"I"d rather not, Mr Terence, if it"s the same to you," he answered.
"It"s not wise to be hunting up them sorts of things."
Denis now joined us, and though he laughed at the idea of a ghost, he remarked that it would be as well, while there was sufficient light to see our way, to commence our return home, which, as it was, we should not reach till long after dark. I saw Larry every now and then turning his head round, evidently expecting that Nick Brian the headless would be following us.
We got home without any other adventure, where Larry gave a full account of our encounter with Nick Brian"s ghost, and the gallant way in which Mr Terence had faced him, though he was not ashamed to confess that he had not backed me up as he should have done, had I been attacked by a human foe.
Though Denis had not seen the ghost, and I a.s.sured every one that it was only a white swan, I found that Larry"s account was believed in preference to mine; the general opinion being that I fancied I had seen the bird, though it was a ghost notwithstanding.
To do honour to my return, and to keep up the dignity of the family, my mother and sisters considered it necessary to give a ball to the neighbours, and invitations were issued accordingly. The major was rather against the matter, on the score of expense, but he didn"t hold out as stoutly as usual. The preparations, however, were not on a very extensive scale. Such flags and banners as were to be found in the castle--many of them tattered and torn--were arranged so as to decorate the entrance hall. The furniture was carried out of the dining-room-- the largest room in the house--and piled up in the dingy study.
Supper-tables were placed on one side of the hall; and my mother and sisters, and all the females in the establishment, were engaged for some days in manufacturing pasties, tarts, and jellies; while at the same time sundry pieces of beef, ham, turkeys, and poultry were boiling and roasting at the kitchen fire.
At the usual hour the guests began to arrive,--some in family coaches, once covered with paint and gilt, but now battered and dingy; others came in cars and gigs, and a considerable number of the fair s.e.x on horseback, having sent their ball dresses on before, by the invitation of my sisters, who had promised their a.s.sistance in bedecking them. My father complained that he was hurried away from the dinner-table that due time might be obtained for making the necessary preparations. He was left in his chair in the corner of the room, whence he watched the proceedings with an expression which showed that he could not make out exactly what was being done. I went up to him several times and tried to make him understand.
At last the O"Maleys, the O"Flahertys, the Frenches, the Fitzgeralds, the Burkes, the Geraldines, and the members of numerous other families began to arrive, and Larry, habited in a sky-blue coat, a huge frill to his shirt, pink breeches and green stockings, with four or five other musicians, similarly attired, playing various instruments, took their places on a raised platform which served as an orchestra.
A country dance was speedily formed, the couples standing opposite each other, reaching from the top to the bottom of the room, and I had the honour of leading out Miss Nora O"Flaherty, who was considered one of the beauties of the county, though in many respects I doubt whether Tom Pim would have looked upon her with the same eyes as he had done on Lucy Talboys. Taking my partner, I led her prancing down the centre, and proud enough I felt as I heard the remarks made upon us. Then we had to come back and turn each couple, and so on in succession till we reached the bottom. It was pretty hard work, though my fair partner seemed to enjoy it amazingly. Of course, as was the custom of those days, I could not take another partner, and I had every reason to congratulate myself on having obtained so good a one. I suspect that many envied me. I was naturally over head and ears in love with her before the evening was over. There was very little rest between the dances. As soon as one was over another was started, the musicians playing away with might and main. We got through a few minuets, but such dances were too tame for my fair countrywomen; indeed, but few of the men were able to perform them, whereas all took to the country dances as if by instinct.
While we younger ones were thus amusing ourselves, the older people pa.s.sed the time playing cards, and afterwards did ample justice to the supper. Indeed, very few of the young ladies were very backward at that. Even Nora managed to discuss the wing and breast of a chicken, with ham and a slice of beef, not to speak of tartlets and other delicacies, without the slightest difficulty.
