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and the magistrate afterwards attested, six very fine recruits, with whom the industry of my party had, during my short absence, swelled my ranks. Night overtoook us ere we saw the strand of our mighty jorum.. My worthy friend the magistrate left me full of grateful feelings for the approbation he bestowed an my conduct in my late affair; and my friend the doctor, after many insidious attempts to pump out of me more particulars of that matter than I thought proper to enlighten him upon, departed, having no reason to be dissatisfied with his day's work, as he pocketed thirty shillings for his brief professional examination of my new recruits. In the highest spirits I retired for the night, in a state of elevation almost bordering on what is termed "half-seas over."

As early as five the next morning I was to be found at the brook side in my dressing-gown and slippers only, at the bottom of the meadow, which bounded the widow's humble domain. In this small stream, not above a dozen feet wide and not half as many deep, with my companion Cromwell, I was accustomed to paddle and swim about for half an hour during the sultry summer mornings. Retiring at length from this refreshing exercise, I explored a new passage to the house by an out-building, called by way of distinction the dairy, though applicable to a variety of purposes, amongst others that of being a dormitory for two bouncing bare-legged lasses of the establishment; whose slumbers had some short time before been rudely broken by the visit of the worthy mistress, when I met them in solitary petticoat, with rake and other rural implements in hand, going forth to the meadows to "fork the fragrant hay." Mean while the ever busy widow was employed at her early task of concocting a few pats of butter for my morning's repast. Her dress, if such it may be called, was merely short stays, one petticoat, and a scanty shawl thrown over her shoulders, leaving exposed to the view the most beautiful though lusty pair of arms in the kingdom, In this state, in such a place, and such an hour, chance threw in my way the fresh and buxom widow, looking all freshness, more like a Dutch Venus of twenty-five than the humble hostess of an Irish sheebeen of forty. My ghost could not have alarmed her more than did my sudden appearance, as I glided into the dim region of curds and cream. A faint exclamation, and then, "darling jewel, lave me," was all she could utter. The churn was forsaken. I felt bound to explain, and apologize for my intrusion. She heard me in silence, and hung her head: the full-blown rose, expanding its inmost leaf to the balmy breeze of the morn was not more

sweet.

What a situation!

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"The gods are just; and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to scourge us."

NEVER, during my sojourn under her thatched roof, had my zealously kind widow prepared for me a more delicious breakfast than this memorable morning. She outdid herself in the delicate whiteness of the griddle cake. The creamy freshness of the butter, the overflowing milkiness of the new-laid eggs, all proved the anxious care she had taken in providing for my "creature comforts;" all evincing her anxiety to make me pleased with her. She more than succeeded: I was delighted. O! woman! woman! there is no situation in life, however lowly and humble, that can rob you of those powers of fascination, which Nature, in return for her occasional caprice and cruelty, can throw around you! I wonder how the widow, who was a most devout Catholic, got over her next month's confession!

"Let

Upwards of a week passed in this state of quietude, when, early one morning, while dressing, a visiter was announced, whose re-appearance sadly discomposed the serene delight which, for some happy days, had sat in blissful security on the widow's brow. "Old Honour Carey, the fortune-teller, from Laracor, sir," said one of the colleens of the kitchen. her wait below: I can't see her yet," I replied, as I involuntarily cursed the beldam; but comforted myself with the hope that she was come for no other purpose but to claim her reward for past services, rather than to invite me to fresh iniquity and new troubles. Alas! her object was twofold. She was the bearer of a letter full of the tenderest reproaches at my long absence and silence; yet abounding with expressions which demonstrated the overwhelming influence of passion, and mere passion, that no woman of perfect purity of mind could indulge in or avow. I was invited to a meeting at Honour Carey's, where, secure from all interruption, our endearments might be renewed. I knew the sex sufficiently well not to be convinced that "Hell has no fury like a woman scorned;" but feigning a churlishness of behaviour towards the sibyl, which my heart was a stranger to, I dismissed her with a crown, slipped into her hand unobserved by all, and one sentence, “I will be there." The abruptness with which she was to all ap

pearance dismissed, without even the reward of a dram, seemed to have an instantaneous effect on the once more calm and lovely face of the widow. Even the unshod, unhosed te nants of the tap chuckled with malicious delight at the unceremonious conge given to the smoke-dried dealer in destiny, who, nevertheless, tripped off perfectly pleased with the events of her mission, and anxious to derive from her fair employer the reward of her successful trip on love's embassy.

My reflections were, upon the whole, of a painful nature. I felt that I had, at an early period of life, yielded to the vices of our common nature, while my heart adored her virtues! I passively submitted to become the slave of one woman's capricious passion, while every sentiment of love, uncontrollable as it was hopeless, bound my heart in eternal fetters to that woman's nearest female relative! Then again, I saw myself the wayward child of circumstances, unable, and, indeed, unwilling, to conquer the rising passion of the moment; a debauchee, a false flattering hypocrite of seventeen! ready to swear fidelity to maid, to wife, or widow! Deeply did I deplore my entanglements in the mazes of passion and vice; yet I could not promise to myself a virtuous resistance to the next temptation which opportunity might afford. Thus was I sinning, with repentance, but repenting without amendment.

