Chapter THIRTY NINE

IS A CHAPTER OF PLOTS--CATHOLIC CASUISTRY IN A NEW CASSOCK--PLOTTING PROMOTES PROMOTION--A PEASANT'S LOVE, AND A PEER'S PEEVISHNESS-- PROSPECTS OF PROSPERITY.

As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I sent for a Plymouth paper, and cut out the paragraph which had been of such importance to me in my emergency, and the next morning returned home to receive the congratulations of my family. I found a letter from O'Brien, which had arrived the day before. It was as follows:--

"MY DEAR PETER,--Some people, they say, are lucky to `have a father
born before them,' because they are helped on in the world--upon which
principle, mine was born _after_ me, that's certain; however, that
can't be helped. I found all my family well and hearty: but they all
shook a cloth in the wind with respect to toggery. As for Father
McGrath's cassock, he didn't complain of it without reason. It was
the ghost of a garment; but, however, with the blessing of God, my
last quarterly bill, and the help of a tailor, we have had a regular
refit, and the ancient family of the O'Briens of Ballyhinch are now
rigged from stem to stern. My two sisters are both to be spliced to
young squireens in the neighbourhood; it appears that they only waited
for a dacent town gown to go to the church in. They will be turned
off next Friday, and I only wish, Peter, you were here to dance at the
weddings. Never mind, I'll dance for you and for myself too. In the
meantime, I'll just tell you what Father McGrath and I have been
doing, all about and consarning that thief of an uncle of yours.

"It's very little or nothing at all that Father McGrath did before I
came back, seeing as how Father O'Toole had a new cassock, and Father
McGrath's was so shabby that he couldn't face him under such a
disadvantage: but still Father McGrath spied about him, and had
several hints from here and from there, all of which, when I came to
add them up, amounted to nothing at all.

"But since I came home, we have been busy. Father McGrath went down
to Ballycleuch, as bold as a lion, in his new clothing, swearing that
he'd lead Father O'Toole by the nose for slamming the door in his
face, and so he would have done, if he could have found him; but as he
wasn't to be found, Father McGrath came back again just as wise, and
quite as brave, as he went out.

"So, Peter, I just took a walk that way myself, and, as I surrounded
the old house where your uncle had taken up his quarters, who should I
meet but the little girl, Ella Flanagan, who was in his service; and I
said to myself, `There's two ways of obtaining things in this world,
one is for love, and the other is for money.' The O'Briens are better
off in the first article than in the last, as most of their countrymen
are, so I've been spending it very freely in your service, Peter.

"`Sure,' says I, `you are the little girl that my eyes were ever
looking upon when last I was this way.'

"`And who are you?' says she.

"`Lieutenant O'Brien, of His Majesty's service, just come home for a
minute to look out for a wife,' says I; `and it's one about your make,
and shape, and discretion, that would please my fancy.'

"And then I praised her eyes, and her nose, and her forehead, and so
downwards, until I came to the soles of her feet; and asked her leave
to see her again, and when she would meet me in the wood and tell me
her mind. At first, she thought (sure enough) that I couldn't be in
earnest, but I swore by all the saints that she was the prettiest girl
in the parts--and so she is altogether--and then she listened to my
blarney. The devil a word did I say about your uncle or your aunt, or
Father McGrath, that she might not suspect, for I've an idea that
they're all in the story. I only talked about my love for her pretty
self, and that blinded her, as it will all women, 'cute as they may
be.

"And now, Peter, it's three weeks last Sunday, that I've been
bespeaking this poor girl for your sake, and my conscience tells me
that it's not right to make a poor cratur fond of me, seeing as how
that I don't care a fig for her in the way of a wife, and in any other
way it would be the ruin of the poor thing. I have spoken to Father
McGrath on the subject, who says `that we may do evil that good may
come, and, that if she had been a party to the deceit, it's nothing
but proper that she should be punished in this world, and that will,
perhaps, save her in the next;' still I don't like it, Peter, and it's
only for you among the living that I'd do such a thing; for the poor
creature now hangs upon me so fondly and talks about the wedding day;
and tells me long stories about the connections which have taken place
between the O'Flanagans and the O'Briens, times gone by, when they
were all in their glory. Yesterday as we sat in the wood, with her
arm round my waist, `Ella, dear,' says I `who are these people that
you stay with?' And then she told me all she knew about their
history, and how Mary Sullivan was a nurse to the baby.

"`And what is the baby?' says I.

"`A boy, sure,' says she.

"`And Sullivan's baby?'

"`That's a girl.'

"`And is Mary Sullivan there now?'

"`No,' says she; `it's yestreen she left with her husband and baby, to
join the regiment that's going out to Ingy.'

"`Yesterday she left?' says I, starting up.

"`Yes,' replies she, `and what do you care about them?'

"`It's very much I care,' replied I, `for a little bird has whispered
a secret to me.'

"`And what may that be?' says she.

"`Only that the childer were changed, and you know it as well as I
do.' But she swore that she knew nothing about it, and that she was
not there when either of the children were born, and I believe that
she told the truth. `Well,' says I, `who tended the lady?'

"`My own mother,' says Ella. `And if it were so, who can know but
she?'

"`Then,' says I, `Ella, jewel, I've made a vow that I'll never marry,
till I find out the truth of this matter; so the sooner you get it out
of your mother the better.' Then she cried very much, and I was
almost ready to cry too, to see how the poor thing was vexed at the
idea of not being married. After a while she swabbed up her cheeks,
and kissing me, wished me good-bye, swearing by all the saints that
the truth should come out somehow or another.

