CHAPTER XX.

"How happy the soldier who lives on his pay."

THE oldest soldiers could not have shown better conduct on a march. The sergeant took advantage of my occasional advance to crack a joke or tell a story, all, of course, to the advantage of the soldier's life; a life which he never had led, nor, indeed, ever intended to lead. He had been one of Colonel Dole's best recruiting sergeants, and was, as a great favour, lent to the relative of his old friend, Lord Moira. Mr. Husho sang many funny songs; and we got into Pollardstown long before dusk, twenty-seven long Irish miles, including the two which the party had marched for my pleasure: our next day's march was but eleven miles; the third sixteen.

We were now in a part of the country where, amongst bogs and morasses, the facility to escape might have tempted some of our recruits to desert; but, although some of their hearts evidently sank as they approached head-quarters, not a man of them showed the slightest indications of wishing to fly his colours. We pushed forward merrily, and reached headquarters at Longeville about two o'clock on the third day; every man as fresh as when he set out.

Just before we entered the town, while the party were halted to brush up a little, Sergeant Macnab let me into a secret. "Sir, it's very likely," said this experienced crimp, "that the commanding officer would take a fancy to keep me at headquarters; but as I was only engaged for the recruiting service, it would not shuit me at all to be nailed to the regiment: therefore, sir, if you please to send me back with one of the party, Corplar Dumphy and the other two will march into town with you." There was reason in what he said, and I was not obliged to take him on. As a recruiting sergeant he was invaluable. I, therefore, granted him not only leave to return, but the mare to ride on, as far as the public-house we last slept at; marching into town at the head of my party, not exactly with the honours of war, having neither colours nor drums— nothing but an almost inaudible whiffling fifer.

I delivered up my men to the adjutant, Captain-Lieutenant C. F. W. E. Flank, took his receipt for them, with an opinion

they were sound men and true, and which the surgeon shortly after, to my great delight, confirmed. I next went to the pay. master, in whom I recognised the nephew of my magnanimous ally and friend, Joe Atkinson, and laid every man's account before him. Each man was called in his turn to acknowledge or object to the account. Not one objection was made: these matters arranged, a balance was struck, (their improvidence had left but little in my hands,) and I bid them all good by! They gave me the best of characters, and as a proof of their regard, accompanied me in a body to the barrack gate, beyond which it was not deemed good for their health or morals to allow them to pass. Thus brought to the limits of their liberty, "God bless your honour was often repeated; and I went with Mr. Husho to a dirty puddling inn, to prepare for dinner at the mess at five.

A subaltern's toilet is soon made; but I had scarcely put Mr. Husho's talent as a hair-dresser to the proof, when his good offices were solicited by all the party assembled in the house of entertainment. There were six officers to sleep in four beds, boasting of nothing cleanly beyond white, damp sheets. With the aid of my powder and pomatum, Mr. Husho executed his task to the admiration of all; and his remuneration afforded him the means of continuing in a state of constant intoxication for the ensuing two days.

I set out for the barracks with my five comrades; one captain, one lieutenant, and three ensigns. It was a curious sight to observe the diversity of dress in the various members of the same regiment; no two of whom appeared alike as we assembled in the mess-room. The only leading distinction was the blue facing; in every other respect, each officer followed his own fancy. Some wore jackets without skirts, light-dragoon fashion; others with short light-infantry swallow tails. Some wore long coats of formal cut; others military coat-tees of no particular cut whatever; and which bore the appearance of having been hunting frocks, stripped of the club cuffs and collars, tapered away at the skirts to answer as a temporary military garb. Then the variety of hats, caps, bonnets of beaver, cloth, and leather; as different in shape, cut, and plumage, as were the faces of the wearers!

The dinner passed off as dull as the conversation, which, af¬ ter the cloth was removed, was entirely of that description which is regimentally called "parish," a subject quite inadmissible in the messes of older and more regular regiments; but all were anxious to hear the news of the adjutant's budget, who, to do him justice, was no niggard of his communication. From these I derived the information, that upwards of three hundred and fifty men were already on the muster-roll; that

the reports from the recruiting quarters were highly favourable; and that the four hundred, wanting to complete the battalion, might be reasonably expected at head-quarters in six weeks, when its inspection by the general of the district would take place; farther, that the officers who had most success would be kept out recruiting to the last moment, and those who had hitherto been unsuccessful would be called to head-quarters to attend drill, and do the duty of the barracks.

A thrill of pleasure shot through my heart, when this goodhumoured fellow, addressing himself to me, observed, “If you continue as lucky as you have been, I don't think we shall have the pleasure of your company to cut our mutton again, till the day of inspection." I felt impatient to get to bed, in order that I might start by the break of the morning's light, and did so, with the slight inconvenience, however, of being obliged to press a car to carry Mr. Husho to the village, where my sergeant and privates were in waiting. We were no less than seven hours in performing the sixteen miles, owing to the obstreperous conduct of the drunken friz, who, like most drunkards when incapable of uttering a word coherently on any other subject, still found speech enough to argue by the hour on his perfect sobriety.

