable with her motives (her teeth are see-through and gray from what I take to be an excessive-amount of polishing, bleaching and such), and she is more concerned with cosmetics than with structure and function and general tooth hygiene (she calls her dental practice an “art” institute). That said, I didn’t know how to find a good dentist, and I postponed it. Well, six months ago, I went for a routine cleaning, never told beforehand (during the previous twelve years!) that I had any kind of problem, and an “associate” was there that day. She started talking fast, using scare-tactics, shoving various instruments in my mouth, and yelling at me about root canals and staining and cavities. She went on and on. I stayed outwardly calm but felt assaulted. She used the Diagnodent (something I called the stain-o-matic because she kept referring to the BAD tooth having a 17–”see it,” she said, showing me the red numeral. Yes, I saw it. I went home scared, angry, and determined to do a better job with my teeth because the two things I trusted that she told me was 1) I had bleeding–I felt it in my mouth; anecdotal but I’m going with that, and 2) the probes came up with too many 4mm-5mms, and even a 7mm and an 8mm. I bought a book called Tooth Fitness (via Amazon.com), a book called Comprehensive Dental Hygiene, a ShowerPik, some dental instruments including a mirror (I got carried away, I was so scared and determined to fix the problem), ordered a dozen manual, extra-soft children’s toothbrushes (I was using just the Braun electric), and some interdental picks in bulk. Then I added a rinse to my normal brushing and (Glide) flossing routine (bottled water, splash of apple cider vinegar, splash of peroxide, shake of baking soda, shake of salt), and started gargling, ShowerPiking, brushing with the manual and a dab of herbal toothpaste with tea tree oil (forgot to mention that one), and the Braun, and did some more research, then used the interdental brushpicks, too, but in order, it was 1) ShowerPik 2) gargle 3) floss 4) brushpicks 5) manual toothbrush, 6) electric. I bled for the first five weeks when using the brush picks (I never had bled at home brushing or flossing, or in the office before the last two dental cleaning visits), and it was hard to live on faith (just keep doing it, the research is solid, you’ll see results), but I did, and after five weeks, no more bleeding at home, my teeth felt as smooth after every routine as they do when I get them professionally cleaned, and for the first time in my life I could see NO plaque on the bottom from teeth, inside, where I have a problem–used to–no matter how carefully I followed instructions.

Last thing I did was find a new dentist. Short of this long story: he did probing and came up with all 1mm-3mm and no bleeding, but he seemed offended (and actually insulted me) for being knowledgeable (clearly didn’t like my having read so much in his area of expertise), and then he used the Diagnodent and came up with 5 teeth he said had cavities. I went home and did further research and found out a few things about false readings and how the manufacturer recommends using the machine just after a thorough, professional cleaning (which I had not received that day, nor had for the past six months, hence my visit), and that the readings should be verified by an xray (they weren’t), so I thought about the insults and the 5 cavities that suddenly bloomed in my mouth after six months of diligent care (and how they didn’t jibe with the major probe improvement), and thought too of how he highly recommended I use the SoniCare toothbrush, and a few other recommendations, and I’m not going back to him.

I’ll keep doing what I’m doing, and in the meantime I’ll shop around to find that competent, not “too” money-motivated dentist. If it were a matter of finding, and being allowed by law (I’m in California) to see just the hygienist, I sure would find a competent one and do just that, but it isn’t, so the search is on, and I’ll keep taking care of myself because that’s my job.

— Posted by Carolyn
65.March 28th,
2008
4:31 pm I am a practicing dentist and had a long comment all written out but I erased it and decided I liked #53 the best:

“I have been a hygienist for over 25 years and I feel that you are all entitled to your opinions no matter how erronius they are. To all of you who do not visit the dentist-please do not call me at 6:00 AM on a Saturday with your tooth ache that is due to your neglect, and please stand further away from me when you speak because your breath stinks.”

I disagree partly with what is said above because the people who DON’T care for their teeth have the most expensive bills. I’d have a whole lot less business if everyone actually did what they should: brush and floss regularly and see us every 6 months. But people are people and think that those of professionals who go to school for an extra 8+ years don’t know what we’re talking about. Fine. I’ll still see you when you neglect your teeth and gums and need the emergency root canal or extraction. That’s where we make money. Not on regular cleanings, my friends.

— Posted by Dr. X
66.March 28th,
2008
5:40 pm It’s about risk. If you’re sure that your dental health is such that you don’t need regular cleanings I’m O.K. with it. Frankly, I’m happy to see a patient whether they’ve had regular cleanings or not. A patient’s health is their responsibility.

A patient who is high risk for decay benefits more from regular cleaning appointments than someone who is lower risk. The same goes for periodontal disease and occlusal disease. How does a person know their risk level? Probably the best way to know is to have a good relationship with a dentist who takes the time to evaluate your risk for dental disease and will explain the state of your dental health.

If you don’t feel like your dentist is explaining things well enough then ask questions. If you don’t feel comfortable asking questions or you feel like your dental health is less important to your dentist than their bottom line, you should think about finding a different dentist.

When I read, “Dentists, like other agents (real estate agents, car sales people), do not have the best economic incentives when advising how much to clean…” I get the feeling that your dentist isn’t making you feel that your visits are valuable.

Find a dentist who does.

Alan Mead DDS (a dentist who hopes his patient don’t think of him similarly to a real estate agent or car salesman)

— Posted by Alan Mead DDS
67.April 4th,
2008
5:06 pm I don’t know about human “evidence-based dentistry, but the vet told us our dog needed to have its teeth scaled, pointing out that it had inflamed and bleeding gums. It was much more expensive than a human dental cleaning, but the symptoms did indeed disappear. Of course, dogs don’t brush their teeth or floss.

— Posted by marianne
68.April 15th,
2008
8:08 am Proper dental care does start at home. Flossing daily and brushing morning, noon and night and additionally anytime a good freshening feels good. It’s especially important to at least swish if not brush after any sweets.

Most recently I’ve noticed dentists seem to be pushing special products like teeth whitening procedures and invisalign teeth straightening devices. They’re learning neat little ways to “cross-sell” products and supplement their Dental Health Care revenues. I’m certain this is becoming an important part of their college curriculum.

I’m skeptical of the dental profession and I’m concerned when a health care professional makes a choice to promote a product especially if it isn’t clearly necessary to promote health. I can’t see how applying a chemical stripping formula to the enamel I rely on to protect my teeth is the most healthful choice. And I’m not joking when I say that the dentist recently suggested I get my teeth straightened using the invisalign system, the first time anyone has ever suggested I had crooked teeth in 48 years.

I think my dentist is “good”, but I question the efficacy of these procedures and I worry about the profit motive trumping my healthcare.

— Posted by GJ
69.April 17th,
2008
5:44 pm GJ

Check out the book, available (among other places, I’m sure) via Amazon.com called “Isn’t It Wonderful When Patients Say “Yes”: Case Acceptance for Complete Dentistry” and make sure to click on Search Inside This Book and read a bit of it.

Marketing is big business in places where maybe it was more slack which meant maybe we were getting better, “necessary” care. The American Dental Hygienist Association warns against hygienists polishing everyone’s teeth and states it may erode enamel and therefore a “patient” ought to be asked if s/he wants it. The article then goes on to point out that most “patients” feel they’re being deprived if they don’t get their teeth polished, so it’s easy to end up in a darned if you do, darned if you don’t situation. I say no to polishing; I say no to yearly x-rays; I say no to having my blood pressure taken (I’m not in the dentist’s office because I’m sick; I’m there for a routine teeth cleaning), and I’m prepared to say no to any number of “routine” procedures or suggestions, including having the gap between my upper two front teeth filled. (I like it; it’s been a part of me for more than 40 years.)

The other thing I like to do is read textbooks. It’s interesting to note what was deemed necessary, say, fifty years ago, then twenty-five years ago, ten years ago, now… Wow, necessary sure is a flexible word.

Yes, cosmetics are the rage now, feeding on our appearance-driven society, or segment of society; I like to think I’m not the only one who lives, to the best of my ability, inside out, instead of outside in.

