The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer — Volume 1Lever, Charles
General
The Confessions of Harry Lorrequer — Volume 1
Lever, Charles
Fiction
The interesting Mrs. Mulrooney, for such was my fair companion called,
was on the present occasion making her debut on what she was pleased to
call the "says;" she was proceeding to the Liverpool market as proprietor
and supercargo over some legion of swine that occupied the hold of the
vessel, and whose mellifluous tones were occasionally heard in all
parts of the ship. Having informed me on these, together with some
circumstances of her birth and parentage, she proceeded to narrate some
of the cautions given by her friends as to her safety when making such a
long voyage, and also to detail some of the antiseptics to that dread
scourge, sea-sickness, in the fear and terror of which she had come on
board, and seemed every hour to be increasing in alarm about.
"Do you think then sir, that pork is no good agin the sickness? Mickey,
that's my husband, sir, says it's the only thing in life for it, av it's
toasted."
"Not the least use, I assure you."
"Nor sperits and wather?"
"Worse and worse, ma'am."
"Oh, thin, maybe oaten mail tay would do? it's a beautiful thing for the
stomick, any how."
"Rank poison on the present occasion, believe me."
"Oh, then, blessed Mary, what am I to do--what is to become of me?"
"Go down at once to your berth, ma'am; lie still and without speaking
till we come in sight of land; or," and here a bright thought seized me,
"if you really feel very ill, call for that man there, with the fur
collar on his coat; he can give you the only thing I ever knew of any
efficacy; he's the steward, ma'am, Stewart Moore; but you must be on your
guard too as you are a stranger, for he's a conceited fellow, and has
saved a trifle, and sets up for a half gentleman; so don't be surprised
at his manner; though, after all, you may find him very different; some
people, I've heard, think him extremely civil."
"And he has a cure, ye say?"
"The only one I ever heard of; it is a little cordial of which you take,
I don't know how much, every ten or fifteen minutes."
"And the naygur doesn't let the saycret out, bad manners to him?"
"No, ma'am; he has refused every offer on the subject.'
"May I be so bowld as to ax his name again?"
"Stewart Moore, ma'am. Moore is the name, but people always call him
Stewart Moore; just say that in a loud clear voice, and you'll soon have
him."
With the most profuse protestations of gratitude and promises of pork "a
discretion," if I ever sojourned at Ballinasloe, my fair friend proceeded
to follow my advice, and descended to the cabin.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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