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plicable, the good family seemed convinced; yet that it could be of an unpleasant nature appeared little probable, from the cheerfulness of my manner, and the unequivocal glee which another field day (as Ensign O'Bryan Mac termed those rencontres) had inspired in my friend and second.

We were informed by the ladies that poor Arabin had paid his visit of leave shortly after we set out on our walk, and that he staid but a few minutes. Miss Maria took occasion to observe to me that he never once mentioned my name, or made the slightest inquiries as to the period of my acquaintance in that house, or how I became so favoured an inmate. She herself could find a reason for this reserve! Seven o'clock came; to the Nag's Head my friend and I repaired, and there he paraded his "flutes." They appeared to possess all the merit he attributed to them, of which I was no judge; and he ostentatiously showed me several nicks on the butt end of his favourite one, indicating the hits he had made with it: when crossed by another and longer notch, the hit had been mortal! Of these, (shocking to relate,) there were three. "There's Harrison's cross," said he, pointing to one: "that shot my brother; and there's that thief Daly, that put an affront on my sister," (namely, danced three successive nights with her at the assizes of Galway, and left town without making a proposal of marriage!!!) and that last mark is poor Ned Kirby's, (late of the 27th, a fine young man, not twenty; a recent and a melancholy affair;) but it was all his own fault-'twas, upon my honour-he would not apologzie at all at all!"

Trusting to the fidelity of his orderly man, we proceeded to the rendezvous; the latter carrying the music-box a couple of hundred yards in the rear. We were before our time; but soon the lieutenant arrived, pale and agitated, not with fear, for to that feeling his gallant heart was stranger, accompanied by a freshly recruited second; the parchment slave having left him in the lurch, and skulked off for Dublin the first quarter of an hour after he heard that the Goliah of Galway was to appear as my second; leaving his ear-abused friend to find a substitute in the best manner he could.

Driven to the last moment of his time, my antagonist had pressed into the service a young surgeon, or rather an apprentice to one, to whom no objection on the score of family or conduct could possibly be made; and when the alteration was announced to my friend, I was at once astonished and delighted at the calmness and discretion with which he received notice of the flight of the scribe. He proceeded to preliminaries with his new associate in this delicate affair; in fact, though a being of his own world in many respects, no master of the ceremonies in his drawing-room could be more perfectly at home

than honest O'Bryan Mac, when the parties were paraded, and pistols in hand.

Our present arrangement was thus: we were to stand twelve paces asunder, back to back, and on the words "Gentlemenready!-wheel-fire!" to discharge our pistols: the only mur derous insinuation that escaped my friend O'Bryan was, when he won the toss for choice of ground, and his last instructions to me were in a hurried whisper, "Keep your eye on the tree which he now cOVERS; you're sure to hit."

I really felt no sensation at the time, so strong on my mind was the wish that I might not hit my antagonist. Yet on receiving the word, "wheel and fire," my pistol was directed exactly for the tree, and discharged ere I was conscious of my pulling the trigger: in the twinkling of an eye I saw the lieutenant on one knee, as I imagined wounded. My friend burried towards me, and inquired, "Are you hit?"-"No!" He then flew to my adversary: the whole was but the work of one instant. The lieutenant was once more erect and untouched: in wheeling and placing his right foot in advance, the humid sod gave way, and he fell on his left knee while in the act of discharging his pistol. To this fall the noble fellow probably owed his life, for my bullet was found buried in the body of the blighted tree about five feet from the ground, directly before which my gallant adversary stood.

A short conversation took place between Arabin and the young surgeon, when my friend was beckoned to the conference. After lengthening his face to that extent which gravity required on the occasion, he approached the lieutenant. Whatever was said appeared so perfectly satisfactory to the man of hair-triggers, that assuming once more a smile of satisfaction, I heard him say, "Sir, you're a man of perfect honour, and with your permission I will take you by the hand to my friend, who, I hope you will allow, acted as became his cloth and character;" a compliment with which I could well have dispensed.

My friend O'Bryan as a peace-maker was as zealous for reconciliation as he had before been for "horrida bella." It is hardly necessary to explain farther: the lieutenant, on the flight of his quondam friend, apprehended that his confidence had been abused; and had the slightest advance been made, he would have yielded to reconciliation before the last extremity. Not only did he now express his perfect conviction of my innocence of the imputed offence, but disclaimed (which he really needed not have done except for form's sake) all participation in the abusive composition of the vile attorney. So, after mutual expressions of a sense of each other's honour, spirit, and all those customary, but to my mind, most fulsome compliments on such occasions, we separated.

As I passed the temple of God on my return, how ardently did I wish to prostrate myself in some obscure corner, and while imploring his merciful forgiveness, utter my pious thanks, first for my own preservation, and still more that his good Providence had saved my hand from the stain of a fellow-creature's blood. The days, however, are long, I fear, gone by, if they ever existed, when such an act would escape contempt and derision; but the humble homage of the heart was fervently and silently rendered, and, I hope, mercifully accepted!

The news of the meeting and its supposed effects were known in the little town long before our return; and great indeed was the astonishment of the many who were on the watch for the wounded lieutenant, to see that gallant soul, instead of being borne wounded or dying, strutting bravely down town with his surgeon-second, just as if he had not been mortally wounded and left sprawling in the church-yard, a fate to which report had consigned him; and much as we were both respected and esteemed, there was a feeling of disappointment that after all there had not been just a little hit on one side or the other.

