Poor Major Jones, however, had no such solace, and the canker-worm eat daily deeper and deeper into his pining heart. During the three or four weeks of their intimacy with his regiment, his martyrdom was awful. His figure wasted, and his colour became a deeper tinge of orange, and all around averred that there would soon be a "move up" in the corps, for the major had evidently "got his notice to quit" this world, and its pomps and vanities. He felt "that he was dying," to use Haines Bayley"s beautiful and apposite words, and meditated an exchange, but that, from circ.u.mstances, was out of the question. At last, subdued by grief, and probably his spirit having chafed itself smooth by such constant attrition, he became, to all seeming, calmer; but it was only the calm of a broken and weary heart. Such was Major Jones at the time, when, "suadente diabolo," it seemed meet to Fathers Mooney and D"Array to make him the b.u.t.t of their raillery. At first, he could not believe it; the thing was incredible--impossible; but when he looked around the table, when he heard the roars of laughter, long, loud, and vociferous; when he heard his name bandied from one to the other across the table, with some vile jest tacked to it "like a tin kettle to a dog"s tail," he awoke to the full measure of his misery--the cup was full. Fate had done her worst, and he might have exclaimed with Lear, "spit, fire-spout, rain," there was nothing in store for him of further misfortune.
A drum-head court-martial--a hint "to sell out"--ay, a sentence of "dismissed the service," had been mortal calamities, and, like a man, he would have borne them; but that he, Major John Jones, D.G.S. C.P.B., &c. &c, who had drank the "pious, glorious, and immortal," sitting astride of "the great gun of Athlone," should come to this! Alas, and alas! He retired that night to his chamber a "sadder if not a wiser man;" he dreamed that the "statue" had given place to the unshapely figure of Leo X., and that "Lundy now stood where Walker stood before." He humped from his bed in a moment of enthusiasm, he vowed his revenge, and he kept his vow.
That day the major was "acting field officer." The various patroles, sentries, picquets, and out-posts, were all under his especial control; and it was remarked that he took peculiar pains in selecting the men for night duty, which, in the prevailing quietness and peace of that time, seemed scarcely warrantable.
Evening drew near, and Major Jones, summoned by the "oft-heard beat," wended his way to the mess. The officers were dropping in, and true as "the needle to the pole," came Father Mooney and the Abbe. They were welcomed with the usual warmth, and strange to say, by none more than the major himself, whose hilarity knew no bounds.
How the evening pa.s.sed, I shall not stop to relate: suffice it to say, that a more brilliant feast of wit and jollification, not even the North Cork ever enjoyed. Father Luke"s drollest stories, his very quaintest humour shone forth, and the Abbe sang a new "Chanson a Boire," that Beranger might hav envied.
"What are you about, my dear Father D"Array?" said the Colonel; "you are surely not rising yet; here"s a fresh cooper of port just come in; sit down, I entreat."
"I say it with grief, my dear colonel, we must away; the half-hour has just chimed, and we must be within "the gates" before twelve. The truth is, the superior has been making himself very troublesome about our "carnal amus.e.m.e.nts" as he calls our innocent mirth, and we must therefore be upon our guard."
"Well, if it must be so, we shall not risk losing your society altogether, for an hour or so now; so, one b.u.mper to our next meeting --to-morrow, mind, and now, M. D"Abbe, au revoir."
The worthy fathers finished their gla.s.ses, and taking a most affectionate leave of their kind entertainers, sallied forth under the guidance of Major Jones, who insisted upon accompanying them part of the way, as, "from information he had received, the sentries were doubled in some places, and the usual precautions against surprise all taken." Much as this polite attention surprised the objects of it, his brother officers wondered still more, and no sooner did they perceive the major and his companions issue forth, than they set out in a body to watch where this most novel and unexpected complaisance would terminate.
When the priests reached the door of the barrack-yard, they again turned to utter their thanks to the major, and entreat him once more, "not to come a step farther. There now, major, we know the path well, so just give us the pa.s.s, and don"t stay out in the night air."
"Ah oui, Monsieur Jones," said the Abbe, "retournez, je vous prie. We are, I must say, chez nous. Ces braves gens, les North Cork know us by this time."