If we all remember the homily, “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely,” and then remember that “professions” taut themselves as authorities, then skeptical is smart. If someone recommends, bullies or otherwise tries to sell me something I’m unsure about (and I have to go home to do some research before I’m sure), then I point out to them that the recommended procedure isn’t “emergency” so I’ve got time. Then I take that time.

Thanks, GJ for weighing in.

Carolyn

— Posted by carolyn
70.April 29th,
2008
3:54 pm As a periodontist, I spend many, many hundreds of hours treating patients who wish they had spent more time taking better care of their teeth at home and at the dental office.
Spending money on regular cleanings and preventive maintenance is the BEST money you’ll ever spend. Another dental treatment that is worth every penny is a bitesplint/occlusal guard. If your dentist ever recommends one of these, have it made and wear it every night for the rest of your life.
A few other tidbits:
Quit smoking!
Buy an electric toothbrush (Sonicare or Oral-B).
Floss regularly
Avoid frequent consumption of sweets/sugar soda. Occasional consumption is okay but if you “Sip all day you’ll get decay!”
If you don’t trust your dentist or have a funny feeling, go somewhere else.
If you go to a dentist who does not take a full mouth set of X-rays or if the hygienist does not probe your mouth (check your probing depths), find another dentist!

— Posted by John Hall, DDS, MS
71.April 30th,
2008
9:56 am Does anyone know how to get a list of the prices each insurance company allows for various dental procedures?

My dentist charges:
$75 for D1110 Prophylaxis-adult (cleaning),
$40 for D0120 Periodic oral evaluation (simple exam) and
$850 for D2750 Crown-porcelain/hi nobl…(crown).

Does anyone else know any other prices?

— Posted by Lawrence C. Marsh, Ph.D.
72.May 1st,
2008
12:20 pm Lawrence

I don’t know about crowns because I don’t have any, but your price for cleaning and simple exam is the same as my insurance plan (Delta Dental) charges, so it could be (check with others), that in order to compete, and keep prices more or less stable, dental insurance companies charge similar rates for similar procedures, sort of like petrol companies, especially the big ones. Let’s see what others say.

— Posted by carolyn
73.May 5th,
2008
1:18 pm I’ve been trying to schedule a basic cleaning, which is what my insurance will pay for, but am told that if the Doctor thinks I need a more advanced cleaning, I will have to have that done or they will not clean at all. Since money is an issue now, I wanted only the basic cleaning. Again, I was given the same response and told that Dentists are required to treat any diagnosis or not treat at all if I were to choose only basic care. Can one of the Dentist on this board comment on this? It seems like I should have more of a choice.

— Posted by Joe
74.May 6th,
2008
1:12 pm I am currently a hygiene student at the Indiana University School of Dentistry and can see from the posts that the reasoning behind professional cleanings is unclear to some individuals. Ok, so basically a good hygienist tries to accomplish several things. At IUSD we first do an intraoral and extraoral exam where we look for infections or possible cancerous lesions that need to be assessed by a physician. Next we probe all the teeth in the client’s mouth to determine where the gums are attached to the teeth which helps us establish how healthy the gums are. If a client has deep probing depths this could mean they have periodontal disease (this is “gum disease” in which the tissues that support the teeth are destroyed causing teeth to eventually fall out in some cases). Next we look at the radiographs (or x-rays) and determine if one has any cavities, bone defects, calculus (aka tartar) below the gumline, or any other problem areas that the dentist needs to look at. Then the hygienist should evaluate his or her client’s brushing and flossing techniques and suggest improvements and the proper devices to accomplish proper plaque removal. Brushing and flossing properly is the most important factor in one’s dental health so make sure you get an evaluation to determine if you are using the correct techniques! Next the hygienist uses his or her instruments to remove hard deposits (calculus also called tartar) on the clients teeth which he or she can not remove by brushing and flossing. This is important because these deposits harbour bacteria which cause cavities and gum disease - the two most common ways people lose teeth! Finally, the dentist does an exam and looks at any suspicious areas the hygienist indentifies, looks for cavities in the mouth, and looks at the radiographs (x-rays) for problems that the hygienist identified or possibly missed. Next the teeth are plished to remove stain (there is no value in polishing to one’s health it is only for stain removal and the “clean feeling”). Some people need flouride and some people get plenty of flouride from their water, toothpaste, mouth rinses, etc. If you are ever in doubt or have had a cavity in the last 3 years pay the extra $15-$30 for flouride! So, hopefully you get all these services when you go for a “cleaning”. And remember, routine cleanings are hundreds to thousands of dollars less that fillings, crowns, root canals, and periodontal surgery!

-Orey Pence

— Posted by Orey Pence
75.May 6th,
2008
1:35 pm This is for post 73. Joe, if you do in fact need advanced cleaning which we usually call scaling and root plaing or periodontal debriding at IUSD then that is the only treatment Dentists will provide to you because they are liable for a malpractice lawsuit if they give you a routine cleaning. You can always get an evaluation from another dentist, but if that is the treatment you need I strongly advise you to get it as soon as possible because gum disease cannot be reversed and it can lead to tooth loss and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes. Good luck,

-Orey Pence

— Posted by Orey Pence
76.May 7th,
2008
10:52 pm i have had 3 cavities filled which i now suspect were never needed. only during the relatively few years I’ve been able to afford regular visits, “cavities” have been found. yet in between, i’ve never suffered cavities (aka “caries”).

I ignored the last “find”, and it was never “rediscovered” during subsequent visits.
I think more likely that cavity-finding is unreliable than this was fraud.

I have vicious calculus accumulation (builds within a half day), that is said to cause gum recession. Some hygeinists give me mini-lectures about brushing (yet their recommendations vary) and I don’t bother persisting with the explanation for the buildup.

I now use hygienist tools a couple times a week to reduce the calculus, but recession still proceeds noticeably from month to month. I have an idea of a device that may stop it, but the business culture in the USA is so hermetically byzantine, I won’t even try penetrating it…

IMO, schools should teach financial & health self-defense. the curriculum should motivate by including the kinds of scare stories schools use for the drivers ed classes. :-D

but again, US political culture is braindead conservative, the country will have to bin completely before things get better.

— Posted by maybe.later
77.May 18th,
2008
4:38 pm I read most of the comments here and most of them seem anecdotal on a personal experience. In order to answer the question asked in the title of the article I propose the following:
1. Conduct a proper survey asking the proper questions to the proper people. This means that there has to be a random sample of the population to be surveyed. This will take away any bias from the responses. you cannot make any unbiased conclusions if you data only include people visiting the dentist or, the opposite, make conclusions based on personal experience of people that have not visited the dentist.
Those people commenting that teeth cleaning is or is not a scam are making the same mistake a lot of people do: making conclusions without the support of proper data.
At the end, what we want is to prove of disprove a hypotesis. Then, just follow the scientific method. Do not comment or make statements that are not supported by evidence.

— Posted by Jorge Icabalceta
78.May 19th,
2008
9:22 am Dental work is a classic case of what economists call an “asymmetric information” problem. The Dentist has the x-rays and knows how to read them. Some only make repairs when absolutely necessary. Others act when a problem is just beginning. Still others install crowns that are not really needed but call it preventative dentistry. Under the freedom of information act you have a right to a copy of your own records. If everyone asked to take home a copy of their dental x-rays, they could show their x-rays to another dentist to get a second opinion without having to pay for duplicate x-rays. The law allows your dentist to charge a nominal (i.e. small) fee for the take-home copy of your x-rays.

— Posted by Larry
79.May 19th,
2008
7:34 pm I just got back from a cleaning at the dentist. Spent the last few months off and on getting fillings for cavities that were discovered after 5 years of not visiting a dentist.
Today my dentist says I have a really small cavity that can be taken out with a “sandblaster” type instrument since it is so shallow and they won’t need to drill. I wonder how much money she will make off this small cavity. It cost me over 1k to do the 5+ cavities, although insurance covered half. She says the shallow cavity broke thru the enamel so it needs to be done, yet I’m wondering if it’s really necessary? I don’t feel it, but I am not going to argue with a professional.

