The O'Donoghue: Tale of Ireland Fifty Years AgoLever, Charles
General
The O'Donoghue: Tale of Ireland Fifty Years Ago
Lever, Charles
Ireland -- Fiction
“Here's the man that knows how to spend his money--three cheers for the
Englishman from Stephen's-green--three cheers for Sir Marmaduke
Travers,” and the cheers burst forth with an enthusiasm that showed, how
much more a character for benevolence and personal kindness conciliated
mob estimation, than all the attributes of political partizanship.
“Bring us a lamp here, bring us a lamp,” cried a miserable object in
tattered rags, “take down a lamp, boys, till we have a look at the two
beauties,” and strange as the suggestion may seem, it was hailed with a
cry of triumphal delight, and in another moment a street lamp was taken
from its place and handed over the heads of the mob, to the very window
of Sir Marmaduke's carriage; while the old Baronet, kindly humouring the
eccentricity of the people, lowered the glass to permit them to see in.
A respectful silence extended over that crowd, motley and miserable as
it was, and they stood in mute admiration, not venturing upon a word
nor a remark, until as it were overcome by a spontaneous feeling of
enthusiasm they broke forth into one loud cheer that echoed from the
College to the very gates of the Castle; and with blessings deep and
fervent, as they would have bestowed for some real favour, the carriage
was allowed to proceed on its way once more.
“Here's Morris, here's the Colonel,” was now the cry, and a burst of
as merry laughter as ever issued from happy hearts, welcomed the new
arrival; “make him get out, boys, make him get out, and show us his
legs, that's the fellow ran away in Flanders,” and before the mirth had
subsided, the unhappy Colonel had passed on.
“Who's this in the hackney-coach?” said one, as the carriage in which
Talbot and Mark were seated came up. The window was let down in a
moment, and Talbot, leaning his head out, whispered a few words in a low
voice; whatever their import, their effect was magical, and a hurra, as
wild as the war-cry of an Indian, shook the street.
“What was it you said?” cried Mark.
“Three word in Irish,” said Talbot, laughing; “they are the only three
in my vocabulary, and their meaning is 'wait awhile;' and somehow, it
would seem a very significant intimation to Irishmen.”
The carriage moved on, and the two friends soon alighted in the
brilliantly-illuminated vestibule, now lined with battleaxe-guards, and
resounding with the clangor of a brass band. Mixing with the crowd
that poured up the staircase, they passed into the first drawing-room,
without stopping to write their names, as was done by the others, Talbot
telling Mark, in a whisper, to move up and follow him closely.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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