The major smiled, while he still pressed his services to see them past the picquets, but they were resolved and would not be denied.
"With the word for the night, we want nothing more," said Father Luke.
"Well, then," said the major, in the gravest tone, and he was naturally grave, "you shall have your way, but remember to call out loud, for the first sentry is a little deaf, and a very pa.s.sionate, ill--tempered fellow to boot."
"Never fear," said Father Mooney, laughing; "I"ll go bail he"ll hear me."
"Well--the word for the night is--"b.l.o.o.d.y end to the Pope,"--don"t forget, now, "b.l.o.o.d.y end to the Pope,"" and with these words he banged the door between him and the unfortunate priests; and, as bolt was fastened after bolt, they heard him laughing to himself like a fiend over his vengeance.
"And big bad luck to ye, Major Jones, for the same, every day ye see a paving stone," was the faint sub-audible e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n of Father Luke, when he was recovered enough to speak.
"Sacristi! Que nous sommes attrappes," said the Abbe, scarcely able to avoid laughing at the situation in which they were placed.
"Well, there"s the quarter chiming now; we"ve no time to lose--Major Jones! Major, darling! Don"t now, ah, don"t! sure ye know we"ll be ruined entirely--there now, just change it, like a dacent fellow--the devil"s luck to him, he"s gone. Well, we can"t stay here in the rain all night, and be expelled in the morning afterwards--so come along."
They jogged on for a few minutes in silence, till they came to that part of the "Duke"s" demesne wall, where the first sentry was stationed. By this time the officers, headed by the major, had quietly slipped out of the gate, and were following their steps at a convenient distance.
The fathers had stopped to consult together, what they should do in this trying emergency--when their whisper being overheard, the sentinel called out gruffly, in the genuine dialect of his country, "who goes that?"
"Father Luke Mooney, and the Abbe D"Array," said the former, in his most bland and insinuating tone of voice, a quality he most eminently possessed.
"Stand and give the countersign."
"We are coming from the mess, and going home to the college," said Father Mooney, evading the question, and gradually advancing as he spoke.
"Stand, or I"ll shot ye," said the North Corkian.
Father Luke halted, while a muttered "Blessed Virgin" announced his state of fear and trepidation.
"D"Array, I say, what are we to do."
"The countersign," said the sentry, whose figure they could perceive in the dim distance of about thirty yards.
"Sure ye"ll let us pa.s.s, my good lad, and ye"ll have a friend in Father Luke the longest day ye live, and ye might have a worse in time of need; ye understand."
Whether he did understand or not, he certainly did not heed, for his only reply was the short click of his gun-lock, that bespeaks a preparation to fire.
"There"s no help now," said Father Luke; "I see he"s a haythen; and bad luck to the major, I say again;" and this in the fulness of his heart he uttered aloud.
"That"s not the countersign," said the inexorable sentry, striking the b.u.t.t end of the musket on the ground with a crash that smote terror into the hearts of the priests.
Mumble--mumble--"to the Pope," said Father Luke, p.r.o.nouncing the last words distinctly, after the approved practice of a Dublin watchman, on being awoke from his dreams of row and riot by the last toll of the Post-office, and not knowing whether it has struck "twelve" or "three," sings out the word "o"clock," in a long sonorous drawl, that wakes every sleeping citizen, and yet tells nothing how "time speeds on his flight."
"Louder," said the sentry, in a voice of impatience.
___ "to the Pope."
"I don"t hear the first part."
"Oh then," said the priest, with a sigh that might have melted the heart of anything but a sentry, "b.l.o.o.d.y end to the Pope; and may the saints in heaven forgive me for saying it."
"Again," called out the soldier; "and no muttering."
"b.l.o.o.d.y end to the Pope," cried Father Luke in bitter desperation.
"b.l.o.o.d.y end to the Pope," echoed the Abbe.
"Pa.s.s b.l.o.o.d.y end to the Pope, and good night," said the sentry, resuming his rounds, while a loud and uproarious peal of laughter behind, told the unlucky priests they were overheard by others, and that the story would be over the whole town in the morning.