Revolving all these things in my mind, I strolled into the church-yard, where, seated beside a grave, the moss-covered stone over which had no appearance of having been removed for half a century, I beheld my humble Mentor and kind friend old Robin, with his broad-rimmed spectacles on nose, reading the bible. My approach did not disconcert him: on the contrary, he expressed his satisfaction at seeing me at such a place; and, pointing to the time-worn tablet by his side, said, "In this spot, sir, we laid our poor dear boy six-and-twenty years ago! I sometimes sit for hours conversing with him in thought: so much beloved on earth; and now, I trust, happy in heaven for ever and ever! Captain! he was an angel before he went there: he was a stranger to sin!"—"My dear Mr. O'Farrell," I replied, we are not all so fortunate. Youth brought up in great cities imbibe habits and vices, which, to those reared in a more happy state of a country life, are unknown, or, if known, known only to be hated. I assure you, my kind friend, I am sensible of many imperfections in myself, but I hope my heart is not entirely corrupted."

"O! sir, no, no! Your conduct to poor old Fleming's daughter, which every ear but your own has heard with delight, convinces me you are truly good and virtuous! But, sir, that vile woman from Laracor can have no business with you that is good. She has brought trouble enough already into the fa

mily of that good gentleman, at whose house you have been lately so kindly entertained. I only wonder that Mr. Temple and Miss Maria, too! do not rid the country of her: what can she want with such an adviser? Surely the match between her and Mr. Arabin was broken off all through her means. She enticed the dear young lady to her hovel, where young Arabin, who remained four days concealed in the neighbourhood, used to meet her; and although the father forbade her to entertain any thoughts of a marriage with him, the old woman was doing all she could, with her pretended power with the cards, to inflame the mind of the young woman to reject her father's authority, and accept him as a husband, in secret-or even worse! Yes! sir, even worse! However, before dishonour had fallen on this house and name, the father discovered that such meetings took place; and he withdrew the half consent he had one time given, that young Arabin might hope for his daughter's hand when the death of the old colonel would give him the estate of Arbian Park.

"This happened," continued the old man, "upwards of two years ago. The young fellow got a commission in the artilÏery, and we heard he was going to the West Indies; and he, indeed, wrote to the old gentleman to inform him of his destination. But for some reasons he remains in Ireland recruiting, and has lately made his appearance in this part of the country-worse luck, sir, for Miss Maria!-and, for what cause you best know, fixed a quarrel upon you, which might have caused the parents that love you to weep the loss (as I still do) of a beloved son! O! sir, if that hag is misleading you, cast her off as you would an evil spirit! You are very young, sir, -surely there can be nothing between Miss Maria and yourself." (A thrill of horror shot through my soul as he fixed his penetrating eyes on my burning face.) "She is nearly twice your age. I fear nothing from yourself; but I trembled when I saw old Honour Carey deliver a letter to you. It is no business of mine to inquire what you do; but believe me, sir, since I had a son of my own to love, I never saw that woman's child to whom my heart yearns more fondly than to you."

"A thousand thanks to you, my good and kind Robin," I answered, "for your affectionate concern for me. I will try to break off all connexion with the Temple family without giving offence; for never did I receive greater kindness than in that house. I shall go but once more to Templemore, and then with my party; and as it will be the fair-day, I shall be but one amongst the number of the magistrate's guests. You must accompany me, Robin; and I shall leave town before nightfall, and march back to our quarters at the head of my party." "Right, Captain!" said old Robin, standing proudly erect, VOL. I. 13

as if at drill, evidently gratified at his fancied conquest over my boyish follies. Little did the worthy man know the pangs which his brief lecture cost my heart. O! little could he have imagined that the youth who then stood before him, whose purity of heart he praised with such pride, and fondness, was to his own conscience a precocious monster of crime! I lived, however, in his love and respect to his last hour, and he died unconscious of my demerits. Kind, benevolent old man! my heart smote me as he took his leave of me that day, bestowing his unbought, undeserved blessing, and his prayers for my virtue and happiness!

CHAPTER XXXIV.

"And I, even yet repenting, must
Relapse to guilt!".

THE next morning's sun was to see me at Laracor. By what contrivance Maria was to elude observation so as to meet me five miles from her home at an early hour in the morning, was a circumstance that at once puzzled and distressed me. When absent from her, I felt no sentiment but pity for her weakness or caprice; but when once within the vortex of her endearing looks and embraces, retreat-resistance was impossible. There was but one course to adopt to save herself and me; but that honour, gratitude, a feeling bordering on love, but corrupted by a grosser passion, forbade; even a vain feeling of pity for that infirmity of taste which she exhibited in bestowing her affections on me, forbade me to absent myself on her summons. I sent a note in the evening to old Robin to request he would go over to Somerston for my letters on the morrow, and meet me at one o'clock in the afternoon at my quarters. I also asked for his mare; ostensibly to ride to the head-quarters of the militia to bespeak music for my next beating up. The mare was sent to me by my messenger; and having thus lulled suspicion to sleep in the breast of others, I sought to lull myself into false tranquillity. But, alas! the "small still voice," which must and will be heard, whispered daggers to my distracted and guilty mind.

The venerable Countess's parting admonition-the faithful

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