Also, the hygenist said that I should come in every 3 months because I have a lot of buildup. This sucks.

— Posted by Dana
80.May 26th,
2008
11:35 pm About 10-20% of the posts here have been from a dental professional. Every one of these posts have been about either the protocol that they follow or advice about how to look after ones teeth (which seems to usually include spending significant amounts of money on some form of dental prophylaxis)

None of them has presented or referred to any evidence about whether and when cleaning is useful. Given that this blog post was specifically about evidence for the value of cleaning, that’s pretty amazing.

— Posted by Joel
81.May 27th,
2008
10:59 am I was visiting one of my friends this last weekend, and his uncle was there visiting and kind of in depressed state. His doctors has found a 5 pound tumor on him, you know what he said I have never been to a doctor and nothing had ever bothered him till now when he went to the doctor where they found the tumor.
Well I did not want to speak my mind because last thing this guy needed was a lecture. For all of you who nothing bothers you and you think you dont have cavities. I am looking forward to seeing you when you need a root canal or Ext.

— Posted by Jim
82.May 27th,
2008
3:00 pm I got a dental scraper thing like the dentist uses to scrape away the tarter buildup. I can use it each week to remove the buildup by my gums. you can have this fresh clean feeling every day!

— Posted by virg
83.May 27th,
2008
3:19 pm Joel (#80) hits the nail on the head. Too many of the replies from dental professionals have been of the “skip cleaning, see if I care, but expect to come crawling back in agony” variety. I don’t believe dentists are scammers, in general, but the replies here haven’t done anything to indicate something more than habit & assumption justifies their techniques.

Does cleaning/scaling improve periodontal health? How do you know? Saying that you see patients with poor hygiene & periodontitis doesn’t help unless you can demonstrate they are significantly more at risk than the fastidious - in other words, adhere to the standards of evidence-based medicine. Provide reasonable sources that contradict the meta-analysis described above.

Showing a link between periodontitis & other health effects is irrelevant if you can’t show cleaning protects against periodontitis. Saying scaling is necessary to remove tartar is unimportant unless tartar is demonstrated - not just said - to cause other effects. Well, removing tartar may be a worthwhile benefit in itself, but that could be discussed separately, without implying an unproved link to anything else.

— Posted by Gary G
84.May 27th,
2008
3:56 pm In a related field - the downward age creep and extending the years of orthodontic treatment should be publicly investigated. It used to be you might consider orthodontics when most of your adult teeth were in. Recently orthodontists have started taking advantage of a normal childhood “ugly duckling” period when the canines routinely move down, and for about a year period, the front teeth are buck, to start kids on orthodontistry at very young ages. If you go to some orthodontist’s offices, you will be startled by all the early elementary school kids. It is clear this is a strategy to create an even longer set of orthodontic treatments. These doctors do not make the case that doing orthodontistry in childhood reduces the need for orthodontics later. So why do orthodontics at 8 or 9? These dentists have invented a dubious story about preventing adult extractions - something that was not an issue when orthodonture focused on people with all adult teeth in place. My daughter almost got caught up in this, when a different dentist explained her canines were in their normal ugly duckling bick-toothed phase. Sure enough, in 12 months, her teeth straightened out to perfection on their own. 12 months earlier a “highly regarded” orthodontist had recommended my daughter receive full braces - what would have been about $8000 in treatment. But now, without that treatment, the teeth moved in their natural course, and no one would suggest she needed braces - her teeth are lovely. Orthodontistry has become a very crooked business, preying on little children and their wealthy parents who wouldn’t think of questioning a doctor’s wisdom.

— Posted by Jim Barringer
85.May 27th,
2008
4:08 pm It’s funny. I know I should floss my teeth but I never do until the morning before I get my teeth cleaned. Then the dental hygienist always tells me how well I’m obviously flossing. I wish she’d tell me my teeth were about to fall out. I’d probably floss more.

— Posted by stanfrombrooklyn
86.May 27th,
2008
5:16 pm Commenter #62 above has it right regarding dental disease being a product of an imbalance between risk factors (bacterial load, diet, etc.) and protective factors (fluoride exposure, self-care, etc.). The model is described well (and with pictures!) in J. Featherstone, “The Science and Practice of Caries Prevention,” Journal of the American Dental Association 131, no. 7 (2000): 887. (abstract is at http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/abstract/131/7/887).

So, people at low risk of disease need very little in the way of regular cleanings, and people at high risk need more frequent visits and cleanings. But dentistry is pretty bad at tiering patients by risk, and delivering services accordingly. Profitability factors heavily into that decision, but so does professional culture - risk assessment is still pretty new to oral health, and “see your dentist twice a year” is a meme that’s been used by the profession, and by society at large, for decades. One can hope that it will gain more currency, but don’t bet on it.

— Posted by Ringtail
87.May 27th,
2008
7:28 pm Why is dentistry so expensive?

— Posted by Nick
88.May 27th,
2008
7:45 pm At the very least, brush with a good electric tooth brush: it does so much more than manual brushing. But brushing alone cannot clean the surfaces between teeth. For that you MUST floss, and floss correctly, which your hygienist should teach. As for which teeth to floss, the answer is simple: Floss only those teeth you wish to keep!

As well, consider interdental brushes (miniature bottle brushes), which come in a variety of diameters to accommodate the spaces between teeth (not a commercial, but I find Piksters the best product by far).

For those who have had implant surgery, Superfloss is indispensable for flossing under permanent bridges.

I have my teeth scaled and cleaned professionally every three months, as I am prone to calculus build-up. I am not in the dental profession or business.

In conclusion, if nothing else, brush with a good electric brush and floss daily.

Good luck.

— Posted by happy teeth
89.May 27th,
2008
7:46 pm My sister never flosses, and her breath stinks. She rarely goes to the dentist, because she hates being scolded about the sorry shape of her gums. She is very good looking, but can’t get a second date.

— Posted by Ellen
90.May 28th,
2008
8:31 am As the wife of a dentist, and someone who has periodontal disease, believe me, you do want to go for your cleanings. Periodontal disease erodes gum and bone. I’ve already had to have gum aumentation because my PD went undiagnosed until a good part of my teeth roots were exposed.

Anyway, yes, some people do have good body chemistry that protects them from cavities and dental problems. (My husband doesn’t floss. I have to — if I don’t, more bone loss.) But for the rest of us, cleanings are effective and crucial.

Finally, all dentists are not crooks. In fact, most dentists are not crooks. Dentistry is a stressful job — you are doing medical procedures on people while they are awake, and that have aesthetic expectations attached to them. (Other surgeons work on areas people can’t see. When’s the last time you heard someone complain about their gallbladder surgery inner aesthetics?)

My advice: find a dentist you can trust and let him, or her, do their job. Like the old saying goes, when your teeth or feet hurt, nothing feels good.

— Posted by Nancy
91.May 28th,
2008
1:34 pm I have practiced dentistry for 35 years and understand how easy it is to get cynical about any profession- be it dentistry, law, accounting or medicine. But cynicism fades quickly when a true need comes up, for sure.

You know, there are many things that perhaps aren’t truly necessary, like oil changes, and blood pressure checks, and audits, but experience teaches us that many times, we get into trouble not following some schedule, some follow up.

Certainly there are dentists who are less than ethical, but I maintain the percentages of them being ethical professionals is at least equal to the percentages of people who post to this blog!

— Posted by Rick
92.May 28th,
2008
10:53 pm Ian,

I apprecaite you writing baout this topic…any conversation around oral health is moving forward.