Whether it was that the penance for their heresy took long in accomplishing, or that they never could summon courage sufficient to face their persecutor, certain it is, the North Cork saw them no more, nor were they ever observed to pa.s.s the precincts of the college, while that regiment occupied Maynooth.
Major Jones himself, and his confederates, could not have more heartily relished this story, than did the party to whom the doctor heartily related it. Much, if not all the amus.e.m.e.nt it afforded, however, resulted from his inimitable mode of telling, and the power of mimicry, with which he conveyed the dialogue with the sentry: and this, alas, must be lost to my readers, at least to that portion of them not fortunate enough to possess Doctor Finucane"s acquaintance.
"Fin! Fin! your long story has nearly famished me," said the padre, as the laugh subsided; "and there you sit now with the jug at your elbow this half-hour; I never thought you would forget our old friend Martin Hanegan"s aunt."
"Here"s to her health," said Fin; "and your reverence will get us the chant."
"Agreed," said Father Malachi, finishing a b.u.mper, and after giving a few preparatory hems, he sang the following "singularly wild and beautiful poem," as some one calls Christabel:-- "Here"s a health to Martin Hanegan"s aunt, And I"ll tell ye the reason why! She eats bekase she is hungry, And drinks bekase she is dry.
"And if ever a man, Stopped the course of a can, Martin Hanegan"s aunt would cry-- "Arrah, fill up your gla.s.s, And let the jug pa.s.s; How d"ye know but what your neighbour"s dhry?"
"Come, my lord and gentlemen, da capo, if ye please--Fill up your gla.s.s," and the chanson was chorussed with a strength and vigour that would have astonished the Philharmonic.
The mirth and fun now grew "fast and furious;" and Father Malachi, rising with the occasion, flung his reckless drollery and fun on every side, sparing none, from his cousin to the coadjutor. It was not that peculiar period in the evening"s enjoyment, when an expert and practical chairman gives up all interference or management, and leaves every thing to take its course; this then was the happy moment selected by Father Malachi to propose the little "contrhibution." He brought a plate from a side table, and placing it before him, addressed the company in a very brief but sensible speech, detailing the object of the inst.i.tution he was advocating, and concluding with the following words:--"and now ye"ll just give whatever ye like, according to your means in life, and what ye can spare."
The admonition, like the "morale" of an income tax, having the immediate effect of pitting each man against his neighbour, and suggesting to their already excited spirits all the ardour of gambling, without, however, a prospect of gain. The plate was first handed to me in honour of my "rank," and having deposited upon it a handful of small silver, the priest ran his finger through the coin, and called out:-- "Five pounds! at least; not a farthing less, as I am a sinner. Look, then,--see now; they tell ye, the gentlemen don"t care for the like of ye! but see for yourselves. May I trouble y"r lordship to pa.s.s the plate to Mr. Mahony--he"s impatient, I see."
Mr. Mahony, about whom I perceived very little of the impatience alluded to, was a grim-looking old Christian, in a rabbit-skin waistcoat, with long flaps, who fumbled in the recesses of his breeches pocket for five minutes, and then drew forth three shillings, which he laid upon the plate, with what I fancied very much resembled a sigh.
"Six and sixpence, is it? or five shillings?--all the same, Mr. Mahony, and I"ll not forget the thrifle you were speaking about this morning any way;" and here he leaned over as interceding with me for him, but in reality to whisper into my ear, "the greatest miser from this to Castlebar."
"Who"s that put down the half guinea in goold?" (And this time he spoke truth.) "Who"s that, I say?"
"Tim Kennedy, your reverence," said Tim, stroking his hair down with one hand, and looking proud and modest at the same moment.
"Tim, ye"re a credit to us any day, and I always said so. It"s a gauger he"d like to be, my lord," said he, turning to me, in a kind of stage whisper. I nodded and muttered something, when he thanked me most profoundly as if his suit had prospered.
"Mickey Oulahan--the lord"s looking at ye, Mickey." This was said piannisime across the table, and had the effect of increasing Mr. Oulahan"s donation from five shillings to seven--the last two being pitched in very much in the style o a gambler making his final coup, and crying "va banque." "The Oulahans were always dacent people--dacent people, my lord."
