Montagnes Russes-every thing, in short, about Paris, was depicted to the astonished mind of Miss Dosy. Then came London-where he belonged to I do not know how many clubs and cut a most distinguished figure in the fashionable world. He was of the Prince Regent's set, and assured us, on his honour, that there was never any thing so ill-founded as the stories afloat to the discredit of that illustrious person. But on what happened at Carlton-house, he felt obliged to keep silence, the Prince being remarkably strict in exacting a promise from every gentleman whom he admitted to his table, not to divulge any thing that occurred there-a violation of which promise was the cause of the exclusion of Brummell. As for the Princess of Wales, he would rather not say any thing.

"And so forth. Now, in those days of my innocence, I believed these stories as gospel, hating the fellow all the while from the bottom of my heart, as I saw that he made a deep impression on Dosy, who sate in open-mouthed wonder, swallowing them down as a common-councilman swallows turtle. But times are changed. I have seen Paris and London since, and I believe I know both villages as well as most men, and the deuce a word of truth did Brady tell in his whole narrative. In Paris, when not in quarters, (he had joined some six or eight months after Waterloo,) he lived au cinquantième in a dog-hole in the Rue Git-le-Cœur, (a street at what I may call the Surrey side of Paris,) among carters and other such folk; and in London I discovered that his principal domicile was in one of the courts now demolished to make room for the fine new gimcrackery at Charing Cross; it was in Round Court, at a pieman's of the name of Dudfield."

"Dick Dudfield?" said Jack Ginger, "I knew the man well-a most particular friend of mine.

He was

a duffer besides being a pieman, and was transported some years ago. He is now a flourishing merchant in Australasia, and will, I suppose, in due time be grandfather to a member of Congress."

"There it was that Brady lived then," continued Bob Burke," when he was hobnobbing with Georgius

VOL. XXXV, NO. CCXXII,

Quartus, and dancing at Almack's with Lady Elizabeth Conynghame. Faith, the nearest approach he ever made to royalty was when he was put into the King's own Bench, where he sojourned many a long day. What an ass I was to believe a word of such stuff! but, nevertheless, it goes down with the rustics to the present minute. I sometimes sport a duke or so myself, when I find myself among yokels, and I rise vastly in estimation by so doing. What do we come to London or Paris for, but to get some touch of knowing how to do things properly? It would be devilish hard, I think, for Ensign Brady, or Ensign Brady's master, to do me now-a-days by flamming off titles of high life."

The company did no more than justice to Mr Burke's experience, by unanimously admitting that such a feat was all but impossible.

"I was," he went on, "a good deal annoyed at my inferiority, and I could not help seeing that Miss Dosy was making comparisons that were rather odious, as she glanced from the gay uniform of the Ensign on my habiliments, which having been perpetrated by a Mallow tailor with a hatchet, or pitchfork, or pickaxe, or some such tool, did not stand the scrutiny to advantage. I was, I think, a better-looking fellow than Brady. Well, well-laugh if you like. I am no beauty, I know; but then, consider that what I am talking of was sixteen years ago, and more; and a man does not stand the battering I have gone through for these sixteen years with impunity. Do you call the thirty or forty thousand tumblers of punch, in all its varieties, that I have since imbibed, nothing ?"

"Yes," said Jack Ginger, with a sigh," there was a song we used to sing on board the Brimstone, when cruising about the Spanish main

board in the cool of the evening, one fine summer day, off Port Royal."

"Well, at all events," said Burke, continuing his narrative, "I thought I was a better-looking fellow than my rival, and was fretted at being sung down. I resolved to outstay himand, though he sate long enough, I, who was more at home, contrived to remain after him, but it was only to hear him extolled.

"A very nice young man,' said Mrs Macnamara.

"An extreme nice young man,' responded Miss Theodosia.

"A perfect gentleman in his manners; he puts me quite in mind of my uncle, the late Jerry O'Regan,' observed Mrs Macnamara.

"Quite the gentleman in every particular,' ejaculated Miss Theodosia.

think him such an elegant fellow at all. Do you remember, Dosy Macnamara, how he looked when he got up out of the green puddle today?'

