“I won’t say any more, if you don’t wish it,” Claire said quietly, “but I shall think of it, always.

“And now,” she said, with an effort, “mamma said you were not to talk much, and you look quite flushed already, so you must lie quiet, and I will read to you, or work, if you like that better.”

“I don’t care which it is,” Walter said, “so that I can look at you;” and this time Claire’s cheeks were a good deal redder than Walter’s.

Mrs. Conyers returned in half an hour, and found Claire sitting working, while Walter lay looking at her.

“I think, Claire, you had better take your work in the next room again,” she said.  “Walter looks flushed, and I don’t think your visit has done him any good.  You have been talking too much.”

“It has done me an immense deal of good, Mrs. Conyers,” Walter protested; while Claire exclaimed that they had hardly spoken a word, which indeed was the truth, for Walter had been feeling too dreamily happy to want to talk, and Claire had felt so shy and embarrassed, with Walter watching her, that she had been unable to hit on a single subject for remark.

Another two days, and Walter was well enough to get up and lie on a couch of heather, covered with the blanket, which Larry had prepared for him in the next room.  His voice had recovered its natural ring, and Claire had got over her unaccustomed shyness; and Mrs. Conyers, as she moved in and out, heard them laughing and chatting together, as they had done ten days before at the Hall.

Chapter 11:  The First Siege Of Limerick.

The three heavy guns thundered against the walls without intermission, night and day, until at length a breach was made.  The garrison in vain attempted to repair it, and every hour it grew larger, until there was a yawning gap, twelve yards wide.  This William considered sufficient for the purpose, and made his preparations for the assault.  The English regiment of grenadiers, six hundred strong, was ordered to take its place in the advanced trenches, and to lead the assault.  It was supported on the right by the Dutch Guards, with some British and Brandenburg regiments in reserve.

On the left, the grenadiers were supported by the Danish regiments, and a large body of cavalry were held in readiness, to pour in behind the infantry.  The storming parties were under command of Lieutenant General Douglas.

At three o’clock in the afternoon, the signal for the assault was given by a discharge of three pieces of cannon.  As the last gun was fired, the grenadiers leaped from the trenches and dashed forward towards the breach.  As they approached the wall, they discharged their muskets at the enemy upon the walls, and, before assaulting the breach, they hurled a shower of hand grenades at its defenders.