"I know you'll agree that the toast I'm about to give is one we can all drink with unalloyed satisfaction. I give you the health of one who has passed through the fire of fashion and frivolity, and yet kept a corner of his heart for truth and reality, and preserved enough of good taste to turn from a clique, of which I may fairly say, _O t' ha ingannato, o ingannar ti vuole_, to the more tangible world of action; one to whom we owe the existence of a valued friend (_Carramba!_ Gilpin, it would have been all over with you but for him); in a word I give you, 'Fred Egerton.'" The toast was most enthusiastically received, even Miss Vernon clapped her hands approvingly; I made an appropriate acknowledgment, and soon after, _apropos_ to my new Regiment, Kate turned to me and said, "By the bye I always forgot to tell you, Nurse has a son in the 26th Lancers; pray do not forget to give Denis O'Toole opportunities of distinguishing himself. I have written a letter for her to him, which I will give you to-morrow." And the parting moment came fast, too fast. "Well, good bye, my dear Egerton," said the Colonel, grasping my hand in both of his, which shook a little, "in all human probability I shall never see you more; take an old man's blessing with you." "I can never forget the happy days I have spent with you, my dear sir; I will write from Bombay--if I have time, from Alexandria. Do not let me quite escape your memory!" I took Kate's hand, I ventured to hold it in both of mine--I could utter no word, but gazed long and silently into her sweet, calm eyes: she looked pale, but seemed perfectly composed. "God bless you, Captain Egerton, and make you happy," she said, in a somewhat unsteady voice. I turned and left the room without a word! "Christ shield ye from harm, captin jewil," sobbed Mrs. O'Toole, "don't be down-hearted entirely, sure there's many a prayer goes wid ye, an' the coldest hour is the hour before daydawn. Holy Mary keep ye, an' don't forget the letther for me poor boy." "Nurse, dear Nurse, good-bye, I'll take care of your son." And my last glimpse of the Priory gate showed me Mrs. O'Toole with her apron to her eyes, and Cormac looking uneasily after me.