ruded his head
into the room, to see if I were asleep, and as guardedly withdrew it
again, I never had energy to speak to him, but lay passive and still,
waiting till my mind might clear, and the cloud-fog that obscured my
faculties might be wafted away.

At last--it was towards evening--the man, possibly becoming alarmed at
my protracted lethargy, moved somewhat briskly through the room, and
with that amount of noise that showed he meant to arouse me, disturbed
chairs and fire-irons indiscriminately.

"Is it late or early?" asked I, faintly.

"Tis near five, sir, and a beautiful evening," said he, drawing nigh,
with the air of one disposed for colloquy.

I did n't exactly like to ask where I was, and tried to ascertain the
fact by a little circumlocution. "I suppose," said I, yawning, "for all
that is to be done in a place like this, when up, one might just as well
stay abed, eh?"

"T is the snuggest place, anyhow," said he, with that peculiar
disposition to agree with you so characteristic in an Irish waiter.

"No society?" sighed I.

"No, indeed, sir."

"No theatre?"

"Devil a one, sir."

"No sport?"

"Yesterday was the last of the season, sir; and signs on it, his
Lordship and the other gentleman was off immediately after breakfast."

"You mean Lord--Lord--" A mist was clearing slowly away, but I could not
yet see clearly.

"Lord Keldrum, sir; a real gentleman every inch of him."

"Oh! yes, to be sure,--a very old friend of mine," muttered I. "And so
he's gone, is he?"

"Yes, sir; and the last word he said was about your honor."

"About me,--what was it?"

"Well, indeed, sir," replied the waiter, with a hesitating and confused
manner, "I did n't rightly understand it; but as well as I could catch
the words, it was something about hoping your honor had more of that
wonderful breed of horses the Emperor of Roosia gave you."

"Oh, yes! I understand," said I, stopping him abruptly. "By the way, how
is Blondel--that is, my horse--this morning?"

"Well, he looked fresh and hearty, when he went off this morning at
daybreak--"

"What do you mean?" cried I, jumping up in my bed. "Went off? where to?"

"With Father Dyke on his back; and a neater hand he could n't wish
over him. 'Tim,' says he, to the ostler, as he mounted, 'there's a
five-shilling piece for you, for hansel, for I won this baste last
night, and you must drink my health and wish me luck with him.'"

I heard no more, but, sinking ba