My friend O'Bryan and myself entered town by a circuitous route, and I got to my kind host's friendly porch about dusk; thus escaping all observation. Neither of the ladies were visible, and the old gentleman was at the Nag's Head. Thither we repaired; and found him waiting with a solicitude, almost parental, for my return. He congratulated me on my safety, and had the consideration to accede to the justice of my observation when I submitted whether it would not be better to set off for my quarters that very night, in order to let the late meeting drop into oblivion, which, in the course of a few days, it would do. So, after a "cold bone," (as it is the custom in Ireland to call an unpremeditated supper,) at which I met only one of my fair friends, I set out within half an hour of midnight (but it was as bright as day) for my quarters, taking leave of my indomitable friend O'Bryan Mac, who made himself up for the night at the Nag's Head, intending to remain a day or two in that place, in order to do justice to the conduct of all parties, in the various gossipping coteries to which he always found a ready entrance.

All the bipeds had long retired to rest; but the trusty Cromwell gave tongue, and I was soon admitted by the awakened gossoon, who put my nag into the stable, where he found at least hay and a litter.

A thousand painful reflections crowded my mind, during which all that I had ever heard or read of woman, pro et contra, flashed upon my memory; the result was, the perfect conviction of the truth of an old Irish apophthegm, translated thus:

"When Venus grants a favour, it is generally attended with some misfortune."

A troubled sleep fell upon my heavy eyelids, and it was nine o'clock before I descended to my breakfast room. Hot cakes, fresh eggs, and the warm-hearted Robin O'Farrell, awaited

me.

1440

CHAPTER XXXII.

"She now determined that a virtuous woman
Should rather force and overcome temptation,
That flight was base and dastardly, and no man
Should ever give her heart the least sensation."

NOT a whisper of the last evening's circumstance had then reached Manor Rawdon; and I had no wish to be the first to announce it. Having business to attend to in looking over my party, their appointments, and the account of the good widow's score against them-an occupation which engaged me for some time-I contrived to get rid of the morning without any conversation with the amiable old man, who patiently waited my commands. He had received my newspapers, and was then most anxiously interested for his dear lord, who had lately had a spirited and successful brush with the French in Flanders, and was on the eve of a more serious affair: he had been joined by his gallant countrymen, young Arthur Wellesley, John Doyle, John, now Lord Hutchinson, and others, the hope and pride of Ireland.

My affair with Lieutenant Arabin could not long remain unknown in the neighbourhood. Fame had bruited it about, and bestowed too flattering an account of my conduct on that unpleasant occasion. A visit from one of the Mr. Newnham's first announced to me the publicity of the meeting; and his remarks on my conduct, which he had heard from my late adversary's party, gave me great delight. The young surgeon had been unbounded in his admiration of my coolness and moderation; nor did the generous Arabin withhold his meed of praise.

How melancholy then, with such feelings on both sides, had one or both have fallen! My worthy friend the magistrate condescended to accept my invitation to partake of my chicken

and bacon, the only fare I could offer; and by way of passing the time before dinner, held a kind of petty court in the shell of the building, once a market-house, for the humane purpose of effecting reconciliations between certain parties who had mutually applied to him for warrants; in which good work he was seconded by the conciliatory efforts of the worthy old O'Farrell, and many a quarrel was that day made up over a mug of ale or medder of whiskey.

When left to myself, I was destined to receive a warm proof of the comely widow's fond attachment to me; which proved that even the admiration of a boy is not thrown away on the gentler sex. Embracing the opportunity of an empty house, the whole of her establishment being then employed in the field, getting in the harvest assisted by my recruits, my hostess, with unusual alacrity of step, sprang into my parlour, and at once into my arms, uttering with streaming eyes

"Arrah then, my jewel, child! my own heart's darling! is it yourself that went to the church-yard to be shot at and kilt? Musha! then it was the widow's blessing that preserved you!" Never were kisses given with more real fervency, nor returned with more ardour; I clung with rapture to her kind, warm, heaving bosom, while she, all unconscious of the trespass, suffered me to repeat my caresses. The colour forsook her cheeks: a cold dew now bathed her late burning forehead. I trembled like an aspen-leaf; she too trembled: her tremble was an earthquake! I was no longer able to support her in my arms: she sank down.

"O! my countrymen, what a fall was there!"

My dinner party was increased, and my fare much improved by an unexpected visiter in the person of my angling doctor, who, with his ever-welcome self, brought a few brace of bleeding fresh trout, the fruit of his morning's sport. With this addition to our slender bill of fare, and a currant pie, that looked as large as the Red Sea, we contrived to gratify our appetites; and in the absence of better wine discussed one bottle of (miscalled) port: after which, with real gusto, we turned to that indigenous fluid which is the never-failing resource of a truebred Irishman. The blooming widow produced a jug of whiskey punch, with which no nectar could vie; and I gladly indulged one wish of a heart yet brimful of joy and gratitude, to toast her health in her presence; a compliment in which my guests joined with more than ordinary courtesy and good nature.

The evening passed away cheerfully; and, in order to combine business with pleasure, my friend the surgeon inspected,

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