The Cochrane Collaboration is a great place to review systematic reviews of the effects of healthcare interventions. The possible weakness of the Cochrane Review and or any research is in the quality of the question. “Scale” and “Polish” are distinct and seperate services. “Scale” is of a therapeutic nature, as ‘Polish” is generally cosmetic. So the pairing of the two and then building a case may challenge the strength of the conclusion and or the amount of research that could have been included in the review. For, example, the indices used to measure plaque, gingivitis, periodontal disease and stain varies. And since all studies selected for each review must meet an established criteria, or be left out considerable confusion can be generated.
Consider also, that Evidence Based Dentistry /Healthcare is made up of 3 intervening parts. Sackett et al Evidence-Based Medicine, 2000
1. The Best Evidence (systematic reviews, cohorts, case-control, case studies)
2. Clinical Experience of the Provider
3. Patient’s Values
An integrated system for aggregating, distilling, and delivering the best clinical evidence involves:
1. Asking answerable questions
2. Searching for the best evidence
3. Critically appraising the evidence
4. Applying the evidence
5. Evaluating the outcome
So I did a quick search and came up with the following research abstracts. The rationale, for 3-6 month dental hygiene “scales” is proportional to individual oral risk assessment. Risk assessment may include health history, dental history, clinical and radiographic findings, fluoride history, bacterial assays, saliva tests, prevention survey, behavior strategies, health and oral health beliefs etc.
Biofilms (plaque,) in the mouth, can develop within hours after brushing. Biofilms can vary in prevalence, yet can be tracked by specimen source. Other discussions include gingival sulcus crevicual flow and bacteria. Then the host immune system becomes increasing more active as biofilm grows and becomes more virulent. The proteolytic enzymes degrade and penetrate the periodontal tissues. And the emerging body of research involves oral periopathogens and systemic effects.
Polishing and evidence base- the science does not support the claims that polishing is dangerous to teeth. Journal of Clinical Perio, 2005, Dr Zimmer et al., estimated that during a rubber cup polishing, 4.5 seconds are spent to clean a single tooth surface. To determine the effect of polishing on dentin (which is softer than enamel), they measured dentin removal on extracted teeth after 37 seconds of polishing. Statistically very little was removed, based on these findings it would take 69 years to polish away .1 mm of dentin/.24 um of enamel. And I’ll leave the enamel and dentin loss after acid exposure…soda’s, sugary drinks, smoothies etc. to another post .
Additional evidence based websites:
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research www.nidcr.nih.gov
International/American Association for Dental Research www.dentalresearch.org

Dental plaque revisited: bacteria associated with periodontal disease.Lovegrove JM.
Between 3-12 weeks after the beginning of supragingival plaque formation, a distinctive subgingival microflora predominantly made up of gram-negative, anaerobic bacteria and including some motile species, becomes established. In order to establish in a periodontal site, a species must be able to attach to one of several surfaces including the tooth (or host derived substances adhering to the tooth), the sulcular or pocket epithelium, or other bacterial species that are attached to these surfaces (Socransky and Haffajee 1991). Bacterial adhesion has demonstrated specificity in the mechanisms involved and studies have shown that there is a diversity of receptors on tooth surfaces, epithelial or other host cells and other bacteria. Recent studies have described bacterial complexes that are present in subgingival plaque and these studies are likely to help in current understanding of the complex ecology observed in dental plaque biofilm (Socransky, Haffajee et al. 1998). Bacterial interactions play important roles in species survival. Some interspecies relationships are favourable, in that one species produces growth factors for, or facilitates attachment of, another species. Other relationships are antagonistic due to competition for nutrients and binding sites, or to the production of substances that limit or prevent the growth of another species (Socransky and Haffajee 1991). A number of different bacterial interactions within plaque biofilm have been discussed. In the last 30-40 years, a vast amount of evidence has been published to suggest that bacteria are the primary aetiological agents of periodontal diseases. In the 1950s and early 1960s, periodontal treatment was based on the non-specific plaque hypothesis. However, the non-specific plaque hypothesis gave way after studies suggested that not all organisms in plaque are equally capable of causing destructive periodontal disease. Thus the concept of specificity re-emerged. Criteria for defining periodontal pathogens have been developed and include association, elimination, host response, virulence factors, animal studies and risk assessment (Haffajee and Socransky 1994). Until recently there were few consensus periodontal pathogens and trying to discriminate pathogenic from non-pathogenic species has been a difficult task for dental researchers for a variety of reasons. A discussion of the specific microbiota associated with gingivitis, chronic and aggressive periodontitis, NUG, HIV-associated periodontitis and implantitis has been presented. The bacteria associated with periodontal diseases are predominantly gram-negative anaerobic bacteria and may include A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. gingivalis, P. intermedia, B. forsythus, C. rectus, E. nodatum, P. micros, S. intermedius and Treponema sp. The bacterial numbers associated with disease are up to 10(5) times larger than those associated with health.

PMID: 15143484 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Short-term effects of initial periodontal therapy (hygienic phase).Hämmerle CH, Joss A, Lang NP.
University of Berne, School of Dental Medicine, Switzerland.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on probing pocket depths and probing attachment levels using a patient group with moderate to advanced periodontitis. 68 patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis underwent hygienic phase therapy including oral hygiene instructions, scaling and root planing and elimination of plaque retentive factors. Assessments of the plaque control record (PCR), bleeding on probing (BoP), probing depths and probing attachment levels were performed at baseline examination and 3 to 5 months following active treatment. The measurements were obtained at 4 interproximal aspects of each tooth with a thin calibrated probe. Mean BoP values decreased from 63.2 +/- 21.9% at baseline to 16.6 +/- 7.3% after therapy, and mean PCR decreased from 78.6 +/- 16.4% to 12.7 +/- 7.1%, respectively. A reduction in mean probing pocket depth from 3.96 +/- 1.39 mm at baseline to 3.30 +/- 1.16 mm after therapy was noted. Sites with initial probing depths of 1-3 mm showed no change, sites with initial values of 4-6 mm revealed a reduction of 1.03 +/- 1.04 mm, while initial pockets of 7-9 mm decreased in depth by 2.28 +/- 1.62 mm. A gain in the mean probing attachment level from 4.16 +/- 1.80 mm to 3.74 +/- 1.71 mm was observed as a result of treatment. The group with the shallow initial probing depths of 1-3 mm showed no alteration in probing attachment level. Pockets with baseline values of 4-6 mm showed gain of clinical attachment of 0.69 +/- 1.43 mm. The greatest gain in clinical attachment of 1.51 +/- 1.75 mm was obtained in sites with initially deep pockets of 7-9 mm. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that non-surgical periodontal therapy is an effective means to reduce probing pocket depths and to improved clinical attachment levels in patients with moderate to advanced periodontitis.

PMID: 1856303 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

J Periodontol. 2007 Aug;78(8):1580-9.Links
Microbiota of exposed root surfaces after fluoride, chlorhexidine, and periodontal maintenance therapy: a 3-year evaluation.Bizhang M, Chun YH, Heisrath D, Purucker P, Singh P, Kersten T, Zimmer S.
Department of Operative and Preventive Dentistry and Endodontics, Section of Periodontology, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany. mozhgan.bizhang@med.uni-duesseldorf.de

BACKGROUND: Fluoride and chlorhexidine (CHX) are state-of-the-art preventive measures for remineralizing teeth and for preventing plaque accumulation. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of fluoride and CHX varnishes on root caries and microbiota located on root surfaces. METHODS: Thirty-three patients from a periodontal maintenance program, having at least one tooth with gingival recession in each quadrant, participated in this study. One tooth per quadrant was assigned randomly to the control group or to one of the test groups that were treated with fluoride varnish, 1% CHX, or 40% CHX. The varnish treatment and the tooth cleaning were repeated every 3 months. Clinical examinations were performed at baseline and once a year for 3 years. Caries status and oral hygiene indices were evaluated clinically. The total cultivable microbiota and percentage of Mutans streptococci (MS), Actinomyces (ACC), and lactobacilli (LB) were analyzed. RESULTS: Oral hygiene was improved greatly during the course of the study. The percentage of MS, ACC, and LB of the total cultivable microbiota revealed a statistically significant reduction between baseline and final examination for each of the four groups. CONCLUSION: Professional tooth cleaning alone at 3-month intervals might be as effective in reducing MS, ACC, and LB as adjunctive treatment with fluoride or chlorhexidine.

