Our detachment; a novel

Chapter I. A Subaltern Alone

I WAS on duty that day, and couldn't get out, and awfully dull work I found it, leaning out of my window, and trying to catch a glimpse of the town and its inhabitants, over the top of the horrid blank wall that bounded our horizon — in an earthward dn-ection I mean, for looking upward, certainly there was plenty of a blue summer sky to be seen, flecked with white fleecy clouds ; but I had seen lots of that kind of thing any day this hot summer ; and though I won't deny it is pretty, still a fellow can't always be star-gazing ; or if he is, he is pretty sure to fall into some desperate grief here below — worse even than the old cove we used to read about in our Grecian history.

Then there were distant mountain-tops in view, looking so sunny and heathery and tempting that they were an aggravation rather than a solace— more particularly as I knew that just under them lay a beautiful lake, renowned for its fishing ; and that on that veiy delicious day my captain. Lord Claude Feversham, had gone to inspect it, and try his luck. "At any rate, it's a bad day for, sport," I mused — "too bright altogether; and I'm glad of it, for it's a beastly shame to leave me mewed up here alone, and all the other fellows off amusing themselves. I'd bet five bob Mayleigh will be able to tell, when he comes in, the whole history and antecedents of that pretty pair of feet I saw yesterday as we marched into the town. It is too bad, for it was I saw them first, and pointed them out to him, and now he will take all the credit of the discovery to himself.

"I say, there's an old hag selling gooseberries just outside the gate. I wonder could I hit her with a bit of plaster off the wall here, and make her bring me some. They'll be down on me now for barrack damages, I suppose ; but Feversham needn't think he can shut up Madcap Dan'ell a whole afternoon alone, in such a confounded dull hole as this, without seeing a little alteration in the place when he comes back. Bravo! that Iiit her. Now she is looking this way. I say, you ! Biddy, Peggy, whatever your name is, how do you sell those tilings ?"

"Two-pence a quart, your honor, bless your pnrty face, ray little master," answered the old thief, with a grin that showed all her toothless gums.

'•Confound her impudence!" I thought — " what does she mean by speaking in that way to me, Vivian Darrell, junior ensign in Her Majesty's

— th foot." So I answered her stiffly, as I flatter myself I can on occasion :

"Come, I want none of your chaff. Eemember, you are addressing ah officer in Her Majesty's service, and I'll have you placed under arrest if you don't keep a civil tongue in your head."

"Och! murder, yer honor!" she cried, bobbing a series of courtesies, and crossing herself as she looked up at my window. " Sure it's no offense I meant, my purty dear; but I thought as you were the Captain's little boy, as I'd heard tell about — him as came down a day or two ago, and got a house in town, your honor. Sure and I could only see your head and shoulders, dearie, so I couldn't tell if you were bigger nor him. But don't fell the min to take me up, agra ; for a purtier dear I never seen, and I've seen a many, being sixty years old next Lady-day. Devil a lie I'm telling you, yer honor. "

There the old harridan stood, gazing up with her blear eyes at my window, and though pretending to put up her wares, evidently not with the least intention of moving as long as I would listen. However, her aspersions on my appearance and dignity were more than I could bear, and I made up ray mind I would even do without the goospberries, and the amusement they might have afforded me, rather than by buying them encourage this woman in the beHef I was little Ussher; though why men shouldn't eat gooseberries as well as boys of ten or twelve, I couldn't think. Indeed I knew they did, for I had seen our sergeant-major half an hour before investing, in some, whjch he swallowed skins and all — the beast — if I'm not much mistaken. Indeed, I don't believe I'd have thought of getting them but for his example. So I said, with great dignity and severity,

"You may go now, good woman. I sha'n't take any of your fruit ; and you'd better learn to know an officer when you see him before you come into barracks again."

"Sure now, and didn't j'our honor call me?" she answered, with the greatest assurance. ,, ' 'And may be, if you'll not be afther taking the berries, you'll give me the price of a plaster. Captain dear, for the place where your honor hit me with a stone, when I was sitting there bej'ant."

"I never threw a stone at you, you fool!" I cried, angrily. I give you my word the thing she called a stone was a bit of mortar about an inch square, and it hit her on the old rag of a shawl she wore round her shoulders. I don't like to be Imposed on, and I would give her the money in a minute when she chose to recognize

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me as an officer in Her Majesty's service, only that she asked for it on that plea, so I went on :

"It was only a bit of plaster off the window here struck you ; and it is not for your hurt you want it, for you were not hurt, but to get a glass of whisky, or something. Get along witli you out of barracks. Do you think I don't know the whole set of you!"

