CHAPTER XVII .-- Midnight Court of Justice.
-- Sentence of the Proctor and His Sons.
Breakfast in the proctor's, on the morning of Christmas Eve, was eaten as if it had been a funeral meal.

The proctor himself could not raise his spirits, which were generally high and cheerful.

John and Alick were much more serious than usual; and were it not for the presence of M'Carthy, the meal in question would have been a very gloomy one indeed.
Even M'Carthy himself felt the influence of the spirit that prevailed, and found that all his attempts to produce cheerfulness or mirth among them were by no means successful.

The two sons, as if acting under the influence of some unaccountable presentiment, engaged themselves in casting bullets for the fire-arms with which the house was furnished, whilst M'Carthy spent his time with the ladies, and endeavored to amuse them as well as ha could.

About twelve o'clock John rode into the town of Lisnagola to bring home a blunderbuss which he had sent the day before, by Mogue Moylan, for the purpose of having it furnished with a new ramrod.