PMID: 17668978 [PubMed - in process]

— Posted by Kristine
93.May 29th,
2008
4:05 pm There’s lots in dentistry that’s not evidence-based. Those metal pokey probes they stick into your cavities have been found to make cavities larger that would otherwise reverse themselves with remineralization. Metal probes no longer are supposed to be used.

Pulling out wisdom teeth prophylactically is not based on science. It shouldn’t be done.

Fluoride ingestion use has never been substantiated with valid science. A leading dental textbook admits fluoridation is based on belief not science.

Mercury use is unhealthy and dangerous but dentists will defend it to their death (and yours).

A Robert Wood Johnson report found that fluoride supplements and school-based fluoride mouthrinses are ineffective. Did anyone tell you that.

Several years ago a Readers Digest article was written by a journalist who went to about fifty different dentists all over the country and was given about fifty different diganoses - the cost and extent of which was more contingent on the luxuriousness of the office than on science (or lack of) in dentistry.

— Posted by Not a fan of dentists
94.May 29th,
2008
4:20 pm A lot of what organided dentistry convinces its member dentists of actually just gets dentists more money from insurance companies.

For example G Meinecke, DMD, FAGD wrote:,

” well established links between periodontitis and heart disease, stroke, pancreatic cancer, preterm birth and low birth weight babies. Regular dental cleanings eliminate the build-up which causes gingivitis and periodontitis.”

Actually, there is no evidence that periodontal disease causes any health problem. However, these conditions do occur concurrently. But since organized dentistry relays this information as if cleaning teeth prevents these health conditions, insurance companies such as one administered by AARP now will pay for three cleanings a year instead of just two.

Now they are tying to claim that cleaning your teeth prevents cancer becuase a study shows that people with periodontal disease are more likely to get certain cancers.

The mouth is the mirror of the body. If something is wrong in the body, it shows up in the mouth. Fixing the mouth won’t make the problem go away. But that’s the way organized dentistry frames it.

Even though the Centers for Disease Control says that US children are fluoride overdosed but dentist deficient, organized dentistry is convincing legislators that they need to pay for highly toxic (26,000 parts per million) fluoride to be painted onto babies teeth when the first tooth emerges.

There is NO science showing this won’t cause horrible health effects.

Organized dentistry doesn’t want to be mandated to actually treat low-income Americans. 80% of dentists won’t accept Medicaid. Instead, they throw more toxic fluoride at them.

— Posted by nyscof
95.June 2nd,
2008
11:57 am Kristine, thanks, this is the sort of response that shows an actual appeal to evidence, rather than to the gut.

That said, the cited articles:
1. Show that polishing doesn’t wear teeth down quickly - good, that.
2. Do show a link between oral biofilms & periodontitis, & indicate biofilm can develop soon after brushing, but don’t indicate how soon after cleaning &/or scaling a biofilm can be re-established. This doesn’t provide positive evidence for the value of professional cleaning.
3. Show that a course of treatment including scaling can be effective for periodontal disease - but scaling isn’t assessed individually.
4. Show that regular cleaning without adjuvant is as effective as regular cleaning with adjuvant in reducing certain bacteria. This study doesn’t compare change in bacterial load with or without cleaning, however.

So, while these are useful, they don’t actually come together to make a case for regular polishing &/or scaling. I know this was just a quick search on your part, & not an exhaustive list - at least it’s a step in the right direction, but it’s just that, a step.

— Posted by Gary G
96.June 10th,
2008
2:19 pm over 10 years ago i had a sensitive tooth and i went to a dentist who told me i needed a root canal. five years later i had pain in a front tooth so i went to him again. he said root canal but it was around the holidays and for some reason i said no. the pain went away and five years later my tooth is perfectly fine. now i go to someone else who wants to do deep scale cleaning and i am terrified. hannia1@yahoo.com

— Posted by Anne
97.June 11th,
2008
4:28 pm This whole thing gives me a headache dentists are so money hungry that you cannot get down to the truth, September 07 I am told by my relative dentist my teeth are all fine I actualy only have one filling in my whole mouth and that I was told should never have been done..

May I go for teeth cleaning at a local dentists office had the x-ray intr etc and was told I needed immediately 4 cavities filled… $850 .. When I said I would book an appointment and come back in a few days when I had time they just about insisted they do the work right away because it is very bad and could get worse and cost more monety to fix and even held a box of what looked liked a cavity kit ready to go

I said I would come back … A week later I walk into another dentist to see what they would say and I was x-rayed (nothing on x-ray) and was then told I had to have 10 cavities done, I asked why they cannot be seen on x-rays I was told they are surface cavities they do not show up on x-rays..

They too wanted me to at least start right then and there and also tried to peddle an insurance policy again I said I would book and come back.

I wish there was a place you could go where they just checked teeth but could not do the work so you could get an honest review

— Posted by Link
98.June 17th,
2008
7:09 pm Wow…these posts are amazing. Yes, as Ian Ayres states, do ask your dental hygienist or dentist “WHY”. I am a dental hygienist and I am sitting here with jaw on floor. Can you say biofilm? The purpose of routine dental cleanings is to remove the supragingival (above the gum) tartar which, if not removed, can and will cause disease processes such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and tooth decay for starters. Dentists are not to be compared to car dealers. If you feel that way about your dentist, you should fire him and get a new one. We use intraoral cameras so the patient can see exactly what we see. It’s a no-brainer. While you are researching this topic, don’t forget to research the link between gum disease and heart disease. Don’t want to floss your teeth? That’s fine with us…it’s your teeth you will eventually lose…and then we’ll make a profit on the extraction. Mr. Ayres, surely you do realize what an ounce of prevention is worth!

— Posted by Floss Boss
99.June 23rd,
2008
12:22 pm I discovered I had perio disease several years ago. At 50. Quitting cigarettes after 28 years. All of my upper molars are ruined. But holding their own for now because of deep cleaning.

I had a bad dentist. Who didn’t really clean my teeth and who decided not to warn me about the perio disease. Even though it was obvious.

Built up calculus deep under the gumline will serve as a fortress for placque and will destroy the bone holding each tooth in place.

Complete removal of all of the calculus will let the gums heal. Anything less will continue the problem.

The problem though is time and money. In reality it might take 2 hours per quad to do a good deep cleaning. Followed up by another hour per quad a few months later. But dentists and periodontists laugh at those numbers. Claiming they can get someone’s teeth perfectly clean (enough) in only like 2 hours total. Which is total BS.

What happens in conventional perio therapy is that there are still a lot of calculus left over. Functioning as forward-fire-bases for the bacteria. But the profession does not want to look at it that way. Because it is not a practical way to run a business.

— Posted by Tommie
100.June 25th,
2008
12:37 pm I’m not a dentist or hygenist, and I will vouch for them as a patient and say that yes, cleaning is necessary and does have benefit.

My teeth haven’t rotted through, although I have had a number of cavities filled in. About 6 in total on my back molars. I’m probably lucky I have my teeth at all at 33. I learned good oral hygeniene later in life (wasn’t instilled in me when I was young), brushing twice a day and flossing, but I neglected to go to the dentist for about 8 years due to lack of dental insurance. I thought brushing and flossing should be good enough. I wasn’t in pain, so I didn’t think it should be a problem. Brushing my teeth hurt my gums though, and there was bleeding.

I went to the dentist about 6 months ago, and they found a very large amount of calculus built up on my teeth. They also found one of my fillings was old, and coming loose (I felt no pain, I wouldn’t have known otherwise). I had beginning stages of periodontal disease and minor bone loss on some of my teeth. They had 4 different hygenists scrape all of my teeth over 2 different appointments for 2 hours. It was painful and unpleasant. I kept up my routine of brushing and flossing after, the same schedule I was keeping before.

I just went back for a follow up 6 months later and they said my teeth and gums look healthy and no signs of the perio disease. Nothing can be done about the bone loss, but it was minor and the gums have healed around it, so it should be fine. The followup cleaning was quick and painless.