As I spoke I got tip from the chair in which I had been sitting, intending to leave the window, and so end the discussion, as there were several of the men hanging about, and they were rather inclined to laugh, I thought. But when the harridan saw me standing up, perceiving by my height, I suppose, that I really was what I had given myself out to be, she uttered a howl, and catching up her basket, hurried oft^ crying out,

" Holy Mother of Moses, he's coming afther me! Bad luck to ye, ye yellow-skinned, blackeyed spalpeen, that wouldn't give an old body that's sixty come next Lady-day a penny-piece to cure the blow you gave her ! Faix it's meself believes his mammy doesn't give him money yet, till he gets big enough to take care of it."

This was too much ; so, putting my head out of the window again, I called out,

"Hold hard there, you old thief! Por the credit of Her Majesty's service I suppose I'd better give you something; so take that, and get drunk as soon as you like ; only don't let me see you in the barracks again, or I'll have you arrested."

Jiist as I uttered this threat, and threw half a crown to her at the same time, who should pass across. the square but our sergeant-major, and he, overhearing my threat, burst into a most disrespectftU laugh.

"Come," I said, turning to him, "let me hear no more of that, Green. Do you think you were sent here to ridicule your officers ? I'll let Captain Feversham know how you behave, and we"ll see what he says to such conduct. Ah ! she's gone now. I say. Green, like a good fellow, don't let her in again. She's an awful old woman, and she'd turn the barracks upside down in no time."

Now perhaps yon may think this all very extraordinary, but I'll tell you the whole state of the case, if you will keep it dark ; only I don't want the ladies to know, as they would call me a boy, and laugh at me. ~I am Vivian DaiTcll, the only son of Viscount Traveraoourt, and you see they made such a piece of work about me at home that I was never allowed to go to school, or any of those places, but always had a tutor. He was a good fellow, too, and was up to a lark, so that we got into no end of scrapes together. When Claude Peversham came to spend last Christmas with us, and advised my going up for my examination for the line, I rather think my parents were not quite sorry to have a chance of a quieter house in future. I passed, as you know, or else I should not be here, and was gazetted to the -^th, my cousin Claude's regiment. He is my captain, and the joUiest brick going ; but I wish I had a way of paying him out for leaving me alone lilce this, our first day in a strange town.

I always tell our fellows I am twenty, and I think they believe it, because I am veiy dark, which makes a man look older ; but this is what I am going to confess, and which I hope you will keep secret — the truth is, I was only eighteen the other day. I begged Claude not to' betray me, and though I could not get him to promise, yet I think he will not, and that is the only thing that keeps me fiom having my revenge on him for his beastly selfishness in going ofi' to take his pleasure, and leaving me to take care of the barracks. You see he might tell all about me, if I was to bo very hard on him, and I don't think it worth while paying a fellow otf, unless I can come down on him well.

We marched into this little country town in the south of Ireland yesterday. I don't go in for praising scenery, you know — it looks spoony; but I don't mind allowing the mountains are very fine, and I am told there is fishing both by lake and river, yachting, shooting, and, for ladies' men, croquet and dancing. I am not a lady's man, you understand. I believe I once had a weakness that way just after I joined ; but when I proposed, while helping my pai'tner and the object of my admiration to a Champagne-cup at a ball, she answered, with a laugh, " Thank you ; but I do find little boys just into jackets so troublesome, and as I have two little brothers of that age to mind, I don't feel equal to undertaking care of a third."

You can imagine what I suffered then, for really the girl was as pretty as any girl could be, witli lots of fair hair, like spun glass. After that cruel answer, she went off to dance with a tall, dark fellow in the Blues she was flirting with ; and I heard she married him afterward. Can you wonder that since then I have hated the sex, and that a constant puzzle to me, whenever I let my thoughts revert to that painful subject, is how she found out my age ':" Foi' I had taken good care a few minutes before to tell her I was three-and-twenty.

As I said, we came in here yesterday. On our way from tlie terminus to the barracks, I pointed out to Mayleigh a pair of the prettiest feet and ankles possible to see, walking a little way in front ; but we had not overhauled them when we were obliged to turn up a by-street, and so lost; sight of them. Now I know well it is after those feet Mayleigh went out to-day, saying he was just going to see the town, and take a stroll ; and JFeversham has gone out fishing, as I said ; and Ussher is somewhere mooning about with his wife, I suppose : the other two fellows said they were going up the lake, and perhaps they did, but they agreed to come back to lunch, and ordered me to have some for them. Catch me, that's all ! I've had no walk to give me an appetite, so I'll let them wait till I get one. I must have some gooseberries.

