Part 10 (1/2)
”By my soul, it is a city you may well be proud of,” answered the lieutenant; ”and it is to be hoped that no enemy for their own sakes will ever venture within gunshot of your redoubtable militia.”
The second lieutenant was introduced as a young Jersey man, Mr Latrobe.
He spoke with more French accent than his chief, who accounted for his so doing by remarking that he had not come to sea till he was nearly grown up, and had during peace time served on board a French merchant vessel. ”We Jersey men,” he added, ”though our sympathies are thoroughly English, yet retain, as you know, the language and customs of our Breton ancestors.”
”Come, gentlemen, I must conduct you to my humble residence,” said Mr Ferris, and, leading his guests up Hanover Street, so called by the loyal inhabitants in compliment to the reigning royal family, they entered King Street, towards the west end of which was situated Mr Ferris's house, overlooking the river. On reaching the house, as there was time to spare, Mr Ferris took them round his grounds, of which they were loud in their compliments. So pleased did they declare themselves that they begged to go round them a second time, when the lieutenant might have been seen narrowly observing the localities. As they paced round the outer circuit on their walk, they met Ellen and Norah, to whom of course Mr Ferris introduced his guests. The officers bowed, and Captain Dupin, addressing Ellen, expressed his admiration of her beautiful garden and the taste with which it was laid out.
”Surely I need not inquire whether you were the chief designer of these lovely terraces and sparkling fountains, and that picturesque rockwork,”
said the captain, bowing as he spoke.
”No, I can claim no merit for the beauties you admire,” answered Ellen; ”my father purchased the property from the former owner. I should have liked it better had it been left more to nature.”
”Ah, if you could see Jersey! How you would delight in my own native island!” exclaimed Captain Dupin; ”it contains just the scenery you would appreciate.”
”I can a.s.sure you that in Ireland we have most romantic and beautiful scenery,” answered Ellen; ”and in the county of Kerry are the lovely Lakes of Killarney, such as I believe all strangers consider the most romantic in the world.”
”Ah, I know nothing of Ireland, though I may hope some day to be better acquainted with it,” said the captain.
The other two stood aloof, as if they did not consider themselves of sufficient consequence to address the young ladies to whom their commander was speaking. Ellen, offering to show Captain Dupin the aviary, led the way along the terrace. Norah followed by herself, leaving the two lieutenants in conversation with Mr Ferris. The elder of the two after a little time stepped forward, and Norah, looking round, found him walking by her side.
”Is this spot as attractive as some of the scenes you have visited in the West Indies, Miss Tracy?” he asked, speaking low.
Norah started as she heard the voice; but looking at the speaker, whose countenance she failed to recognise, she asked, ”How do you know that I have been in the West Indies, Mr Macarthy?”
”I heard from a seaman who came on board the _Orestes_ that you had accompanied your father on board the _Ouzel Galley_,” he answered quietly. ”Irishmen are wonderfully communicative, you know. It is an unusual thing for young ladies to take such a voyage in time of war.”
”I sailed before war had broken out, or I am very sure my father would not have taken me,” she replied, banis.h.i.+ng the idea which had flashed across her mind. ”He probably heard from the seaman that a young lady was staying with Miss Ferris, and thus guessed who I was,” she thought to herself.
After again going round the grounds, the party returned to the house, where the other guests had begun to a.s.semble. Captain Dupin and his officers were duly introduced and cordially welcomed to Waterford.
Among others, Lieutenant Vinoy was brought up by the host.
”Though you gentlemen would look upon each other as enemies were you to meet on the ocean, here, I trust, you will be friends,” said Mr Ferris.
The officers bowed politely.
”I ave moche plaisir to meet Monsieur le Capitaine Dupin in dis hospitable maison,” said the French lieutenant; ”if ve evare encounter vis one anodare on de sea, den ve fight like des braves hommes--n'est-ce pas, Monsieur le Capitaine?”
”I could not desire a greater honour,” answered the Jersey man. ”Nor, by my faith, could I,” exclaimed the first lieutenant of the _Orestes_.
”Ah, I moche fear I remain prisonare here to do end of de war,” sighed Monsieur Vinoy; ”but, ma foi, I am too happy in dis charmante ville vid dese aimable young ladies to vish to leave. It was de fortune de la guerre vich brought me here, and I vill not complain.”
”You might certainly have been much worse off,” observed Captain Dupin.
”I have no doubt you fought your s.h.i.+p, like a brave man, till all hope of victory was gone.”
”Ve vill not talk of dat,” answered the lieutenant, turning away, probably not quite relis.h.i.+ng the remark, recollecting how he had been caught napping.
Three of the officers of the city militia were next introduced to the naval guests. Judged by their uniform, they were remarkably fine fellows, for their coats were blue, with scarlet linings and gilt b.u.t.tons, their waistcoats and breeches being also of scarlet, and their hats richly adorned with gold lace. They had evidently, as was natural, a decidedly good opinion of themselves, and were somewhat inclined to look down upon the more simply dressed tars. The first lieutenant of the _Orestes_ eyed them askance from under his s.h.a.ggy eyebrows, apparently regarding them, for some reason or other, with no friendly feeling. After exchanging salutations, he at once turned aside and addressed himself to some of the civilians.
”We are expecting a king's s.h.i.+p every day to visit our harbour--the _Champion_, 18-gun sloop of war, Commander Olding,” observed one of the gentlemen. ”Contrary winds may have detained her, or perhaps she has fallen in with a Frenchman; and I will venture to say, if such is the case, that she has taken him, for the navy does not possess a more gallant and resolute officer than my friend.”
Captain Dupin involuntarily shrugged his shoulders and bowed. ”I have no doubt of the gallantry of the officers of the Royal Navy,” he observed. An opportunity occurring, he stepped back and spoke a few words to his two lieutenants. The younger of the two looked somewhat agitated; though the elder, whatever thoughts were pa.s.sing in his mind, retained a perfect composure. He managed to hand in Norah to dinner, and to obtain a seat by her side. He spoke in a low voice, which once or twice, it seemed to her, was unnatural; but he accounted for it as his commander had done to Mr Ferris, by saying that he had received a wound in his mouth. He described many strange places and scenes he had visited, and appeared, notwithstanding the time he had been absent from his native country, to be well acquainted with various parts of Ireland.