of any woman; the time will come when his mind will recover its usual equilibrium, other duties and occupations will engross much of his thoughts, and his wife will feel that she is no longer his sole consideration. Nelly will not like this."

"But, Miss Carew, this is only what must happen to every woman after the first ardour of attachment is passed. I don't think Nelly would like to see Lascelles tied to her apron-string all day long; he will return to her with all the more empressement after their little separations. A soldier must leave his wife now and then."

"She wishes him to leave the army," said Miss Carew; "but he does not seem inclined to abandon his profession, and I advised her not to press the point just now."

"I know he is much attached to the 144th," I replied, "and he is also a devoted soldier; besides, there is now really some chance of seeing service, and for this Lascelles has long ardently pined."

"That may be all very well for him," said Miss Carew; "but consider the feelings of a wife who sees her husband leave her for all the dangers of an active campaign. I own that I do not wonder at her anxiety for him to quit the army, while he can honourably do so."

"She will not succeed, Miss Carew," I observed, decidedly. "Lascelles is every inch a true soldier; a life of indolence and inaction will never suit him. Nelly must prepare to share his glory when the time for great deeds arrives. It is now but a rumour, and may never be realized."

Miss Carew only shook her head, and just then Nelly and Lascelles entered from the garden, and our conversation was stopped.

VOL. III.

K

CHAPTER XIV.

MORE CHANGES.

"CHARLEY, mee boy, come along with me; you're the very fellow I want."

I was in the act of putting the finishing-strokes to a very elaborate toilette, when Barry unceremoniously invaded my retreat, and thus insisted on carrying me off to some place unknown.

"Am I?" I replied. "What am I wanted for ?"

"To take care of me, my dear fellow, and prevent me from being totally victimized and plundered by the Thieves' Association' of pretty girls that comes off to-day."

"Oh! the Bazaar; I had quite forgotten it," I replied. "Turn out the contents of your purse, Ned, and leave them behind you; that will be your best safeguard."

"Och! if that was all that was necessary, sure that same would be easily done," said Barry, with a comical grimace; "but when a sweet creature, with two eyes like diamonds and lips like ripe strawberries, comes up, and says in her own winning way, 'Sure, Mr. Barry, you'll not be after refusing me now-you will buy this beau-ti-ful doll that I dressed all entirely

myself, and all its things come off and on; and, see, its eyes open and shut'-would you have me be the hardhearted ogre that is to say, 'No, my angel, a miserable, lone bachelor like me has no need of such a beau-ti-ful doll. Of course not; sure I'd buy up all the dolls on the premises only to pleasure her, the darling."

"Well, Barry, I'll go with you; but, mind you, don't ask me to lend you a sixpence, for I wont do it. We'd better write, 'Needy Insolvents' on a couple of cards, and stick them on our backs; perhaps people wont bother us then."

66

Sure I wont buy one single thing, good, bad, or indifferent," said Barry, energetically; "not if my old grandmother, that's been dead and gone these twenty years, was to go down upon her knees to me, let alone the pretty girls we'll see this day. Now, I've said it. Hooray!"

"Mr. Barry," whispered a remarkably melodious voice, almost immediately on our entrance to the large room where the sale was held, "do come and patronize me; I've been watching so for you. Look at this lovely pincushion, only ten shillings. I am sure you know somebody that wants a pincushion."

The speaker was little Katey Connor, a sparkling brunette of nineteen, who was looking as bewitching as possible in the most intensely charming white lace bonnet, with bright geraniums inside; and who knew quite well that nobody could refuse anything tendered by that exquisite little hand in its pale primrose glove.

"Be firm, Barry," I whispered; but the caution came too late; a golden coin is glittering on Katey's tiny palm, and Barry is the proud possessor of such a pincushion!

"Mother of Moses!" he ejaculated, as he triumphantly regarded his prize. "Wont it look splendid on my dressing-table, all among the cigars and bills! The little darling, I'll think of her whenever I look at it; sure it's cheap at the price."

"I thought you were not to buy anything, Barry?” "Sure, I meant not; and divil another of them shall tempt me-I'm steel to the backbone. Is it an anti macassor, my dear? and ye can't get rid of it? and those lovely fingers worked it! Sure I'll keep it while there's a rag of it left. Murther in Irish, Charley carry me off from these beguiling young robbers. Will ye see me plundered before your very eyes ?"

Mrs. Grant was presiding at a stall, assisted by several very pretty girls, who were doing their best to attract purchasers; and very successfully too, judging from the jingling sound I frequently heard, and the rapid diminishing of the contents of their counter. Barry and I attached ourselves to this fair group, and were employed as shopboys to our infinite

satisfaction.

While engaged in getting up a raffle for a large worked chair, I espied my old friend Miss Kate O'Hara sitting demurely in a corner, engaged in a very promising-looking flirtation with a dashing cavalry officer.

"Good gracious! Mr. Nugent-who ever dreamt of seeing you? Have you been mashing any more potatoes lately?”

"No, Miss O'Hara. Has the gentleman with the big whiskers-"

"Now, stop this very minute ;" and she blushed charmingly, and gave a side look at the individual to

whom she had been speaking. She then introduced me to him. He was "My cousin, Arthur de Lancey, of the ―th Light." He had lately returned on sick leave from India; had paid a visit to his relations, the O'Haras, fallen in love with Kate, proposed, and been accepted; and the young lady was in town for the purpose of getting her trousseau.

I have been long silent about my worthy friend Major Thompson, and his little affair, but it was progressing most favourably; the gallant major and his fair inamorata were evidently to be exceptions to the rule of true love never running smooth; the current of their passion was as tranquil as a mill pond. My own impression was that the proceeding was already cut and dried; and I was in daily anticipation of an announcement that my services as groom's man would speedily be required, as I had long ago informed Major Thompson that I intended to fill this important position.

Miss Barham lived in the country at a considerable distance from Dublin; and as a daily visit was thereby rendered impossible, all the major's spare time was devoted to the composition of wonderful epistles that must have occupied the lady a very respectable time in their perusal. Of course his little tendresse was no secret in the regiment.

I fear I had been wicked enough to give facetious descriptions of how the major took the disease, and all his innocent wiles and machinations, so delightfully palpable to the very dullest of observers.

The clue once given, it was not very difficult to follow it out; and when the major began to sport light kids and brilliant ties, when there was something stronger than mere suspicion that he paid fre