hem down on the body of
Captain Quin. 'There!' says I--'take her those ribands. She'll know what
they mean: and that's all that's left to her of two lovers she had and
ruined.'
I did not feel any horror or fear, young as I was, in seeing my enemy
prostrate before me; for I knew that I had met and conquered him
honourably in the field, as became a man of my name and blood.
'And now, in Heaven's name, get the youngster out of the way,' said
Mick.
Ulick said he would ride with me, and off accordingly we galloped, never
drawing bridle till we came to my mother's door. When there, Ulick told
Tim to feed my mare, as I would have far to ride that day; and I was in
the poor mother's arms in a minute.
I need not tell how great were her pride and exultation when she heard
from Ulick's lips the account of my behaviour at the duel. He urged,
however, that I should go into hiding for a short time; and it was
agreed between them that I should drop my name of Barry, and, taking
that of Redmond, go to Dublin, and there wait until matters were blown
over. This arrangement was not come to without some discussion; for why
should I not be as safe at Barryville, she said, as my cousin and Ulick
at Castle Brady?--bailiffs and duns never got near THEM; why should
constables be enabled to come upon me? But Ulick persisted in the
necessity of my instant departure; in which argument, as I was anxious
to see the world, I must confess, I sided with him; and my mother was
brought to see that in our small house at Barryville, in the midst of
the village, and with the guard but of a couple of servants, escape
would be impossible. So the kind soul was forced to yield to my cousin's
entreaties, who promised her, however, that the affair would soon be
arranged, and that I should be restored to her. Ah! how little did he
know what fortune was in store for me!
My dear mother had some forebodings, I think, that our separation was
to be a long one; for she told me that all night long she had been
consulting the cards regarding my fate in the duel: and that all the
signs betokened a separation; then, taking out a stocking from her
escritoire, the kind soul put twenty guineas in a purse for me (she had
herself but twenty-five), and made up a little valise, to be placed
at the back of my mare, in which were my clothes, linen, and a silver
dressing-case of my father's. She bade me, too, to keep the sword and
the pistols I had known to use so like a m
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