" I say. Potter," I cried to a soldier passing, "just run and get me a gallon of gooseberries from that old woman ; but don't tell whom they are for, as I don't wish to encourage her hanging about the barracks."

So he went and bought me the gallon of gooseberries, and for a time I got on very well, having found a note-book of Mayleigh's, which I began illustrating with extracts from his histoiy, calculated to drive him rabid, when he should see all his little weaknesses figuring in highly-finished etchings, and exhibited round the table. As I drew I sucked my fruit, and worked away till my fingers got stiff; even my liking for the dainty before me could not induce me to finish

OUR DETACHMENT.

them. What should I do with them ? I would not give them to the others, for I was sure they did not deserve them. Stayl I have it!' I rushed oif to our mess-man, got a large flat dish, poured what remained on to that, and then proceeded to Feversham's room, where I concocted, for his henefit, a very clevei-ly constructed bed of the apple-pie kind. My tutor had taught me how to make them, with this difference — he had never used a dish of gooseberries as the foundation of his structures. It would have been impossible, when all was finished, to guess there was any thing unusual in the bed, and I danced a frantic pas seal of delight at the success of my stratagem. .

It wasn't done much too soon, either; for I had hardly returned to my own room again, and resumed my post by the windows, when Mayleigh, Flower, and Preston entered the squai'e, all together. They were very busy talking, and did not perceive me until I hit Mayleigh in the eye with a goosebeny-skin.

"There is that confounded young monkey, Madcap, at his tncks again !" said Mayleigh, loud enough for me to hear. " I'll spoil his black little figure-head some day for him, if he doesn't mindj". . .

"I hope you have not been very dull. Madcap?" called Flower up to me. "'I expect the barracks are not the better for being under your care so long. How many fights have you got up since we went out this morning ?"

" Stow that chaff, Flower, will you ?"i I retorted, sulkily. You see, it is a shame' to be always bringing up a fellow's old ignorances against him, and this is what Flower was alluding to : '

One day, not long after I had first joined, I had been left alone as I was to-day, and roaming in a very idle frame of mind about the square, I came suddenly on two of the men quarreling. They were calling each other no end of bad names, and looked mischievous enough ; so I said,

" Well, there's no good in you two fellows going on like that ; hard words break no bones, and give no satisfaction either, I think ; you are so evenly matched at them. Try a round or two, and I'll be umpire."

No sooner said than done ; and they were hard at work at it, the little fellow walking well into the bigger one, when who should turn in, right on to us before we saw him coming, but Flower.

"What on earth is.all this ?" he cried. " Darrell, what's up ?"

"Only these two fellows were abusing each other, and I told them to take a turn with their fists while I acted umpire."

"You two stop this instant," Flower said, turning very sharp on the men; "and mind, if I hear any more of this, you will be punished. And now, for heaven's sake. Madcap, come away, and don't let me hear of your doing this kind of thing again. It can't be allowed, indeed, and you will get into awful hot water if you go on in that wav."

"Well, I don't see," I answered, " that it is any worse their pommeling themselves a little, and getting all rancor beaten out of them, than to go on calling each other ill names, and keeping up a constant spite."

This is what he was bringing up at me again; and I don't like it ; though still, you see, I, think

I was right. Besides; as I told him then, my tutor always said every Englishman should know how to use his fists, and should use them too, if occasion required. Now, of course, you know, I understand it wouldn't suit the discipline of a regiment, but I don't think he need always be reminding me of the one or two little mistakes I made on first joining. Indeed, I know he was as bad, for he was always called Baby, and I should like to know which is worst, that name or Madcap? It riles him uncommon to call him Baby, so I put my head out of the window again, and shouted out, so that the sentry and every one should hear,

- "I say, Baby, did your nurse take good care of you out? You would have been better, I am sure, in with me, and it would be much more manly than going out in leading-strings."

" You infernal young monkey, won't yon catch it if I get at you !" roared Flower, coming in hurriedly, for some of the men about wei-e laughing. "I'll break every bone in your little slippery body, if once I lay hands on you!" As he spoke ha turned the key in the lock, so that I might not have the chance of escaping by the door.