I saw her to her family coach, which conveyed her mamma, two sisters, and a he cousin besides, of whom I felt prodigiously jealous. I could think of nothing and talk of n.o.body but Nora O"Flaherty all the next day, and proposed riding over to pay my respects to the family.
"You"ll do nothing of the sort, Terence!" said my uncle. "I should be the first to say "Go," if I thought it would add to your happiness; but, to the best of my belief, the young lady is engaged to her cousin; and even supposing that she cared for you, and would consent to wait till you became a post-captain, you would then only have your pay, and she has not a stiver in the world, and you would thus be doing her a great injustice. Talk of her as you like, think of her as a perfect angel; but angels don"t make good wives down here on earth, whatever they might do in ethereal regions."
In fine, my uncle talked and laughed me out of my first love. Instead of going over to Castle Moirty, I employed myself in fishing, shooting, and other rural sports with my brothers and my brothers-in-law, and occasionally with the major. This sort of life, however, didn"t suit my taste, and I began to wish myself once more afloat.
Among the young ladies present at the ball given in honour of my return was a Miss Kathleen O"Brien, to whom I observed my brother Maurice paid the most devoted attention, and I guessed, as I afterwards discovered, that he was over head and ears in love with her. It was not a matter of surprise, considering that she was among the prettiest of the very pretty girls present. As she was an only daughter, and heiress of a very fine estate, my family were highly delighted at the prospect of his winning her; and as he was supposed to be crowned with laurels, had a couple of honourable wounds in his arms, and our family was equal to hers, it was hoped that no impediment would be thrown in the way of their marriage, provided the young lady would accept him. Young ladies in those days in Ireland had a free will of their own, and Maurice acknowledged that he was not certain what way he had made in her affections. My mother and sisters, however, encouraged him, and, considering that there was no young man like him in that part of the country, a.s.sured him that he had no cause to fear. Thus it appeared to me that the battle was half won, and I had no doubt, when he set out the next morning, attired in his red military suit, to pay his respects at Castle Blatherbrook, that he would return back an accepted lover. We cheered him as he set forth.
"Good luck go with you," cried Denis. "We will welcome you as an intended Benedict when you come back again. Kathleen"s tender heart will never stand that gay coat and clashing sword. Talk of your laurels, Maurice, and tell her how beautiful she will look with a wreath of orange-blossoms across that fair brow of hers."
Maurice, a good-natured fellow, took all our jokes in good humour, and, waving his hand as he put spurs to his steed, galloped off; while Denis and I went to amuse ourselves with our fishing-rods, in hopes of obtaining some variety to our usual fare. On our return we found that Maurice had not come back from his wooing. This was considered a good sign, as it was hoped that he was detained at the castle as an accepted suitor. Our own meal was over, and evening was approaching; still Maurice did not appear. My mother and sisters were very positive that he had won the lady. At length, just as it grew dark, his horse"s hoofs were heard clattering up the avenue.
"You must not be disappointed," said the major, as we were all rushing out to welcome him. "Girls are not always to be won by once asking."
Maurice threw his rein to Larry, who had taken up his old office of groom, with what we thought a disconsolate air.
"Well, my dear boy, has she accepted you?"
"Yes, I"m sure she has. She could not have said no," exclaimed my mother, taking him by the hand.
"Faith, then, she has," cried Maurice, "and I ought to be, and fancy I am, the happiest man under the sun. But I am to quit the army, and turn my sword into a ploughshare, and gather oats instead of laurels; and I am not quite certain how I shall take to that sort of life."
We all congratulated him on his good fortune, and a.s.sured him that he would soon get accustomed to a domestic state of existence.
