Mr. Shirley quickly repented having given the invitation, and sent out a circular countermanding it, and requesting the tenants to stay at home.  On Monday, however, a vast excited mass assembled to hear his ultimatum, which was announced by the new agent.  ’He would not reduce their rents.  They might give up their lands if they pleased; but they had little or no cause of complaint.’  They insisted on his mounting a chair and making a speech.  He softened the message as well as he could.  When he had done there was a dead silence.  In describing what follows Mr. Trench surpasses the wildest romancers in piling up the agony.  I copy the description that the reader may see the difference between romance and history.

’There was a dead silence when I stopped speaking.  It was broken by a stentorian voice.

’"Then you won’t reduce our rents?”

’"I have already given you Mr. Shirley’s answer upon that point,” said I.  “Stranger as I am, it is impossible for me to form any opinion as to whether they are too high or not.”

’"Down on your knees, boys!” shouted the same voice; “we will ask him once more upon our knees!” and to my horror and amazement the vast crowd, almost all at least who were in my immediate vicinity, dropped suddenly on their knees, and another dead silence ensued.

’It was a dreadful spectacle.  Their hats were on their heads, and their sticks in their hands, some leaning upon them as they knelt, others balancing and grasping them.  It was fearful to see the attitude of supplication, due only to a higher power, thus mingled with a wild defiance.

’"We ask you upon our knees, for God’s sake, to get us a reduction of our rents!” again the same voice cried aloud.

’I was greatly shocked.  I instantly got down off the chair.  I entreated them to rise.  I told them that I was distressed beyond measure, but that I had given them the only message I was authorised to give; and quite overcome by such a scene, I endeavoured to move again across the crowded space from the office, in order to enter the house, and report proceedings to Mr. Shirley, intending to request that he would himself appear and address his excited tenantry.

’The moment I moved towards the door, the vast crowd leaped again to their feet; I was instantly surrounded, hustled, and prevented from getting near it.  I bore this good-humouredly, and the door being quite close to me, I had no doubt they would ultimately let me in.  But whilst this scene was going on, a shout was raised by those who were at a distance up the road leading to the town, and who had not heard what had been said.  “Bring him up—­bring him up, and let us see him!” In a moment I was seized, and though I resisted to my utmost, I was dragged up the narrow road which led from Shirley House to the town.  I was kicked and beaten, and pushed and bruised, my hat knocked off, and my clothes torn; and in this state I was dragged into the main street of Carrickmacross.