"It's this morning that I saw her again, as agreed upon yesterday, and
red her eyes were with weeping, poor thing; and she clung to me and
begged me to forgive her, and not to leave her; and then she told me
that her mother was startled when she put the question to her, and
chewed it, and cursed her when she insisted upon the truth; and how
she had fallen on her knees, and begged her mother not to stand in the
way of her happiness, as she would die if she did (I leave you to
guess if my heart didn't smite me when she said that, Peter, but the
mischief was done), and how her mother had talked about her oath and
Father O'Toole, and said that she would speak to him.

"Now, Peter, I'm sure that the childer have been changed and that the
nurse has been sent to the Indies to be out of the way. They say they
were to go to Plymouth. The husband's name is, of course, O'Sullivan;
so I'd recommend you to take a coach and see what you can do in that
quarter; in the meantime, I'll try all I can for the truth in this,
and will write again as soon as I can find out any thing more. All I
want to do is to get Father McGrath to go to the old devil of a
mother, and I'll answer for it, he'll frighten her into swearing
anything. God bless you, Peter and give my love to all the family.

"Yours ever,

"TERENCE O'BRIEN."

This letter of O'Brien was the subject of much meditation. The advice to go to Plymouth was too late, the troops having sailed some time; and I had no doubt but that Mary Sullivan and her husband were among those who had embarked at the time that I was at the port to pass my examination. Show the letter to my father I would not, as it would only have put him in a fever, and his interference would, in all probability, have done more harm than good. I therefore waited quietly for more intelligence, and resolved to apply to my grandfather to obtain my promotion.

A few days afterwards I set off for Eagle Park, and arrived about eleven o'clock in the morning. I sent in my name and was admitted into the library, where I found Lord Privilege in his easy chair as usual.

"Well, child," said he, remaining on his chair, and not offering even one finger to me, "what do you want, that you come here without an invitation?"

"Only, my lord, to inquire after your health, and to thank you for your kindness to me in procuring me and Mr O'Brien the appointment to a fine frigate."

"Yes," replied his lordship, "I recollect--I think I did so, at your request, and I think I heard some one say that you have behaved well, and had been mentioned in the despatches."

"Yes, my lord," replied I, "and I have since passed my examination for lieutenant."

"Well, child, I'm glad to hear it. Remember me to your father and family." And his lordship cast his eyes down upon his book which he had been reading.

My father's observations appeared to be well grounded, but I would not leave the room until I had made some further attempt.

"Has your lordship heard from my uncle?"

"Yes," replied he, "I had a letter from him yesterday. The child is quite well. I expect them all here in a fortnight or three weeks, to live with me altogether. I am old--getting very old, and I shall have much to arrange with your uncle before I die."

"If I might request a favour of your lordship, it would be to beg that you would interest yourself a little in obtaining my promotion. A letter from your lordship to the First Lord--only a few lines--"

"Well, child, I see no objection--only I am very old, too old to write now." And his lordship again commenced reading.

I must do Lord Privilege the justice to state that he evidently was fast verging to a state of second childhood. He was much bowed down since I had last seen him, and appeared infirm in body as well as mind.

I waited at least a quarter of an hour before his lordship looked up.

"What, not gone yet, child? I thought you had gone home."

"Your lordship was kind enough to say that you had no objection to write a few lines to the First Lord in my behalf. I trust your lordship will not refuse me--"

"Well," replied he, peevishly, "so I did--but I am too old, too old to write--I cannot see--I can hardly hold a pen."

"Will your lordship allow me the honour of writing the letter for your lordship's signature?"

"Well, child,--yes--I've no objection. Write as follows--no--write anything you please--and I'll sign it. I wish your uncle William was come."

This was more than I did. I had a great mind to show him O'Brien's letter, but I thought it would be cruel to raise doubts, and, harass the mind of a person so close to the brink of the grave. The truth would never be ascertained during his life, I thought; and why, therefore, should I give him pain? At all events, although I had the letter in my pocket, I resolved not to make use of it except as a _dernier_ resort.

I went to another table, and sat down to write the letter. As his lordship had said that I might write what I pleased, it occurred to me that I might assist O'Brien, and I felt sure that his lordship would not take the trouble to read the letter. I therefore wrote as follows, while Lord Privilege continued to read his book:--

"MY LORD,--You will confer a very great favour upon me, if you will
hasten the commission which, I have no doubt, is in preparation for my
grandson Mr Simple, who has passed his examination, and has been
mentioned in the public despatches; and also that you will not lose
sight of Lieutenant O'Brien, who has so distinguished himself by his
gallantry in the various cutting-out expeditions in the West Indies.
Trusting that your lordship will not fail to comply with my earnest
request, I have the honour to be your lordship's very obedient humble
servant."

I brought this letter, with a pen full of ink, and the noise of my approach induced his lordship to look up. He stared at first, as having forgotten the whole circumstance--then said--"O yes! I recollect, so I did--give me the pen." With a trembling hand he signed his name, and gave me back the letter without reading it, as I expected.

"There, child, don't tease me any more. Good-bye; remember me to your father."

I wished his lordship a good morning, and went away well satisfied with the result of my expedition. On my arrival I showed the letter to my father, who was much surprised at my success, and he assured me that my grandfather's interest was so great with the Administration, that I might consider my promotion as certain. That no accident might happen, I immediately set off for London, and delivered the letter at the door of the First Lord with my own hands, leaving my address with the porter.