as quietly
as you like, and turn a little back again if need be.'

So slowly, side by side, the brother-officers paced toward the bridge;
and little Puddock, with a serious countenance and blushing cheeks, and
looking straight before him, made his astounding disclosure.

Puddock told things in a very simple and intelligible way, and Cluffe
heard him in total silence; and just as he related the crowning fact,
that he, the lieutenant, was about to marry Miss Rebecca Chattesworth,
having reached the milestone by the footpath, Captain Cluffe raised his
foot thereupon, without a word to Puddock, and began tugging at the
strap of his legging, with a dismal red grin, and a few spluttering
curses at the artificer of the article.

'And the lady has had the condescension to say that she has liked me for
at least _two years_.'

'And she hating you like poison, to my certain knowledge,' laughed
Captain Cluffe, very angrily, and swallowing down his feelings. So they
walked on a little way in silence, and Cluffe, who, with his face very
red, and his mouth a good deal expanded, and down in the corners, was
looking steadfastly forward, exclaimed suddenly,--

'_Well_?'

'I see, Cluffe,' said Puddock; 'you don't think it prudent--you think we
mayn't be happy?'

'_Prudent_,' laughed Cluffe, with a variety of unpleasant meanings; and
after a while--'And the general knows of it?'

'And approves it most kindly,' said Puddock.

'What else can he do?' sneered Cluffe; ''tis a precious fancy--they
_are_ such cheats! Why you might be almost her _grand_-son, my dear
Puddock, ha, ha, ha. 'Tis preposterous; you're sixteen years younger
than I.'

'If you can't congratulate me, 'twould be kinder not to say anything,
Captain Cluffe; and nobody must speak in my presence of that lady but
with proper respect; and I--I thought, Cluffe, you'd have wished me
well, and shaken hands and said something--something--'

'Oh, as for that,' said Cluffe, swallowing down his emotions again, and
shaking hands with Puddock rather clumsily, and trying to smile, 'I wish
you well, Heaven knows--everything good; why shouldn't I, by George? You
know, Puddock, 'twas I who brought you together. And--and--am I at
liberty to mention it?'

Puddock thought it better the news should be proclaimed from Belmont.

'Well, so I think myself,' said Cluffe, and relapsed into silence till
they parted, at the corner of the broad street of Chapelizod and Cluffe
walked at an