However, we at last reached our quarters for the night: the sergeant was on the look out, and was not a little pleased to hear that I had passed all my men, assuring me that there were two lads on the road, who he suspected were deserters, to whom he had "tipped" the king's money that morning, and who would be sure to join us on the march. Instead of halting at the little town eleven miles distant, I engaged a fresh car for the carriage of knapsacks, and to give an occasional lift to the men, in order to reach Templemore before night.

We tripped over the road this day without the slightest impediment, and by taking a different route by a mountain path, shortened the distance by some five or six miles. But, alas! how uncertain are all our hopes! I felt towards the cool of the evening, when in sight of my anticipated bliss, a faintness and shivering come over me, and experienced a visitation of an overpowering headach, which prostrated all my faculties. The cup of happiness seemed to touch my very lips, when fate dashed it from me: would that I had taken this salutary warning! Unable to sustain my seat on the saddle, I was helped upon the car, my head resting on the lap of Corporal Dumphy, absolutely more dead than alive.

In this state we arrived at the Nag's-Head, long before the evening dews had fallen; where, placed on a bed, a heavy delirious sleep of two hours afforded me some relief, and restored the power of proceeding on the car to my own quarters.

This then, thought I, is the delightful eve of that day which I promised to spend with my new friends. Haply we may never meet again; and I shall be forgotton! With these melancholy thoughts I was finishing my last cup of tea, when my reveries were broken in upon by that angel of light, whose image was always before me, accompanied by the old gentleman: they had accidentally heard of our arrival at the Nag'sHead, and were on their way to hurry me to their hospitable mansion, when they met my sergeant; he, it seems, had made out a sad story for my two fainting fits, and tears, and ravings! with what view except to beget a tender pity for me, and obtain better quarters, I could not conjecture; but it had such an effect on my kind visiters, that instead of the hearty shake of the hand, Mr. Temple approached me with caution and great gentleness, expressing his pleasure at seeing me up, and hoped I would not think of going on to Manor Rawdon that night. "We have a large house, my boy," said he, cheering up, "and can take good care of you. But one night 'through the sheets,' and we'll have you as brisk as ever: my son is able to join our party and is anxious to be introduced to you." During the delivery of this kind invitation, the lovely Maria scarcely raised her eyes from the floor; but when concluded, she threw on me a look of such tenderness, and yet as I interpreted it of supplication not to accept the invitation, that for a moment I was struck dumb with surprise, and felt myself incapable of reply.

This feeling being in some measure overcome, I took the* hand of the hospitable old gentleman, and begged he would indulge me by allowing me to depart that evening, as the distance was too short to cause any apprehension for my safety; and assured him that the first day I felt myself able to wait on him and his amiable family, I should embrace that pleasure, if only to repeat my grateful thanks for his kindness. Once more the eyes of the lovely Maria shot forth their wild lustre; a gleam of satisfaction seemed to beam on her expressive countenance, the cause of which I in vain racked my brain to interpret. It was now nearly ten o'clock, yet still clear twilight. The car was ready: a bed and warm quilted counterpane over it were, according to the fashion of the country, placed on it for my comfort by my landlord and her sisters; and having once more given and received a friendly pressure of the hand from the father, I attempted to say a few words to the retiring daughter, but my tongue refused its office. I uttered something, I know not what, by way of adieu: but just as she bestowed her parting glance on me, I recollected and drew from my bosom the memorial rose with which she had presented me; and exhibiting it for one short moment, pressed it to my lips and

replaced it. The action was observed, and returned by one of those indescribable indications of pleasure which love alone could discern, or perhaps vanity affect to see.

The extraordinary conduct of this interesting girl had so strongly taken possession of my mind, that I was almost insensible to all that passed around me. The sergeant and corporal used the mare alternately, ride and tie, while the privates occasionally rested their wearied limbs on the car. In little more than an hour and a half we reached our quarters; where old Robin not expecting me until the following day, had left a couple of post letters and a newspaper for me. The first contained halves of bank notes to the amount of one hundred pounds, from the agent for the public service; and the newspaper sent by my worthy friend, Captain Atkinson, contained the military promotions from the gazette, in which I had the happiness of seeing my own name as ensign with the scrawl, "Je vous felicite," written on the nearest margin, to prove to me the interest which his kind and warm heart took in my welfare. The commission was dated from the 6th of June. The widow Malone, who seemed to have forgotten my past folly or, to believe that it was but a natural and excusable homage to her charms, was all kindness; and made me a large basin of sherry whey, which, when I was snug in bed, she herself came to administer. I drank it with due thanks, and ventured to ask for one kiss by way of good night. "Arrah, my dear child," said she, "it's fitter for you to go to sleep and be good." I will not answer for it that I took her advice to the letter; but as for the rest my thoughts hurried me back to Templemore, and to Maria, until wearied nature asserted her rights, and bound me in deep and long repose.

CHAPTER XXI.

"I do remember an apothecary-"

PREVIOUSLY to retiring for the night, I had ordered the ser geant to take home honest Robin's mare, and to bring from Somerston the Esculapius of that village.

My old guardian, on hearing that I had occasion for a leach, held a consultation with his good woman, who had a salve for every sore and a cure for every complaint; and they both came