"Mr Burke,' said she, that was an accident that might happen any man. You were thrown yourself this day week, on clearing Jack Falvey's wall-so you need not reflect on Mr Brady.'

"If I was,' said I, it was as fine a leap as ever was made; and I was on my mare in half a shake afterwards. Bob Buller of Ballythomas, or Jack Prendergast, or Fergus O'Connor, could not have rode it better. And you too'

"Well,' said she, 'I am not going to dispute with you. I am sleepy, and must get to bed.'

"Do, poor chicken,' said Mrs Macnamara, soothingly; and, Bob, my dear, I wish it was in your power to go travel, and see the Booleries and the Tooleyvards, and the rest, and then you might be, in course of time, as genteel as Ensign Brady.'

666

"Heigho!' said Miss Dosy, ejecting a sigh. Travel, Bob, travel.'

"I will,' said I, at once, and left the house in the most abrupt manner, after consigning Ensign Brady to the particular attention of Tisiphone, Alecto, and Megæra, all compressed into one emphatic monosyllable.

"ON leaving Dosy's lodgings, I began to consult the state of my heart. Am I really, said I, so much in love, as to lose my temper if this prating ensign should carry off the lady? I was much puzzled to resolve the question. I walked up and down the Spa-Walk, whiffing a cigar, for a quarter of an hour, without being able to come to a decision. At last, just as the cigar was out, my eye caught a light in the window of Barney Pulvertaft, the attorney-old Six-and-Eightpence, as we used to call him. I knew he was the confidential agent of the Macnamaras; and as he had carried on sixteen lawsuits for

my father, I thought I had a claim to learn something about the affairs of Miss Dosy. I understood she was an heiress, but had never, until now, thought of enquiring into the precise amount of her expectances. Seeing that the old fellow was up, I determined to step over, and found him in the middle of law-papers, although it was then rather late, with a potbellied jug, of the bee-hive pattern, by his side, full of punch-or rather, I should say, half-full; for Six-andEightpence had not been idle. His snuff coloured wig was cocked on one side of his head-his old velveteen breeches open at the knee

his cravat off-his shirt unbuttoned -his stockings half down his lean legs-his feet in a pair of worsted slippers. The old fellow was, in short, relaxed for the night, but he had his pen in his hand.

"I am only filling copies of capiases, Bob,' said he; light and pleasant work, which does not distress one in an evening. There are a few of your friends booked here. What has brought you to me so late to-night?-but your father's son is always welcome. Aye, there were few men like your father-never stagged in a lawsuit in his life-saw it always out to the end-drove it from court to court;-if he was beat, why, so much the worse, but he never fretted-if he won, faith! he squeezed the opposite party well. Aye, he was a good-hearted, honest, straightforward man. I wish I had a hundred such clients. So here's his memory anyhow.'

"Six-and-Eightpence had a good right to give the toast, as what constituted the excellence of my father in his eyes had moved most of the good acres of Ballyburke out of the family into the hands of the lawyers; but from filial duty I complied with the attorney's request-the more readily, because I well knew, from long experience, that his skill in punch-making was unimpeachable. So we talked about my father's old lawsuits, and I got Barney into excel lent humour, by letting him tell me of the great skill and infinite adroitness which he had displayed upon a multiplicity of occasions. It was not, however, until we were deep in the second jug, and Six-and-Eightpence was beginning to shew symptoms of being cut, that I ventured to introduce the subject of my visit. I did it as cautiously as I could, but the old fellow soon found out my drift. "No,' hiccuped he-Bob'twont-'twont-do. Close as green -green wax. Never te-tell profess - profess - professional secrets. Know her expec-hiccup-tances to a ten-ten-penny. So you are after -after-her? Ah, Bo-bob! She'll be a ca-catch-let not a wo-word from me. No-never. Bar-ney Pepulverta-taft is game to the last. Never be-betrayed ye-your father. God rest his soul-he was a woworthy man.'

