for
Dublin. While in that city we saw my uncle, the Counsellor. I do not
remember profiting much by the visit. He, however, shook me kindly by
the hand, and wishing me every success, charged Larry to take care of
me.

"Arrah!" muttered the old man as we walked away, "his honour, sure,
would be after telling a hen to take care of her chickens now."

In London we put up at an inn at the west end, near Exeter 'Change; and
while dinner was getting ready, we went to see the wild beasts which
dwelt there in those days. I thought London a very smoky, dismal city,
and that is all I can remember about it.

Larry was rigged for the journey in a suit of black; and though he would
have been known, however dressed, by every one for a seaman, he was
always taken for an officer of the old school, and was treated
accordingly with becoming respect. Indeed, there was an expression of
mild firmness and of unassuming self-confidence in his countenance,
added to his silvery locks and his handsome though weather-beaten
features, which commanded it.

We spent only one night in London; and by five o'clock in the afternoon
of the day we left it we were rattling down the High Street of
Portsmouth, on the top of the fast coach, while the guard played "See
the Conquering Hero Comes"--which I had some notion he did in compliment
to me.

I thought Portsmouth a much nicer place than London (in which idea some
people, perhaps, will not agree with me); while I looked upon the "Star
and Garter," where we stopped, as a very fine hotel, though not equal in
dignity to the "George." My chest, made under Larry's superintendence,
showed that its owner was destined for the sea. Taking my hand, Larry
stumped up the passage, following the said chest and the bag which
contained his wardrobe.

"What ship has your son come to join?" asked good Mrs Timmins, the
landlady, curtseying, as she encountered us.

"Faith, marm, it's not after being the son of the likes of me is Master
D'Arcy here," he answered, pleased at the same time at the dignity thus
conferred on him. "This is the nephew, marm, of Lieutenant O'Flaherty
of His Majesty's cutter, the _Serpent_; and I'll make bold to ax whether
she's in the harbour, and what directions the Lieutenant has left about
his nephew?"

"Oh dear, now, the cutter sailed this very morning for the westward,"
answered the landlady; "that is unfortunate! And so this young
gentleman is Lieutenant O'Flaherty's nephew.