like an enraged bull and a hand as
wide as one of these flags!"

"It is Damon and Pythias over again, I declare!" said Lady Lyle. "Where
did he pick up his monster?"

"They met by chance in England, and, equally by chance, came together to
Italy, and Tony persuaded him to accompany him and join Garibaldi. The
worthy Irishman, who loved fighting, and was not very particular as to
the cause, agreed; and though he had originally come abroad to serve in
the Pope's army, some offence they had given him made him desert, and
he was well pleased not to return home without, as he said, 'batin'
somebody.' It was in this way he became a Garibaldian. The fellow, it
seems, fought like a lion; he has been five times wounded, and was left
for dead on the field; but he bears a charm which he knows will always
protect him."

"A charm,--what is the charm?"

"A medallion of the Pope, which he wears around his neck, and always
kisses devoutly before he goes into battle."

"The Pope's image is a strange emblem for a Garibaldian, surely," said
Sir Arthur, laughing.

"Master Rory thinks it will dignify any cause; and as he never knew what
or for whom he was fighting, this small bit of copper saved him a world
of trouble and casuistry; and so in the name of the Holy Father he has
broken no end of Neapolitan skulls."

"I must say Mr. Butler has surrounded himself with some choice
associates," said Lady Lyle; "and all this time I have been encouraging
myself to believe that so very young a man would have had no
connections, no social relations, he could not throw off without
difficulty."

"The world will do all his sifting process for him, if we only have
patience," said Sir Arthur; and, indeed, it is but fair to say that he
spoke with knowledge, since, in his own progress through life, he had
already made the acquaintance of four distinct and separate classes in
society, and abandoned each in turn for that above it.

"Was he much elated, Mr. Damer," asked Lady Lyle, "when he heard of his
good fortune?"

"I think he was at first; but it made so little impression on him, that
more than once he went on to speculate on his future, quite forgetting
that he had become independent; and then, when he remembered it, he
certainly did look very happy and cheerful."

"And what sort of plans has he?" asked Bella.

"They're all about his mother; everything is for _her_. She is to keep
that cottage, and the ground about it, and he is to make a