After this I had very little of his society, as he rode off every morning to Blatherbrook. He used to look bright and happy enough when he came back, and Denis and I agreed that he was by degrees getting accustomed to the thoughts of his expected change of life. This was very good fun for Maurice, but I began to find it rather dull, and even to wish myself afloat again. However, I wanted to wait for the wedding, which, to my great satisfaction, I found was fixed for an early day. I managed to spend the intermediate time much as before,--fishing or sailing and shooting on the Shannon, with Larry as crew and old Mike O"Hagan as pilot, when we explored not only the banks of the beautiful river, but the various lochs which opened out of it. At last the happy day arrived which was to see my brother united to his lady love. The ceremony was to take place at her father"s house, as was the custom of those days among people of rank and fashion. Everything was arranged on a splendid scale. All our neighbours from far and near a.s.sembled at Castle Ballinahone, to see the bridal party set off, and to wish us good luck. We had wedding favours down from Dublin, and wedding clothes of resplendent hue, no one just then troubling themselves much as to how they were to be paid for. My sisters were adorned with silks and satins, and looked unusually handsome; but my mother, as became her position, was attired in a costume of silver satin, so that when she put it on the evening before, the light of the lamps made her resemble a moving constellation. My brother, as became his military character, was habited in a scarlet uniform, to which the tailor had added a sufficient amount of gold lace to adorn the coats of half a dozen field-marshals, white satin breeches, silk stockings, and diamond buckles in his shoes, setting him off to great advantage, and we all agreed that a more gallant bridegroom never set forth on a matrimonial expedition. The family coach had been burnished up for the occasion, and was drawn by four of the sleekest steeds in the stable, Larry and the other boys having been employed for many a day previously in currying them down.
Dan Bourke was turned into coachman for the occasion, dressed in a magnificent bright blue coat and hat adorned with gold lace. The footboys, Mick Kelly and Tim Daley, were habited in new liveries, of the same colour as Dan"s, and stood behind the coach, in which were ensconced my mother, two sisters, and the happy bridegroom. My uncle, disdaining to enter a coach, led the way on horseback, dressed also in full uniform; and amid the shouts and good wishes of the a.s.sembled spectators, the family coach set off, those who had horses or vehicles immediately following at a respectful distance. Denis, my two brothers-in-law, and I had a vehicle to ourselves, which it had not been thought necessary to furbish up. It was an old travelling chaise, which had long rested in an out house, covered with dust and cobwebs, and often the roosting-place of poultry. It was drawn by two sorry hacks, and driven by Phil Kearney, the gamekeeper, for so he was called, though there was but little game on the estate to keep, he being our usual attendant on all sporting expeditions; while Larry, dressed in the attire in which he had appeared at our ball, mounted the rumble with his beloved fiddle, all ready, as he said, for setting the heels of the boys and girls going in the kitchen, while their betters were dancing in the hall. Denis and our two brothers-in-law were habited, as became the attendants of the happy bridegroom, in white cloth coats with blue capes, waistcoats and breeches of blue satin, spangled and laced all over, while their heads were adorned with large paste curls, white as snow, and scented with bergamot. I was more modestly attired in a new naval uniform, carefully made from the pattern of my last old one under my uncle"s inspection. As we wished to reach Blatherbrook Castle before the rest of the party, we took a short cut across the country, so as to get into another high road, which would lead us directly to our destination. Phil lashed on our steeds, when, with a pull and a jerk, our horses, not being accustomed to work together, dashed forward at a rapid pace over the stones, in a way calculated not only to dislocate our limbs, but to shake the vehicle to pieces, but we held on to the sides, trying to keep it together as best we could.
When we settled to take this route, we forgot that there existed a turnpike on the road, an inst.i.tution to which Irishmen have a decided objection. The old turnpike-keeper, a discharged soldier, who had only lately been sent there, and was thus unacquainted with any of us, cautiously closed the gate, knowing that travellers often forgot to pull up and pay. We, as loyal subjects of His Majesty, were ready to disburse whatever was demanded of us. I accordingly put my hand in my pocket, but not a coin could I find in it, and, knowing that my brothers-in-law were not over-willing to draw their purse-strings if there was any one else ready to do it, I desired Denis to give the gate-keeper the toll.
"I quite forgot to put any money in my pocket," he observed. "But you can pay him, Daley."