I definitely won’t be waiting another 8 years to go back, even if I don’t feel pain or if the dentist says everything looks great. A friend of mine had to have a root canal because her filling came loose, bacteria got underneath it and rotted the tooth. I’ll definitely pick the 6 months cleaning schedule over that.

— Posted by Cathy
101.July 3rd,
2008
11:22 pm For all those who think a single payer system cannot work in this country, the fact is that we already have a very successful single payer system in operation — it is called Medicare.

— Posted by Diane Bech
102.July 8th,
2008
11:17 pm as a dental hygienist in a federal prison, i am not required to “sell dentistry,” as many posts here are speaking of. i am simply there to do cleanings - no decay check, no product-pushing, no quick exam by the dentist. i could almost just pretend to do a cleaning and nobody would notice, my paycheck would stay the same. however, the things that i see and the opportunity that i have to make a change in someone’s life (even if only a small one) gives these inmates the best cleaning that i can do. sadly, a better cleaning than what i might be able do in another environment. i see every day why it is important to have your teeth cleaned regularly. there is not a day that goes by that i don’t say wow, how does this happen to a mouth. of course the answer is neglect, but it still amazes me beyond belief. many of the inmates i see are from mexico and other countries where a standard of care does not exist the way it does in the US. there is also not a standard for someone pre-occupied with drugs and crime. the results i see from the cleanings are unbelievable. i am by no means working miracles or reversing the bone loss and tooth decay these people face, but i am begining something that has never been addressed before in their lives: prevention. maybe a few less extractions in the future. maybe a partial denture rather than a full denture. maybe a filling not a root canal. maybe the ability to chew your own food at an old age. maybe fewer systemic health concerns. i am not sure why i feel such a strong desire to work to the best of my ability for these people, but the results may have something to do with it. i feel i am truly making a difference in the oral and systemic health of otherwise neglected individuals. i simply cannot describe the appreciation some of these people have for the simple task of a dental cleaning and a little oral hygiene education. education and awareness are key to good oral hygiene. no cleaning is complete without patient education. i have worked in private practice and know where all the negative feelings about dental appts come from. i will just say that you should always leave your dental office feeling educated. when you have learned nothing from your cleaning appts you may want to re-consider, or just ask questions. it is remarkable to know the difference between and the impacts of a healthy and/or unhealthy mouth. cleanings are extremely important (in too many ways to describe) and do serve a purpose but you can decide for yourself how you will handle that inevitable phone call from your dental office to schedule your next cleaning. i just know the facts and see the misery of neglect everyday. by the way google some nasty calculus or dental pictures - they speak louder than any research study conduted.

— Posted by RDH05
103.July 19th,
2008
10:54 pm Instead of conventional cleanings which can’t destroy bacteria but only move it around, if you have the money for only one laser cleaning a year, I highly recommend it.

I’ve had two and they were painless, much quicker and much more effective than the scrape and pick method I had before. I have crooked teeth and the beginnings of gum disease that was getting worse with hour-long conventional one quad at a time treatments, which were distressing physically and psychologically. Laser treatment from a dentist with a good exam at the same time made me realize how primitive and barbaric even the most modern conventional dentistry is. I’ll never go back to it.

Lill Hawkins

— Posted by Lill Hawkins
104.July 26th,
2008
4:43 pm Do your local oral surgeon a favor……stop having your teeth cleaned professionally on a routine basis and he or she will be more than happy to extract teeth for u in the future. Sometimes “better lucky than good” comes int play but I’d rather be good…..a DMD

— Posted by paul
105.August 17th,
2008
10:07 pm What a great article! I moved to Dallas 3 years and have had two cleanings. One was $300 and the other $450. First dentist’s hygenist spent 5/10 mins. cleaning and 20 minutes on X-rays. Second dentist’ hygenist spent 5 mins. cleaning and 1/2 hour on surround X-rays. Both dentists came in and told me I needed $5,000 of dental work. Almost all is cosmetic work. My former dentist took care of my teeth for 15 years and I know what is required. Those who say the cleaning allows for discovery, then the dentist could do the X-rays without cleaning and eliminate the cost of the hygenist.

— Posted by Ulysses St. Germain
106.August 26th,
2008
8:36 am I find it amazing that anyone accepts non-scientific (aka non “evidence based”) _anything_. Non-evidence based medicine is known by another name: quackery. It mostly is and must be illegal to claim an effect that they cannot prove. Dentists are just a subset of the medical system so they should be under the same laws as anyone else.

— Posted by Anders Hovmöller
107.August 29th,
2008
10:24 am Questions about dental cleaning raise the important issue about how dentists are compensated.

For some routine dental procedures the asymmetric information problem is almost as severe as it is for used cars.

How many teeth are cleaned or fixed unnecessarily? Would our national dental expenditures be a lot lower if dentists were paid by salary rather than by procedure?

Do dentists with high equipment debts clean/fix more teeth per patient?

Do dentists in deep debt fix a higher proportion of teeth in the front of the mouth (easier to get to) than other dentists? Is this a potential application of the difference-in-differences model in economics?

Do dental clinics at universities pay their dental professors a salary rather than by procedure? Does the university own the dental equipment rather than the dental professors?

— Posted by Larry
108.September 8th,
2008
7:02 pm This may or may not have been mentioned, but it is likely that detection of cavities or other problems is dependent on (or at least benefits strongly from) having the teeth thoroughly cleaned beforehand.

At minimum, it should save the dentist time.

— Posted by Chris M.
109.September 9th,
2008
10:12 am Much of the tooth decay that occurs is because of people’s diet. Humanity has long been dieting and needs to return to liv-eting. Moving away from chemically ridden, sub-standard food will allow the teeth to be cleaner, no doubt. Heavy foods like meat, dairy, and eggs must be a contributer to gum disease, which is an indicator of heart disease. Thanks.

— Posted by nater
110.September 12th,
2008
7:11 pm I went to a dentist when I was 19. I had good dental insurance through my dad’s work. He said I needed a “complete mouth reconstruction”. I walked away and never went to a dentist again.
I am now 52 and have never had a cavity or any kind of toothache. My teeth look good.

— Posted by Mark
111.September 12th,
2008
11:22 pm So many good postings.

I am now 37 years old and have such deep regrets that I never had my teeth cleaned for many years. That’s really my ONLY regret in life. I even had braces at 12. (Although, I think that in itself was a mistake and a precursor to my problems) I came from a poor family with 4 sisters and the dentist my mother took me to at 12 years old somehow convinced her I needed braces. How, I don’t know, but she scraped up enough money for the braces. After the braces came off, that was pretty much it for my dental visits. I’m not even sure I had a cleaning when the braces were removed. Although, I probably did. After that, I don’t think I ever had a cleaning until I was 28. Although, I did brush regularly, I never even knew what a cleaning or it’s purpose was. I really thought that the worst thing someone could have happen to their teeth were cavities. I now know that regular cleanings, especially after(and during)braces are crucial to prevent gum disease. No one had ever told me about the significance of not having a routine cleaning or what gum disease was. Oh, how I wish someone had sat me down and explained it to me….Anyone! When I was a teenager, I could have scraped up the money to have it done myself (at least once a year), but I honestly didn’t know. I was the type of kid that really listens to good advice if it is given to me. It should have come from my parents and the dentist that put my braces on, but it never did. Tragically, I contracted gum disease and didn’t even realize it at the time. I lost a lot of gum and bone as a young adult. It was identified on my first dental trip years later. But, the damage was done. My teeth are mostly fine and my smile is not terrible, but the loss of gum and bone has permanently affected me physically and probably even more so mentally. I refrain from making a big smile since I have noticeably high gums. Lately, my teeth hurt from the absence of gums covering some of my teeth and I shudder thinking about the pain getting worse as time goes by. I would give almost anything to go back and have my teeth cleaned and gums checked. If I had them cleaned twice a year or probably even once a year, I am convinced I would be fine and happy right now. I see all my coworkers and friends and their teeth and gums are fine. All came from better-off families than me. They went to the dentist regularly. I didn’t. I even preach to some of them that smoke and dip tobacco about the potential harm they are causing to their teeth and gums. I am amazed that none of them know what gum disease is and seem to think what I say is funny. Most people have no clue, and I am talking about upper-class educated people. Why isn’t this taught to kids in school? Why aren’t parents required to have routine dental check-ups/cleanings for their children? It should be Federal law.