"Be gorra, the Oulahans was niver dacenter nor the Molowneys, any how," said a tall athletic young fellow, as he threw down three crown pieces, with an energy that made every coin leap from the plate.
"They"ll do now," said Father Brennan; "I"ll leave them to themselves;" and truly the eagerness to get the plate and put down the subscription, fully equalled the rapacious anxiety I have witnessed in an old maid at loo, to get possession of a thirty-shilling pool, be the same more or less, which lingered on its way to her, in the hands of many a fair compet.i.tor.
"Mr. M"Neesh"--Curzon had hitherto escaped all notice--"Mr. M"Neesh, to your good health," cried Father Brennan. "It"s many a secret they"ll be getting out o"ye down there about the Scotch husbandry."
Whatever poor Curzon knew of "drills," certainly did not extend to them when occupied by turnips. This allusion of the priest"s being caught up by the party at the foot of the table, they commenced a series of inquiries into different Scotch plans of tillage--his brief and unsatisfactory answers to which, they felt sure, were given in order to evade imparting information. By degrees, as they continued to press him with questions, his replies grew more short, and a general feeling of dislike on both sides was not very long in following.
The father saw this, and determining with his usual tact to repress it, called on the adjutant for a song. Now, whether he had but one in the world, or whether he took this mode of retaliating for the annoyances he had suffered, I know not; but true it is, he finished his tumbler at a draught, and with a voice of no very peculiar sweetness, though abundantly loud, began "The Boyne Water."
He had just reached the word "battle," in the second line upon which he was bestowing what he meant to be a shake, when, as if the word suggested it, it seemed the signal for a general engagement. Decanters, gla.s.ses, jugs, candlesticks,--aye, and the money-dish, flew right and left--all originally intended, it is ture, for the head of the luckless adjutant, but as they now and then missed their aim, and came in contact with the "wrong man," invariably provoked retaliation, and in a very few minutes the battle became general.
What may have been the doctor"s political sentiments on this occasion, I cannot even guess; but he seemed bent upon performing the part of a "convivial Lord Stanley," and maintaining a dignified neutrality. With this apparent object, he mounted upon the table, to raise himself, I suppose, above the din and commotion of party clamour, and brandishing a jug of scalding water, bestowed it with perfect impartiality on the combatants on either side. This Whig plan of conciliation, however well intended, seemed not to prosper with either party; and many were the missiles directed at the ill-starred doctor. Meanwhile Father Malachi, whether following the pacific instinct of his order, in seeking an asylum in troublesome times, or equally moved by old habit to gather coin in low places, (much of the money having fallen,) was industriously endeavouring to insert himself beneath the table; in this, with one vigorous push, he at last succeeded, but in so doing lifted it from its legs, and thus destroying poor "Fin"s" gravity, precipitated him, jug and all, into the thickest part of the fray, where he met with that kind reception such a benefactor ever receives at the hands of a grateful public. I meanwhile hurried to rescue poor Curzon, who, having fallen to the ground, was getting a cast of his features taken in pewter, for such seemed the operation a stout farmer was performing on the adjutant"s face with a quart. With considerable difficulty, notwithstanding my supposed "lordship," I succeeded in freeing him from his present position; and he concluding, probably, that enough had been done for one "sitting," most willingly permitted me to lead him from the room. I was soon joined by the doctor, who a.s.sisted me in getting my poor friend to bed; which being done, he most eagerly entreated me to join the company. This, however, I firmly but mildly declined, very much to his surprise; for as he remarked--"They"ll all be like lambs now, for they don"t believe there"s a whole bone in his body."
Expressing my deep sense of the Christian-like forbearance of the party, I pleaded fatigue, and bidding him good night, adjourned to my bed-room; and here, although the arrangements fell somewhat short of the luxurious ones appertaining to my late apartment at Callonby, they were most grateful at the moment; and having "addressed myself to slumber," fell fast asleep, and only awoke late on the following morning to wonder where I was: from any doubts as to which I was speedily relieved by the entrance of the priest"s bare-footed "colleen," to deposit on my table a bottle of soda water, and announce breakfast, with his reverence"s compliments.