Then a frantic chase commenced, which was hard work to him, as I suspect he had always been too good a boy to go robbing orchards and climbing trees for nests, like other fellows. It was a prime lark forme, however, and a good excuse tor trying the springs of Mayleigh's arm-chair, which always occupied a comfortable position near the fire ; for I had gone down to the anteroom when I saw Flower coming in a rage. Bound and round the room we went, without ever, on my part at least, touching the floor— from chairto table, from table back to chair, and so on, till I saw Flower was getting thoroughly pumped ; then, making him a profound bow, I called out, " Good-bye, Baby dear; this sort of thing is too much for. your constitution, so I think I had better cat it short. I hope it will have got over its fractiousness by dinner-time." So saying, I sprang on to the window-sill, and dropped into the court-yard below. It was not much of a drop, about seven or eight feet, but I knew my friend would not follow me. Fortunately I had snatched up my forage-cap as I left my room, so now the world was before me where to choose, and kissing, my hand to Flower, who leaned out of the window in a white heat, I dashed out of the barracks and down the steep, dirty hill that led into the town.

It was not a bad place for an Irish country town, and I assure you I was quite astonished to see how respectable most of the inhabitants looked, my mother having mourned over me as one going, among cannibals when she heard we were under orders for Ireland. She even wanted me to exchange into the Guards ; but thsit I refused to do, for I should have lost the society of Claude, and with all his faults I like him ; besides, I think it is good for him to have somebody always near to look after him. I think him a little inclined to bo susceptible, you know, and am convinced my friendly ridicule saved him from making a regular mess of himself once or twice before now. Besides, I told the mum I wanted to see a little active service, and, if any thing happened to me there I should be nearer home than if I was to go to any other savage country ; so, after a good deal of lussing and crying over ftie,

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she consented to my Roing, after making ma swear solemnly I would neither get shot nor become so contaminated by bad examples as to shoot any one myself; and also that under no circumstances whatever would I leave off the flannels, of which she had provided me with a stock, or turn Roman Catholic. As I said, I was astonished to see the respectable - look of the inhabitants, and that there were actually two churches, nice - looking ones too, besides schism shops of various denominations, and plenty of the regular religion of the country also. Why do some of those fellows wear petticoats ? It is not a compliment to the old women they resemble, for however well it may suit the old women, it is very unbecoming to them.

There were shops too — grocers and butchers and bakers ; fruit shops, where, only that I had already. had so many gooseberries that morning, I should have been tempted to spend some money on strawberries, which were really very fine. There were also millinery and tailoring establishments, and at length, just after crossing a second bridge, and remarking that the water in the river was very low, I came on the queerest little hole, and the wonderful variety of articles displayed in the window tempted me to enter.

Such an odd fish as I found in possession ! He capered round his counter, bowing and scraping the whole time as he did so ; then he brought forward a chair, placed it before me, and requested me to sit down. This I did, while he, returning to his seat behind the counter, offered me some chocolate-cream bonbons, which I was pleased to accept. You see, that is another thing I don't like talked about, but I don't mind telling you : I am awfully fond of sweets, though before people I generally pretend I can't bear them^that they spoil one's palate for distinguishing the flavor of wines, olives, and such-like things. I hate olives like poison, you know, but I alvvaj'S cat them when they appear at table ; its looks epicurean, and like a hon-vivant, who has had his tastes educated at Paris. Mercifully, here in the country they never have them, so I am spared that.

By-the-way, this queer little wretch I had hunted up was called by the most magnificent name, out of those old histories,you know. John Hampden was up over his shop-door, and he assured me every one called him so. Then you must imagine a person five feet nothing in height, yellow-skinned and dried up, with a whining voice, and queer, skipping, hopping, bustling movements ; a man, I should say, who devoted more of his energies to the collection of gossip than to the business of his trade.

He told me he kept a pass-book with the barracks, and I might get any thing I liked. Of course it would all be entered in the book at whatever price he chose to put on the articles afterward ; but we would not be pressed for payment till the regiment was leaving. ■

"That is a very convenient way of dealing with gentlemen like the officers," he went on ; "for, you see, often, young fellows come here not very flush of money, and if they could not get credit they would buy nothing. You are Captain Ussher's young gentleman, aren't you, sir 1 Would you ask your papa to favor me with his custom, whenever he wants any thing in my line?" . "I am no connection of Captain Ussher's," I answered stiflSy, rising and leaving the chocolate creams behind me, so great was my indignation. "I am one of the officers, and if yon are not more respectful in your manner of speaking to me in future, I shall be obliged to give up coming here; it lowers the dignity of the sen'ice when its officers are treated with familiarity."

