how the old people were
favourable, and the young lady averse--and how Dangerfield was content
to leave the question in abeyance, and did not seem to care a jackstraw
what the townspeople said or thought--and then he came to the
Walsinghams, and Devereux for the first time really listened. The doctor
was very well--just as usual; and wondering what had become of his old
crony, Dan Loftus, from whom he had not heard for several months; and
Miss Lily was not very well--a delicacy here (and he tapped his
capacious chest), like her poor mother. 'Pell and I consulted about her,
and agreed she was to keep within doors.' And then he went on, for he
had a suspicion of the real state of relations between him and Lily, and
narrated the occurrence rather with a view to collect evidence from his
looks and manner, than from any simpler motive; and, said he, 'Only
think, that confounded wench, Nan--you know--Nan Glynn,' And he related
her and her mother's visit to Miss Lily, and a subsequent call made upon
the rector himself--all, it must be confessed, very much as it really
happened. And Devereux first grew so pale as almost to frighten Toole,
and then broke into a savage fury--and did not spare hard words, oaths,
or maledictions. Then off went Toole, when things grew quieter, upon
some other theme, giggling and punning, spouting scandal and all sorts
of news--and Devereux was looking full at him with large stern eyes, not
hearing a word more. His soul was cursing old Mrs. Glynn, of
Palmerstown--that mother of lies and what not--and remonstrating with
old Dr. Walsingham--and protesting wildly against everything.

General Chattesworth, who returned two or three weeks after, was not
half pleased to see Devereux. He had heard a good deal about him and his
doings over the water, and did not like them. He had always had a
misgiving that if Devereux remained in the corps, sooner or later he
would be obliged to come to a hard reckoning with him. And the handsome
captain had not been three weeks in Chapelizod, when more than the
general suspected that he was in nowise improved. So General
Chattesworth did not often see or talk with him; and when he did, was
rather reserved and lofty with him. His appointment on the staff was in
abeyance--in fact, the vacancy on which it was expectant had not
definitely occurred--and all things were at sixes and sevens with poor
Dick Devereux.

That evening, strange to say, Sturk was still living; and Toole