d redeem you. Poor Mary
here won't believe that you wear a great sword, and are the most
warlike-looking person imaginable on occasions.'

'Dearest Louisa, how silly you are!' said her cousin, blushing deeply.
'Pray, Mr. Hinton, what do you think of the rooms?'

This question happily recalled me to myself, for up to that very moment,
forgetful of everything save my fair companion, I had not noticed our
entrance into the ballroom, around which we were promenading with alow
steps. I now looked up, and discovered that we were in the Town-hall,
the great room of which building was generally reserved for occasions
like the present. Nothing could be more simple than the decorations
of the apartment. The walls, which were whitewashed, were tastefully
ornamented with strings and wreaths of flowers suspended between the
iron chandeliers, while over the chimney-piece were displayed the
colours of the marching regiment then quartered in the town. Indeed, to
do them justice, the garrison were the main contributors to the pleasure
of the evening. By _them_ were the garlands so gracefully disposed;
by _them_ were the rat-holes and other dangerous crevices in the floor
caulked with oakum; _their_ band was now blowing 'God Save the King' and
'Rule Britannia' alternately for the last hour, and _their_ officers, in
all the splendour of scarlet, were parading the room, breaking the men's
hearts with envy and the women's with admiration.

O'Grady was quite right--it is worth while being a soldier in Ireland;
and, if such be the case in the capital, how much more true is it in
Connaught? Would that some minute anatomist of human feeling could
demonstrate that delicate fibre in an Irishwoman's heart that vibrates
so responsively to everything in the army-list! In this happy land you
need no nitrous oxide to promote the high spirits of your party; I had
rather have a sub. in a marching regiment than a whole gasometer full
of it. How often have I watched the sleepy eye of languid loveliness
brighten up--how often have I seen features almost plain in their
character assume a kind of beauty, as some red-coat drew near! Don't
tell me of your insurrection acts, of your nightly outrages, your
outbreaks, and your burnings, as a reason for keeping a large military
force in Ireland--nothing of the kind. A very different object, indeed,
is the reason--Ireland is garrisoned to please the ladies. The
War Office is the most gallant of public bodies; and