"Oh, surely, sir, you are right," replied the little. man, with a face expressive of the deepest concern. My determined conduct had evidently cowed him. "You see, sir, the last regiment was here, sir, they were such nice, friendly gentlemen, and took eveiy thing in good part. I used to have great fun with them, and was always up at the barracks ; but, you know, I was the only man in Belmiirphy they were so friendly with. Every one's good to John Hampden, however, particularly the ladies ; they would not get their things at any other shop in town. Ah ! here come the Miss Dashaways. Good-moniing, ladies ;" and then he began the same bowing performance over again to which he had treated me.

The girls were pretty, certainly, but bad style ; one of them tall, with dark hair and a very good complexion ; the other dark also, but short, with fine eyes and pretty dark hair; both of them decidedly good-looking, but not the style I care about.

They looked at me for a minute very hard, then turned away and began business with the English patriot, while I rose and went out, determined to see more of the town, and mentally registering a vow that I would twist young Ussher's neck for him some day, if his father kept him down here ; and how such a mistake could have been made when I was in undress I could not conceive.

"At any rate," I concluded, "as these fellows can not recognize an officer in Her Majesty's service when they see him, I will take preciously good care never to go out in ' mufti ' while I am here, except in the evening."

Having taken this resolution, I wandered on, climbed a high green hill on the outskirts of the town, that commanded a most delicious view of the country around, and finally returned to barracks, meeting, on my way back, several pairs of very pretty girls (I've said before that I don't care for the ladies ; but it sounds well to comment on beauty, even if you don't know one face from the other) ; and I arrived just ih time to get ready for mess, where I discovered that Feversham had not yet returned, and that Elower had recovered his wonted good humor.

Chapter II. A Eencontke

Of course they were all down on me the minute I came in, wanting to know what I had seen and done. I had not much to tell them, as you know; they, had found out my friend John Hampden before me, but not the feet. No ; to my great gratification, Mayleigh was obliged to own he Iiad failed in all his endeavors to unearth the possessor of that captivating pair of understandings.

And Feversham did not come home till late — not that it mattered much, for I knew I must make up my mind to wait some time before I

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could see my ruse crowned with success. Therefore I was not impatient, when Claude returned in the highest possible spirits^ and evidently greatly amused with his day's sport, though. all that he had caught, as far as we could see, was one wretched trout, about two inches long.

We used to mess at half-past six, and it was long after that when Feversham returned. We were able to question him about his day's adventures, as we sat over our wine afterward. Then his well-pleased air attracted attention, and Mayleigh asl;ed, in his usual inquisitive manner,

" What's up, Captain ? You look as pleased as if you had discovered a gold mine."

"So I have," answered Feversham, with his quiet smile, as he passed the decanter before him. "At least, if it is not a gold mine, it is a mine of amusement well worth its weight in gold, iu this dull place."

" Tell us all about it," we cried in chorus. "You would not keep such a treasure-trove to yourself."

"You will find it out, my good fellows, in time, even if I tried to keep it ever ao dark. It is not a light that will allow itself to be kept under a bushel, I can assure you. " He paused for a momeut, and looked round on our attentive faces, with an amused glitter in his dark eyes ; then he went on: "You know when I went to Lough Glenty this morning, I had no permission to fish there, which I suppose I ought to have had ; however, they told me here in town it helonged to General Bamhridge; and that he was not very particular about preserving it. The day was too bright for doing much, but I got out my tackle, set it to rights, and then amused myself admiring the scenery, which is really magnificent. The lake is long and narrow, lying in the centre of a valley, shut in between such steep mountains that a great part of their height is sheer precipice, while the lower slopes, though steep enough too, are clothed with woods that just now are bright with the young summer green, and scented with thousands of flowers. Mountain torrents dash over the frowning cliffs that overhang the woods, looking like silver streamers, waving in dazzling white against the cold gray liinestone, and losing themselves in the woods at the base, through which they glide with a low drowsy murmur into the lake. Oh ! if I was a painter, I could find subjects enough even in that narrow valley to gain me a name ; and as I am, having none of the, artist faculty, I made more use of my eyes, watching the mountain-tops, than looking for the likeliest hole for fish, or gazing in hopes of a bite as I made a cast. So absorbed, I heard no one approach me — indeed it almost seemed to me as if there was no living thing within miles but the lark singing gayly fur up in the blue heavens. Suddenly a soft voice, with a veiy merry ring in it, exclaimed close to my ear,