I remember as a child being taught to brush and floss regularly, but it was always emphasized for the prevention of cavities. No one seems to know how much more silent and insidious gum disease is and that it is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. It’s almost like someone is intentionally keeping it a secret. Although, I admit, there is much more information available due to the internet age.

Can you go 30 years without seeing a dentist? Maybe, if you are lucky. Why risk it?
I wasn’t one of the lucky ones. Just one trip to a caring dentist could have saved me from the misery and shame I now endure. To all the dentists and hygienists that read this, please try and educate your patients on the importance of having a routine exam and cleaning. Tell them if they don’t come back to you, to go elsewhere, just have it done. Don’t wait until someone asks a question. Tell your patients (and their parents if they are kids) about the risks of not coming back. I know dental education and care should start with the family, but everyone is not that fortunate. So, please take up the slack. If a kid comes in with a cavity to be filled and you know they aren’t having routine cleanings, explain to them the consequences. If just one listens and follows your advice, you have done your job.

And to those that complain about the high costs of dentistry. Well, I agree and disagree. I went to dentists as a child that were only worried about “big money” charges, like the braces and drill and fill. I know, dentists are people, and there are good and bad ones out there. Unfortunately, I only encountered the bad ones first.

Cost is a relative thing. If it meant that I could have good teeth and gums again and I had to pay $2000.00 per cleaning now AND back pay for the 30 or so cleanings I missed, I would not even hesitate to do so. It would be money well spent, even if I had to die a poor man. I would die smiling.

— Posted by Nic

Do the Bright Thing aids charitable dental care

This September, for the eighth consecutive year, the Interfaith Dental Clinic is sponsoring Do the Bright Thing – Bleach Your Teeth for Charity.

The event will benefit the Interfaith Dental Clinic, a nonprofit organization that provides quality, affordable dental care to low-income, working families and the elderly throughout Middle-Tennessee who do not have dental insurance. The clinic provides more than $2,000,000 in services annually and hopes that Do the Bright Thing will raise over $60,000 to contribute to its efforts.

The event provides individuals with the opportunity to purchase a professionally, custom-made, take home whitening system that is only available through dental offices for just $175 - about half the market price. This year, more than 50 dentists from Middle Tennessee communities have agreed to participate. Because the dentists are volunteering their time, 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to fund the Interfaith Dental Clinic’s services for the working poor. Dr. Tim Foster of Donelson shared these thoughts about the event, “Interfaith Dental Clinic provides a much needed service for our community and I am always thankful that I can participate by volunteering in the clinic, contributing to fundraising and participating with "Do the Bright Thing". Our patients have been asking about it ever since our participation last year and we hope it will be a HUGE success again!!”

“Do the Bright Thing is a win-win for everyone. Individuals can whiten their smile and improve someone else’s by supporting a great cause.” says Dr. Rhonda Switzer, the Executive Director of the Interfaith Dental Clinic. “We are so fortunate to have the support of the area dentists for this event. Their participation is vital to its success.”

Do the Bright Thing is sponsored by Discus Dental, who generously supplies the bleaching products. To receive a list of participating dentists in your area, log onto www.interfaithdentalclinic.com or call 234-0365.

Whiten Teeth Naturally With the New Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite Power Toothbrush

STAMFORD, Conn., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Few things can bestow confidence like a bright, healthy smile. Now consumers can achieve a whiter smile simply and naturally with the Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite power toothbrush, a sonic toothbrush specially designed to help whiten teeth. Its unique Clean & White mode, powered by patented sonic technology, switches back and forth between two cleaning frequencies producing alternate waves of speed that effectively remove coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco stains, making teeth as much as two shades whiter in just two weeks.

"Today, people want their teeth to be attractive and healthy, and attractive teeth are white teeth," said Ron Tiktin, Director, Customer Marketing, Philips Sonicare. "Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite lets consumers integrate whitening into their daily oral care routine. It’s an easy, everyday solution for achieving whiter teeth in a short period of time."

HealthyWhite combines two minutes of cleaning and an extra 30 seconds of whitening power to help achieve good oral health while providing natural whitening benefits. Regular use of Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite removes more plaque than a manual toothbrush and delivers improved gum health by reducing gingivitis and preventing gingival bleeding.

According to Barbara J. Steinberg, D.D.S., Clinical Professor of Surgery at Drexel University College of Medicine, "Many of my patients are looking for an easy and effective way to whiten their teeth without using harsh chemicals or messy treatments. So, by brushing with Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite twice a day, patients can be assured they are continually removing everyday stains such as coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco for a whiter smile, while at the same time improving their oral health. Additionally, HealthyWhite can help extend the results of professional whitening treatments," Steinberg continued.

The Philips Sonicare brand is a leader in oral health care, and is backed by more than 140 publications and abstracts representing clinical and laboratory studies conducted at more than 40 universities and research institutes worldwide. Philips Sonicare power toothbrushes are proven to promote and improve oral health, from reducing plaque to improving overall gum health. They also have demonstrated the ability to increase patient compliance by promoting a consistent oral health and hygiene regimen between dental visits. Philips Sonicare is the number-one power toothbrush brand recommended by U.S. dental professionals.

The suggested retail price for Philips Sonicare HealthyWhite is $109.99 to $129.99 and is available now. It will be carried at retail outlets nationwide including drug, department and specialty stores, mass merchandisers and dental offices. For more location information, visit www.sonicare.com.

For further information, please contact:
Shannon Jenest
Senior PR Manager
Philips Consumer Lifestyle
Tel: 203-351-5769
E-mail: Shannon.Jenest@philips.com

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 133,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of US$42 billion (EUR 27 billion) in 2007, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

SOURCE Royal Philips Electronics

American v British teeth

By Vanessa Barford
BBC News

Ricky Gervais is the first to admit that his teeth are neither white nor straight - and Americans mistakenly think he wears bad false teeth for comedic purposes. Why the dental divide?


British teeth are not like American teeth.

Hollywood smiles are pearly white paragons of straightness. British teeth might be described as having character.

Ricky Gervais at the Emmys
These are my real teeth. You think I'd wear them all the time if they weren't real?
Ricky Gervais' reply to interviewer remarking on his 'false teeth'

So much character, in fact, that Ricky Gervais says one US journalist complimented him on being prepared to wear unflattering false teeth for his role as an English dentist in his latest film, Ghost Town. Only he didn't.

"He was horrified that I could have such horrible real teeth. It's like the biggest difference between the Brits and the Americans, they are obsessed with perfect teeth," says Gervais.

Unlike many British stars hoping to make it big across the Atlantic, Gervais hasn't bought himself a Hollywood Smile.

But what is it about the bright white and perfectly straight teeth of Los Angeles that Americans love - and expect of their public figures?

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"Americans have the idea uniformity is equivalent to looking good. The British character is more free-spirited, more radical," says Professor Liz Kay, dean of the Peninsula Dental School in Exeter and Plymouth.

She says Americans aspire to a row of teeth which are absolutely even and white.

Artificial smile

Whiter than white, it transpires. Teeth naturally vary in colour and the palette can tend closer to cream than white.
In Cold Comfort Farm in 1995; and in 2001 after Serendipity and Pearl Harbor
Kate Beckinsale, now glossy of mane and white of tooth

"US teeth are sometimes whiter than it is physically possible to get in nature - there is a new reality out there. The most extreme tooth bleaching is terrifying, it looks like it's painted with gloss paint and has altered what people perceive as normal," says Professor Jimmy Steele, of the School of Dental Science at Newcastle University.

The British traditionally prefer "nice natural smiles - natural in colour", he says, and have had a more functional view of teeth and dentistry, whereas Americans have always seen teeth more aesthetically, hence the rise of the artificial smile in show business and pop culture.

