What is it ?" "You know Cameron ?" "I have seen him," said I, reddening.
"Well, old Camy, as we used to call him, has brought over, among his other news, your gazette." "My gazette! What do you mean ?" "Confound your uncommon stupidity this evening! I mean, man, that you are one of us,--gazetted to the 14th Light,--the best fellows for love, war, and whiskey that ever sported a sabretasche.
'Oh, love is the soul of an Irish dragoon!' By Jove, I am as delighted to have rescued you from the black harness of the King's Bench as though you had been a prisoner there! Know, then, friend Charley, that on Wednesday we proceed to Fermoy, join some score of gallant fellows,--all food for powder,--and, with the aid of a rotten transport and the stormy winds that blow, will be bronzing our beautiful faces in Portugal before the month's out.

But come, now, let's see about supper.

Some of ours are coming over here at eleven, and I promised them a devilled bone; and as it's your last night among these classic precincts, let us have a shindy of it." While I despatched Mike to Morrison's to provide supper, I heard from Power that Sir George Dashwood had interested himself so strongly for me that I had obtained my cornetcy in the 14th; that, fearful lest any disappointment might arise, he had never mentioned the matter to me, but that he had previously obtained my uncle's promise to concur in the arrangement if his negotiation succeeded.

It had so done, and now the long-sought-for object of many days was within my grasp.

But, alas, the circumstance which lent it all its fascinations was a vanished dream; and what but two days before had rendered my happiness perfect, I listened to listlessly and almost without interest.