that I think can never pass from my memory. It was that lovely twilight, soft and silent as an infant's slumbers, and the gay spirits of all the party seemed to subside into a mood of more pensive enjoyment. "For, oh! when heav'n and earth grow dumb with bliss, In homage to an hour divine as this, Thoughts of immortal beauty spring to birth, We did not see the eagle in his inaccessible nest; but my thoughts were busily occupied with recollections of that beautiful description of God's dealings with his ancient people contained in Deuteronomy xxxii. 11, 12. I have scarcely ever referred to that sublime passage of Scripture since, without unconsciously connecting it in imagination with the "Eagle's Rock" at Killarney. Having remained stationed there a considerable time, we took such an abrupt turn in the river that, on looking back, we could see the rock, from its summit to its base, in great perfection, and its softened image also reflected in the watery mirror below. The navigation of these narrow passages is difficult. The boatmen were, at times, obliged to put out all their strength to overcome the violence of the current; but our pilot, Mr. H., was well acquainted with every rock and the depth of every channel. Some indistinct ideas of danger had, however, connected themselves in my imagination with the thought of "shooting the arch” under old Weir-bridge; for we had heard of accidents occurring from the equilibrium of the boat being destroyed, &c. I secretly felt glad to hear, therefore, when we reached the spot, that there was not water enough for the boat to "shoot through," heavily laden as it was. We were therefore set on shore, and, groping our way through a dark wooded pathway, we embarked again, and passing once more over Turk and the lower lakes, at length safely landed at Ross Castle. The lower lake looked calmly beautiful, as it did the day before. Many a bright star was reflected in its dark bosom, sheets of summer lightning at intervals glanced rapidly across the landscape, and the moon that lighted us home to the hotel gave an entirely new character to the scene. "How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this lake! Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; The effect of the bugle while on the water was again tried in awakening the echoes of Ross Castle, and we heard the repetitions distinctly from the Castle, the ruined church of Aghadoe, and Mangerton, with numerous reverberations afterwards. It was about eleven when we reached the hotel. Whilst returning in the boat, the strongest persuasions were used to induce us to alter our plans and remain another day. I being the only lady, was instituted as judge in the debate. Each of the party then pleaded the merits of the cause;―our friends, the comic and penseroso warblers, with incomparable wit and cleverness;-but my Lady Judge resisted their eloquence, resisted the beguiling attractions of the scenery, nay more, resisted the urgent solicitations of her own inclinations. We left Killarney the following morning. CHAPTER VI. THE RETURN FROM THE LAKES OF KILLARNEY TO DUBLIN. "Once more 'mong the verdure and dew of thy mountains, The Shamrock shall ope its wet eye to the sun; While fondly the Muse shall recline by thy fountains, "And Plenty shall smile on thy beautiful valleys, And Peace shall return the long-wandering dove; And Religion shall breathe o'er mud cottage and palace, And spread out her wings o'er an Eden of love." OUR plan was to return to Dublin by Cork. The road appeared uninteresting, but almost any high road would look monotonous after the fairy scenes we had so recently left. The way is, however, varied by many remnants of ancient strength, such as the ruins of feudal castles and monasteries. Within four or five miles of Cork stands the Castle of Ballincally, on a rocky eminence in the |