“Ah, Mr. O’Malley,” said the aide-de-damp, in his blandest accent, “I hope you’re better. Sir George is most anxious to see you; he is at present engaged with the staff--” A bell rang at that moment, and cut short the sentence; he flew to the door of the inner room, and returning in an instant, said,-- “Will you follow me? This way, if you please.” The room was crowded with general officers and aides-de-camp, so that for a second or two I could not distinguish the parties; but no sooner was my name announced, than Sir George Dashwood, forcing his way through, rushed forward to meet me. “O’Malley, my brave fellow, delighted to shake your hand again! How much grown you are,--twice the man I knew you; and the arm, too, is it getting on well?” Scarcely giving me a moment to reply, and still holding my hand tightly in his grasp, he introduced me on every side. “My young Irish friend, Sir Edward, the man of the Douro. My Lord, allow me to present Lieutenant O’Malley, of the Fourteenth.” “A very dashing thing, that of yours, sir, at Ciudad Rodrigo.” “A very senseless one, I fear, my Lord.” “No, no, I don’t agree with you at all; even when no great results follow, the _morale_ of an army benefits by acts of daring.” A running fire of kind and civil speeches poured in on me from all quarters, and amidst all that crowd of bronzed and war-worn veterans, I felt myself the lion of the moment. Crawfurd, it appeared, had spoken most handsomely of my name, and I was thus made known to many of those whose own reputations were then extending over Europe. In this happy trance of excited pleasure I passed the morning. Amidst the military chit-chat of the day around me, treated as an equal by the greatest and the most distinguished, I heard all the confidential opinions upon the campaign and its leaders; and in that most entrancing of all flatteries,--the easy tone of companionship of our elders and betters,--forgot my griefs, and half believed I was destined for great things. Fearing, at length, that I had prolonged my visit too far, I approached Sir George to take my leave, when, drawing my arm within his, he retired towards one of the windows. “A word, O’Malley, before you go. I’ve arranged a little plan for you; mind, I shall insist upon obedience. They’ll make some difficulty about your remaining here, so that I have appointed you one of our extra aides-de-camp. That will free you from all trouble, and I shall not be very exacting in my demands upon you. You must, however, commence your duties to-day, and as we dine at seven precisely, I shall expect you. I am aware of your wish to stay in Lisbon, my boy, and if all I hear be true, congratulate you sincerely; but more of this another time, and so good-by.” So saying, he shook my hand once more, warmly; and without well feeling how or why, I found myself in the street.