"I have not a stiver," said Daley, feeling first in one pocket, then in the other.
"Well, we must come upon you, Fitz," I said.
"Faith, I left my purse in my other small-clothes," he answered.
"Is there any cash in it?" asked Daley, with a wink.
"Well, but the man must be paid," I said. "I"ll tell Phil Kearney,"
and, looking out of the window, I called to him.
"Sorra a ha"p"orth of coppers there are in my pocket, seeing not a sight of coin have I got from the master this many a day," he answered.
I then turned to Larry, hoping that he might be better off than the rest of us.
"Faith, Mr Terence, it"s a long time since I have had a coin to boast of, and if I had that same, I"d not be after chucking it to an old spalpeen for just opening a gate."
Phil at this juncture, observing that the gate was swinging slowly back, lashed on his horses, and attempted to pa.s.s through, on which the old soldier seized them by their heads; but Phil, not inclined to be stopped, furiously flourishing his whip, bestowed his lashes, not only on their backs, but on the shoulders of the gate-keeper. Fitzgerald, who was the most peppery of the party, tried to get out to join in the fight, but fortunately could not open the carriage door. Just then the gate-keeper"s wife hurried out, and joined her husband in hurling abuse at us.
"I see who you are," she exclaimed, "a party of vagabond stage-players running away from Cork, where you haven"t paid your bills, and going to wheedle the people at Limerick out of their money."
"That"s true enough, mistress," said Fitzgerald, who had a soft tongue in his head when he chose to use it; "but we"re coming back soon, and we"ll pay you double for the beating your husband has got, and remember, the next time he deserves it you"ll pardon him for our sakes, and it will save you the trouble of giving it to him. It"s not to Limerick we"re going, but only to Castle Blatherbrook, where we"re to play for the entertainment of the wedding guests, for it"s Mr Maurice O"Finnahan is to marry Miss Kathleen O"Brien; and Mr O"Brien, the lady"s father, will be after paying us well, for he"s as rich as Croesus, and we"ll bring away a bottle or two of the cratur to comfort your old soul."
As Phil had by this time ceased beating his horses, which stood quietly enough while Fitz was giving this address, the old man let go their heads and came to listen.
"Shure then you look like dacent stage-players, for certain; and as I"m mighty fond of a good tune, now just give us one, and maybe if I like it, I"ll let you off this time, and thank you into the bargain," said the old soldier.
"With all the pleasure in the world," answered Fitz. "There"s our musician sitting behind the coach, and he"ll tune up his fiddle while we tune up our pipes, and just consider what"s likely to please you."
Larry, on hearing this, shouted out--
"I"ll be after giving you what"ll make your old hearts b.u.mp right merrily, if it doesn"t set your heels agoing," and, putting his riddle to his chin, he began playing one of his merriest airs.
"Arrah now, but that"s a brave tune," cried the old woman, beginning to shuffle her feet, though she hadn"t much elasticity in her limbs.
"It"s a song we"re after wanting," cried the gate-keeper; "shure you"ll give us a song, gentlemen?"
"Well, you shall have one to begin with, and you shall have a dozen when we come back from the wedding," cried Fitz, and he struck up--
"As beautiful Kitty one morning was tripping With a pitcher of milk from the fair of Coleraine, When she saw me she stumbled, The pitcher it tumbled, And all the sweet b.u.t.termilk water"d the plain.
""Och! what shall I do now?
"Twas looking at you now; Sure, sure, such a pitcher I"ll ne"er meet again; "Twas the pride of my dairy, Och, Barney McCleary, You"re sent as a plague to the girls of Coleraine.""
So Fitz ran on, verse after verse, and tune after tune, till he stopped for want of breath.
Highly delighted, the old pikeman insisted on shaking us all round by the hand, and then, running in, brought us out a gla.s.s of whisky each.
He was much surprised to find Denis and I declined taking it. Daley, however, prevented his feelings being offended by singing another song.