Cue jibes such as The Bumper Book of British Smiles which cajoles Lisa Simpson into having a brace, and Mike Myers' mockery of buck-toothed Brits in Austin Powers. Conversely, in the UK the snide remarks are saved for those who have had obvious work done, such as Simon Cowell or glamour model Jodie Marsh.

When it was widely reported that Martin Amis had secured a book advance in 1995 to help "do his teeth" - which the author denied - he was lampooned by critics. And more recently there has been much speculation over whether Gordon Brown has had a smile makeover.

Until now it has been considered rather un-British to go for an upgrade, says Professor Steele.
Simon Cowell
A new smile for a job on US TV

He now performs cosmetic dentistry on a wide spectrum of patients, from an 82-year-old woman with overlapping teeth who finally wanted to "do something for herself", to a 17-year-old worried that fluoride had given her mottled teeth that were whiter than normal.

But the main difference is that Brits tend to go for more conservative treatments.

"Dental tools can do an awful lot of damage if used inappropriately. Crowns can mean a perfectly good tooth has to be cut down, which can weaken the tooth or damage nerves in the long run," he says.

Metal mouth

While it is starting to be more common to see braces on adults, most people opt for quicker solutions, says Martin Fallowfield, a cosmetic dentist and executive board member of the British Dentist Association.
UV whitening treatment
Whitening can be done by chemicals or UV light

"Quite often teeth whitening is a 40th or 50th birthday present," he says, a procedure that can be done in a dentist's chair in two hours for about £650. A more intensive "smile makeover" - perhaps involving veneers, crowns and reconstruction work - can take months and cost anything from £2,000 to £10,000.

Dentistry in the UK is a £5bn market, and Mr Fallowfield expects this to rise to £15bn within 10 years, largely fuelled by private cosmetic dentistry. While NHS dentists are in short supply in parts of the country, the number of dentists registered with the General Dental Council is up from 31,029 in 2000 to 35,419 in 2007.

On average, cosmetic procedures account for a third of a dentist's income from non-NHS work, according to research by the British Dental Association.

Among Mr Fallowfield's patients is Jenny Horton, 36, who has had four crowns redone, six new ones added and her lower teeth whitened after she had a baby.
British toothpaste advert
Toothpaste has long promised to do more than just clean

"The first thing I notice on people is their smile," she says. "I wanted a confidence boost - I was putting my hand over my mouth before, now I can smile. And the compliments have come flooding in: people haven't noticed my teeth, but say I look well."

But Brits haven't embraced the full Hollywood makeover - yet.

"Americans don't mind this unnaturally white look. It's a new phenomenon, like buying a Rolls Royce and telling the world. They are wearing a smile as a badge," says Mr Fallowfield.

Nor do aspiring actors and actresses need to get a new and very expensive set of pearly-whites, says Sylvia Young, of the eponymous theatre school. "A trip to the orthodontist can be a good idea, to get the teeth straightened if need be."

As for the likes of Ricky Gervais, it makes sense to stick to his guns, says Mr Fallowfield.

"A lot of people in his place would have had their teeth fixed in this day and age. But for comedians, it's good to look unique."

Below is a selection of your comments.

Mostly US kids get braces after their baby teeth fall out and then you go to the dentist once or twice a year. Stars are under a much finer microscope so they take more extreme measures, but we really don't obsess about it that much. The fact is, straight teeth are healthier, easier to maintain and look better. It takes very little effort to have this done the way the majority in the US do it. I actually have never had an major dental work, including braces, outside of fillings and cleanings. I guess I don't understand why having healthy straight teeth is considered a bad thing. It's not a lot of work.
Adam, Boston, US

It's hilarious really, all the cosmetic dentistry means that people end up looking like they have false teeth, Frank Butcher style. May appeal to some, but certainly doesn't to me.
Fay, Witham

I have long thought that most women look better with their natural teeth than a row of perfect brilliant white teeth that look like a row of tomb stones. The famous model Dovima (Dorothy Horan) had a unique natural beauty when she first started modelling in the early 1950s, but in my view she ruined it by having her teeth crowned. To me a row of perfect white teeth just says "American woman", give me the natural look any day.
Adrian, Brixham, Devon UK

As an American, I must admit that I scoff at people that have crowned, whitened, and straightened their teeth. I grew up with relatively straight teeth so I feel fortunate. But I remember when I was quite young, before cosmetic dentistry existed, my father implored my mom to have all of her upper teeth removed because one tooth, just one, was not quite in place. She conceded and I believe always resented that because she quickly found dentures not only unnatural but uncomfortable. Cheers to natural smiles everywhere, ones with natural character and beauty.
Mahdee, Iowa, US

Good for Ricky Gervais. I'm an American and for years now I've thought those glow in the dark preternaturally white teeth look weird. I've all my teeth, and at the age of 53 they've a nice mellowed ivory colour, but they're sound. That's enough for me.
Thomas, Londonderry USA

This article is heavily flawed, it is not a battle between ultra worked-on teeth and brown jagged gnarly teeth. Brits should just start doing what Americans do, brushing their teeth and going to the orthodontist as children if it is necessary and within an individual's budget. A few hundred years ago tooth decay and rot were a leading cause of death. You only come with one adult set so why not take care of them?
Andrew, Cincinnati, USA

I'm American and I have very straight, very white teeth that have never had braces or been whitened, and I've never had a cavity. We have had fluoride in our water since the 70s - we have better, healthier teeth because of it.
Jessica, New York City

Andrew in Cincinnati: WE! DO! CLEAN! OUR! TEETH! (and a good number of my friends had orthadontics too) The point of the article wasn't that clean teeth are a waste of time, but that real teeth don't stay that white without actually bleaching them. It's not as if one can just ignore tooth decay, but having creamy-colour teeth is not tooth decay. And slightly off-kilter teeth don't damage anyone's health.
Lindsay, Derbyshire

Let's not also forget that fluoride has been added to the water supplies of Canadian and American towns and cities to assist in dental health since the late 1960's. We here seem to object to something as simple and basic as this which has major implications to good dental hygiene and less cost to the NHS. Go figure!
Pete Schilling, Sturry, Kent

Wow, Andrew from Cincinnati seems to have a poor impression of Brits! I'm sure (nearly) all clean their teeth and go to the dentist. The difference seems to be in the level of cosmetic manipulation undertaken on all parts of the body (I'd only ever seen people who'd had facelifts on the TV before my recent trip to the US). Perhaps Brits are just a bit less obsessed with celebrity "perfection"?
Jules, London

My parents were too poor to afford dental work for themselves until adulthood. I on the other hand went to the dentist every four to six months from the time my first tooth appeared. I am thankful that, unlike my parents, I do have straight and white teeth. I do find the unnatural glow-in-the-dark white teeth of some disturbing. That said, I also must be quintessentially American in that I don't understand why anyone with the means wouldn't want straight white teeth.
Kerry, Los Angeles, CA

Surely the concern should not be to point a laugh at a handful of Americans for going to far with cosmetic dentistry, when so few people in Britain do not have access to an NHS dentist. Britons pride themselves for providing socialized medicine to all - but there has been a systematic collapse in dentistry that has largely occurred without public outcry. But after all no-one likes going to the dentist, do they?
Duncan Brumby, London

Yeah cause of course we Brits are so far behind the Americans that we never brush our teeth, have never heard of an orthodontist and certainly would never dream of taking our kids to a dentist. How foolish can some people be? Wake up - perfect white teeth look totally fake. This is why the American version of extreme makeover churns out clones every time. It is ok to have your own look. I have a gap in my teeth and I think it's cute.
Sarah, Sheffield

As an American cosmetic dentist, I must say I hold a similar disdain for smiles that are so white and perfect that they are obviously fake. Such teeth are as bad as an obvious facelift or oversized breast augmentation. I want the patient to look like they were born with a beautiful smile, not be a walking neon sign. That said, many of my patients demand it. Doing a case on someone who has been self conscious of their teeth their whole life and giving them a reason to smile with confidence for the first time is an amazing feeling.
Dr. Greg Grobmyer, Jackson, Tennessee, USA