The House by the Church-Yard eBook

And so they sat some time longer, and grew very merry and friendly, and a little bit pathetic in their several ways.  And Puddock divulged his secret but noble flame for Gertrude Chattesworth, and Devereux sang a song or two, defying fortune, in his sweet, sad tenor; and the nymph who skipt up and down stairs with the kettle grew sleepy at last; and Mrs. Irons rebelled in her bed, and refused peremptorily to get up again, to furnish the musical topers with rum and lemons, and Puddock, having studied his watch—­I’m bound to say with a slight hiccough and supernatural solemnity—­for about five minutes, satisfied himself it was nearly one o’clock, and took an affecting, though soldier-like leave of his comrade, who, however, lent him his arm down the stairs, which were rather steep; and having with difficulty dissuaded him from walking into the clock, the door of which was ajar, thought it his duty to see the gallant little lieutenant home to his lodgings; and so in the morning good little Puddock’s head ached.  He had gone to bed with his waistcoat and leggings on—­and his watch was missing and despaired of, till discovered, together with a lemon, in the pocket of his surtout, hanging against the wall; and a variety of other strange arrangements came to light, with not one of which could Puddock connect himself.

Indeed, he was ‘dithguthted’ at his condition; and if upon the occasion just described he had allowed himself to be somewhat ’intoxicated with liquor,’ I must aver that I do not recollect another instance in which this worthy little gentleman suffered himself to be similarly overtaken.  Now and then a little ‘flashy’ he might be, but nothing more serious—­and rely upon it, this was no common virtue in those days.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

IN WHICH CAPTAIN DEVEREUX’S FIDDLE PLAYS A PRELUDE TO ’OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY.’

There was some little undefinable coolness between old General Chattesworth and Devereux.  He admired the young fellow, and he liked good blood in his corps, but somehow he was glad when he thought he was likely to go.  When old Bligh, of the Magazine, commended the handsome young dog’s good looks, the general would grow grave all at once, and sniff once or twice, and say, ’Yes, a good-looking fellow certainly, and might make a good officer, a mighty good officer, but he’s wild, a troublesome dog.’  And, lowering his voice, ’I tell you what, colonel, as long as a young buck sticks to his claret, it is all fair; but hang it, you see, I’m afraid he likes other things, and he won’t wait till after dinner—­this between ourselves, you know.  ’Tis not a button to me, by Jupiter, what he does or drinks, off duty; but hang it, I’m afraid some day he’ll break out; and once or twice in a friendly way, you know, I’ve had to speak with him, and, to say truth, I’d rather he served under anyone else.  He’s a fine fellow, ’tis a pity there should be anything wrong,