"On this recollection of the merits of my sainted sire, the attorney wept; and in spite of all his professional determinations, whether the potency of the fluid or the memory of the deceased acted upon him, I got at the facts. Dosy had not more than a couple of hundred pounds in the world-her mother's property was an annuity which expired with herself; but her uncle, by the father's side, Mick Macnamara of Kawleash, had an estate of at least five hundred a-year, which, in case of his dying without issue, was to come to herbesides a power of money saved; Mick being one who, to use the elegant phraseology of my friend the attorney, would skin a flea for the sake of selling the hide. this money, ten thousand pounds, or something equally musical, would in all probability go to Miss Dosythe L.500 a-year was hers by entail. Now, as her uncle was eightyfour years old, unmarried, and in the last stage of the palsy, it was a thing as sure as the bank, that Miss Dosy was a very rich heiress indeed.

All

"So-so,' said Six-and-Eightpence- this-this-is strictly confiddle-confid-confiddledential. Dodo not say a word about it. I ought not to have to-told it-but, you dodog, you wheedled it out of me. Da-dang it, I co-could not ref-refuse your father's so-son. You are ve very like him-as I sa-saw him sitting many a ti-time in that cha-chair. But you nev-never will have his spu-spunk in a sho-shoot (suit). There, the lands of Arry-arry-arrybally-bally-be-beg-clock - clough macde-de-duagh-confound the woword-of Arrybally begcloughmacduagh, the finest be-bog in the cocountry-are ye-yoursbut you haven't spu-spunk to go into Chachancery for it, like your worthy fa-father, Go-god rest his soul. Blow out that se-second ca-candle, Bo-bob, for I hate waste.'

-

"There's but one in the room, Barney,' said I.

"You mean to say,' hiccuped he, 'that I am te-te-tipsy? Well, well, ye-young fe-fellows, well, I am their je-joke. However, as the jejug is out, you must be je jogging. Early to bed, and early to rise, is the way to beHowever, le-lend me

your arm up the sta-stairs, for they are very slip-slippery to-night.'

"I conducted the attorney to his bedchamber, and safely stowed him into bed, while he kept stammering forth praises on my worthy father, and upbraiding me with want of spunk in not carrying on a Chancery-suit begun by him some twelve years before, for a couple of hundred acres of bog, the value of which would scarcely have amounted to the price of the parchment expended on it. Having performed this duty, I proceeded homewards, labouring under a variety of sensations.

"How delicious is the feeling of love, when it first takes full possession of a youthful bosom! Before its balmy influence vanish all selfish thoughts-all grovelling notions. Pure and sublimated, the soul looks forward to objects beyond self, and merges all ideas of personal identity in aspirations of the felicity to be derived from the being adored. A thrill of rapture pervades the breast -an intense but bland flame permeates every vein-throbs in every pulse. Oh, blissful period! brief in duration, but crowded with thoughts of happiness never to recur again! As I gained the Walk, the moon was high and bright in heaven, pouring a flood of mild light over the trees. The stars shone with sapphire lustre in the cloudless sky-not a breeze disturbed the deep serene. I was alone. I thought of my love-of what else could I think? What I had just heard had kindled my passion for the divine Theodosia into a quenchless blaze. Yes, I exclaimed aloud, I do love her. Such an angel does not exist on the earth. What charms! What innocence! What horsewomanship! Five hundred a-year certain!

Ten thousand pounds in perspective! I'll repurchase the lands of Ballyburke-I'll rebuild the huntinglodge in the Galtees-I'll keep a pack of hounds, and live a sporting life. Oh, dear, divine Theodosia, how I do adore you! I'll shoot that Brady, and no mistake. How dare he interfere where my affections are so irrevocably fixed?

"Such were my musings. Alas! how we are changed as we progress through the world! That breast becomes arid, which once was open to every impression of the tender passion. The rattle of the dice-box beats out of the head the rattle of the quiver of Cupid-and the shuffling of the cards renders the rustling of his wings inaudible. The necessity of looking after a tablecloth supersedes that of looking after a petticoat, and we more willingly make an assignation with a muttonchop, than with an angel in female form. The bonds of love are exchanged for those of the conveyancer-bills take the place of billets, and we do not protest, but are protested against, by a three-and-sixpenny notary. Such are the melancholy effects of age. I knew them not then. Icontinued to muse full of sweet thoughts, until gradually the moon faded from the sky-the stars went out-and all was darkness. Morning succeeded to night, and, on awaking, I found, that owing to the forgetfulness in which the thoughts of the fair Theodosia had plunged me, I had selected the bottom step of old Barney Pulvertaft's door as my couch, and was awakened from repose in consequence of his servant-maid (one Norry Mulcaky) having emptied the contents of her-washingtub, over my slumbering person.

