great silent moist smile at the well-bred
pleasantry. The major, who did not choose to hear Mag's banter, made a
formal, but rather smiling salute. The lieutenant returned it, and down
came the unlucky mortar and a china plate, on which Puddock had mingled
the ingredients, with a shocking crash and jingle on the bare boards; a
plate and mortar never made such a noise before, O'Flaherty thought,
with a mental imprecation.

'Nothing--hash--'appened--Shur,' said O'Flaherty, whose articulation was
affected a good deal, in terror lest the major should arrest his
departure.

So the major and tall Miss Magnolia, with all her roses and lilies, and
bold broad talk, and her wicked eyes, went down the stairs; and
O'Flaherty, looking with lively emotion in the glass, at the unbecoming
coup-d'oeil, heard that agreeable young lady laughing most riotously
under the windows as she and the major marched away.

It was well for Judy, that, being of the gentler sex, the wrath of the
fireworker could not wreak itself upon her. The oftener he viewed
himself in the pier-glass, trying in vain to think he did not look so
very badly after all, the more bitter were his feelings. Oh, that
villainous old silk morning gown! and his eyes so confoundedly red, and
his hair all dishevelled--bad luck to that clar't! the wig was all
right, that was his only comfort;, and his mouth, 'och, look at it;
twiste its natural size,' though that was no trifle.

'Another week I'll not stop in her lodgings,' cried poor O'Flaherty,
grinning at himself in the glass, 'if she keeps that savage, Judy
Carrol, here a day longer.'

Then he stumbled to the stair-head to call her up for judgment; but
changed his mind, and returned to the looking-glass, blowing the cooling
air in short whistles through his peppered lips--and I'm sorry to say,
blowing out also many an ejaculation and invective, as that sorry sight
met his gaze in the oval mirror, which would have been much better not
uttered.

CHAPTER XV.

AESCULAPIUS TO THE RESCUE.

It was not until Puddock had returned, that the gallant fireworker
recollected all on a sudden that he had swallowed one of the bags.

'Thwallowed?--thwallowed it!' said Puddock, looking very blank and
uncomfortable; 'why, Thir, I told you you were to be _very_ careful.'

'Why, why curse it, it's _not_, 'tisn't----'

'There was a long pause, and O'Flaherty stared a very frightened and
hideous stare at the proprietor of the re