Having made a hasty toilet, I proceeded to the parlour, which, however late events might have impressed upon my memory, I could scarcely recognise. Instead of the long oak table and the wa.s.sail bowl, there stood near the fire a small round table, covered with a snow--white cloth, upon which shone in unrivalled brightness a very handsome tea equipage--the hissing kettle on one hob was vis a vis"d by a gridiron with three newly taken trout, frying under the reverential care of Father Malachi himself--a heap of eggs ranged like shot in an ordnance yard, stood in the middled of the table, while a formidable pile of b.u.t.tered toast browned before the grate--the morning papers were airing upon the hearth--every thing bespoke that attention to comfort and enjoyment one likes to discover in the house where chance may have domesticated him for a day or two.
"Good morning, Mr. Lorrequer. I trust you have rested well," said Father Malachi as I entered.
"Never better; but where are our friends?"
"I have been visiting and comforting them in their affliction, and I may with truth a.s.sert it is not often my fortune to have three as sickly looking guests. That was a most unlucky affair last night, and I must apologise."
"Don"t say a word, I entreat; I saw how it all occurred, and am quite sure if it had not been for poor Curzon"s ill-timed melody--"
"You are quite right," said the father interrupting me. "Your friend"s taste for music--bad luck to it--was the "teterrima causa belli.""
"And the subscription," said I; "how did it succeed?"
"Oh, the money went in the commotion; and although I have got some seven pounds odd shillings of it, the war was a most expensive one to me. I caught old Mahony very busy under the table during the fray; but let us say no more about it now--draw over your chair. Tea or coffee? there"s the rum if you like it "cha.s.se.""
I immediately obeyed the injunction, and commenced a vigorous a.s.sault upon the trout, caught, as he informed me, "within twenty perches of the house."
"Your poor friend"s nose is scarcely regimental," said he, "this morning; and as for Fin, he was never remarkable for beauty, so, though they might cut and hack, they could scarcely disfigure him, as Juvenal says--isn"t it Juvenal?
""Vacuus viator cantabit ante Latronem;"
"or in the vernacular: ""The empty traveller may whistle Before the robber and his pistil" (pistol)."
"There"s the Chili vinegar--another morsel of the trout?"
"I thank you; what excellent coffee, Father Malachi!"
"A secret I learned at St. Omer"s some thirty years since. Any letters, Bridget?"--to a damsel that entered with a pacquet in her hand.
"A gossoon from Kilrush, y"r reverence, with a bit of a note for the gentleman there."
"For me!--ah, true enough. Harry Lorrequer, Esq. Kilrush--try Carrigaholt." So ran the superscription--the first part being in a lady"s handwriting; the latter very like the "rustic paling" of the worthy Mrs. Healy"s style. The seal was a large one, bearing a coronet at top, and the motto in old Norman--French, told me it came from Callonby.
With what a trembling hand and beating heart I broke it open, and yet feared to read it--so much of my destiny might be in that simple page. For once in my life my sanguine spirit failed me; my mind could take in but one casualty, that Lady Jane had divulged to her family the nature of my attentions, and that in the letter before me lay a cold mandate of dismissal from her presence for ever.
At last I summoned courage to read it; but having scrupled to present to my readers the Reverend Father Brennan at the tail of a chapter, let me not be less punctilious in the introduction of her ladyship"s billet.
CHAPTER VII.
THE LADY"S LETTER--PETER AND HIS ACQUAINTANCES--TOO LATE.
Her ladyship"s letter ran thus-- "Callonby, Tuesday morning.
"My dear Mr. Lorrequer,--My lord has deputed me to convey to you our adieus, and at the same time to express our very great regret that we should not have seen you before out departure from Ireland. A sudden call of the House, and some unexpected ministerial changes, require Lord Callonby"s immediate presence in town; and probably before this reaches you we shall be on the road. Lord Kilkee, who left us yesterday, was much distressed at not having seen you--he desired me to say you shall hear from him from Leamington. Although writing amid all the haste and bustle of departure, I must not forget the princ.i.p.al part of my commission, nor lady-like defer it to a postscript: my lord entreats that you will, if possible, pa.s.s a month or two with us in London this season; make any use of his name you think fit at the Horse-Guards, where he has some influence. Knowing as I do, with what kindness you ever accede to the wishes of your friends, I need not say how much gratification this will afford us all; but, sans response, we expect you. Believe me to remain, yours very sincerely, "Charlotte Callonby."