"Ar night I had fallen asleep fierce in the determination of exterminating Brady; but with the morrow, cool reflection came-made probably cooler by the aspersion I had ald I fight him,

suffered. when he

iven me the

slightest affront? To be sure, picking a quarrel is not hard, thank God, in any part of Ireland; but unless I was quick about it, he might get so deep into the good graces of Dosy, who was as flammable as tinder, that even my shooting him might not be

of any practical advantage to my. self. Then, besides, he might shoot me; and, in fact, I was not by any means so determined in the affair at seven o'clock in the morning as I was at twelve o'clock at night. I got home, however, dressed, shaved, &c. and turned out. I think,' said I to myself, the best thing I can do, is to go and consult Wooden-leg Waddy; and, as he is an early man, I shall catch him now.' The thought was no sooner formed than executed; and in less than five minutes 1 was walking with Wooden-leg Waddy in his garden, at the back of his house, by the banks of the Blackwater.

"Waddy had been in the Hundredand-First, and had seen much service in that distinguished corps."

"I remember it well during the war," said Antony Harrison; "we used to call it the Hungry-and-Worst ;but it did its duty on a pinch nevertheless."

"No matter," continued Burke; "Waddy had served a good deal, and lost his leg somehow, for which he had a pension besides his halfpay, and he lived in ease and affluence among the Bucks of Mallow. He was a great hand at settling and arranging duels, being what we generally call in Ireland a judgmatical sort of man-a word which, I think, might be introduced with advantage into the English vocabulary. When I called on him, he was smoking his meershaum, as he walked up and down his garden in an old undress coat, and a fur cap on his head. I bade him good morning; to which salutation he answered by a nod, and a more prolonged whiff.

"I want to speak to you, Woodenleg,' said I, on a matter which nearly concerns me.' On which, I received another nod, and another whiff in reply.

"The fact is,' said I,' that there is an Ensign Brady of the 48th quartered here, with whom I have some reason to be angry, and I am thinking of calling him out. I have come to ask your advice whether I should do so or not. He has deeply injured me, by interfering between me and the girl of my affections. What ought I to do in such a case ?'

"Fight him-by all means,' said Wooden-leg Waddy.

"But the difficulty is this-he has offered me no affront, direct or indirect-we have no quarrel whatever-and he has not paid any addresses to the lady. He and I have scarcely been in contact at all. I do not see how I can manage it immediately with any propriety. What then can I do now?'

"Do not fight him, by any means,' said Wooden-leg Waddy.

"Still these are the facts of the case. He, whether intentionally or not, is coming between me and my mistress, which is doing me an injury perfectly equal to the insult. How should I act?

grossest Fight him, by all means,' said Wooden-leg Waddy.

666

"But then I fear if I were to call him out on a groundless quarrel, or one which would appear to be such, that I should lose the good graces of the lady, and be laughed at by my friends, or set down as a quarrelsome and dangerous companion.'

"Do not fight him then, by any means,' said Wooden-leg Waddy.

"Yet as he is a military man, he must know enough of the etiquette of these affairs to feel perfectly confident that he has affronted me; and the opinion of a military man, standing, as of course he does, in the rank and position of a gentleman, could not, I think, be overlooked without disgrace.'

666

Fight him, by all means,' said Wooden-leg Waddy.

"But then, talking of gentlemen, I own he is an officer of the 48th, but his father is a fish-tackle seller in John Street, Kilkenny, who keeps a three-halfpenny shop, where you may buy every thing, from a cheese to a cheese-toaster, from a felt hat to a pair of brogues, from a pound of brown soap to a yard of huckaback towels. He got his commission by his father's retiring from the Ormonde interest, and acting as whipper-in to the sham freeholders from Castlecomer; and I am, as you know, of the best blood of the Burkesstraight from the De Burgos them. selves-and when I think of that, I really do not like to meet this Mr Brady.'

"Do not fight him, by any means,' said Wooden-leg Waddy."

"This advice of your friend Waddy to you," said Tom Meggot, interrupt