"P.S.--We are all quite well, except Lady Jane, who has a slight cold, and has been feverish for the last day or two."
Words cannot convey any idea of the torrent of contending emotions under which I perused this letter. The suddenness of the departure, without an opportunity of even a moment"s leave-taking, completely unmanned me. What would I not have given to be able to see her once more, even for an instant--to say "a good bye"--to watch the feeling with which she parted from me, and augur from it either favourably to my heart"s dearest hope, or darkest despair. As I continued to read on, the kindly tone of the remainder rea.s.sured me, and when I came to the invitation to London, which plainly argued a wish on their part to perpetuate the intimacy, I was obliged to read it again and again, before I could convince myself of its reality. There it was, however, most distinctly and legibly impressed in her ladyship"s fairest calligraphy; and certainly great as was its consequence to me at the time, it by no means formed the princ.i.p.al part of the communication. The two lines of postscript contained more, far more food for hopes and fears than did all the rest of the epistle.
Lady Jane was ill then, slightly however--a mere cold; true, but she was feverish. I could not help asking myself what share had I causing that flushed cheek and anxious eye, and pictured to myself, perhaps with more vividness than reality, a thousand little traits of manner, all proofs strong as holy writ to my sanguine mind, that my affection was returned, and that I loved not in vain. Again and again I read over the entire letter; never truly did a nisi prius lawyer con over a new act of parliament with more searching ingenuity, to detect its hidden meaning, than did I to unravel through its plain phraseology the secret intention of the writer towards me.
There is an old and not less true adage, that what we wish we readily believe; and so with me--I found myself an easy convert to my own hopes and desires, and actually ended by persuading myself--no very hard task --that my Lord Callonby had not only witnessed but approved of my attachment to his beautiful daughter, and for reasons probably known to him, but concealed from me, opined that I was a suitable "parti," and gave all due encouragement to my suit. The hint about using his lordship"s influence at the Horse guards I resolved to benefit by; not, however, in obtaining leave of absence, which I hoped to accomplish more easily, but with his good sanction in pushing my promotion, when I claimed him as my right honorable father-in-law--a point, on the propriety of which, I had now fully satisfied myself. What visions of rising greatness burst upon my mind, as I thought on the prospect that opened before me; but here let me do myself the justice to record, that amid all my pleasure and exultation, my proudest thought, was in the antic.i.p.ation of possessing one in every way so much my superior--the very consciousness of which imparted a thrill of fear to my heart, that such good fortune was too much even to hope for.
How long I might have luxuriated in such Chateaux en Espagne, heaven knows; thick and thronging fancies came abundantly to my mind, and it was with something of the feeling of the porter in the Arabian Nights, as he surveyed the fragments of his broken ware, hurled down in a moment of glorious dreaminess, that I turned to look at the squat and unaristocratic figure of Father Malachi, as he sat reading his newspaper before the fire. How came I in such company; methinks the Dean of Windsor, or the Bishop of Durham had been a much more seemly a.s.sociate for one destined as I was for the flood-tide of the world"s favour.
My eye at this instant rested upon the date of the letter, which was that of the preceding morning, and immediately a thought struck me that, as the day was a louring and gloomy one, perhaps they might have deferred their journey, and I at once determined to hasten to Callonby, and, if possible, see them before their departure.
"Father Brennan," said I, at length, "I have just received a letter which compels me to reach Kilrush as soon as possible. Is there any public conveyance in the village?"
"You don"t talk of leaving us, surely," said the priest, "and a haunch of mutton for dinner, and Fin says he"ll be down, and your friend, too, and we"ll have poor Beamish in on a sofa."
"I am sorry to say my business will not admit of delay, but, if possible, I shall return to thank you for all you kindness, in a day or two --perhaps tomorrow."