The life of officers in garrison, and the dinners at mess; the charms
of the daughters of Erin, and the splendid residence of viceroyalty;
the Wellington testimonial, and the late Mr Daniel O'Connell--have all
been described by competent and incompetent hands. At the period of my
visit, the Government, prepared for any emergency, had fortified the
barracks throughout the country, and poured a large body of troops
into every available position. There never was a more agreeable time
for those stationed at Dublin. The number of organised forces at the
disposal of the Government was so great, that no alarm of personal
danger prevailed in the capital; while the frightful state of the
provinces (the northern parts excepted) not only drove a number of
families into it, but prevented many from leaving it who otherwise
would have done so. These circumstances served to render the town much
gayer than it would otherwise have been at that period of the year.
The business which took me to Ireland was not finished until the end
of the allotted fortnight. However, I determined to pay my promised
visit at Craigduff. Accordingly I addressed a letter to my respected
relative, stating that three days more were all that were required for
me to remain in Ireland; and that on the fifth I hoped to be with her
at Cheltenham. I need scarcely say that I took care not to alarm the
worthy lady, by telling her how I intended to spend the intervening
time.
The last evening of my stay in Dublin was spent at a Mr Flixton's, in
one of the squares. This gentleman had a son who was in the same
regiment to which Felworth had belonged, and who, about a month
previous, had been on a visit to his former friend. This young man
spoke of him in the highest terms. He said he had talents for any
subject to which he might turn his attention; but that his horses
altogether engrossed him; "and such a collection as he has!"
I had no further conversation with young Flixton at that time; but at
a subsequent part of the evening he came up to me with his partner, to
whom he introduced me. The lady appeared about eighteen years of age.
Her expression was one of combined intelligence and sweetness, while
her figure was symmetry itself.
"I have just told Miss Vernon," said he, "that you are a friend of
Frederick Felworth, and that you are going to Craigduff in the
morning; and she says that you will most effectually show your
friendship for him by shooting Units. In this I perfectly agree with
Miss Vernon."
Ere I had time to make any reply the music commenced, and they moved
off to take their places in the dance, but not before I observed a
semi-malicious smile pass over the countenance of the lady, at the
conclusion of her partner's remark. Presuming on the introduction my
young friend had given me, no sooner did I see her disengaged, than I
requested the honour of her hand in the next dance. She declined,
however, saying that her mamma was just about to leave the party, as
they had a journey before them the next day. At a signal from an
elderly lady, she arose and left the room. I was now doubly anxious to
unravel the mystery of "Units," whoever or whatever he, she, or it
might be; whom the one lady advised me to "beware of," for my own
sake--the other to "shoot," for my friend's sake. I resolved to ask
young Flixton, but he was nowhere to be found.
"What a nice girl Miss Vernon is!" said my brother on our way home;
"and she has got twenty thousand pounds, too."
"She is the most lovely girl that was in the room to-night," said I;
"but tell me all you know about her."
"I can do so in a few words. Her father was a West India merchant; her
mother and she have been in Dublin for a few weeks; they are going
back to their residence to-morrow, which is situated somewhere near
Craigduff. I believe they are related to the Felworths. And now my
story is finished. But you had better retire to rest as soon as you
can, for you have but a few hours to sleep."
Though I lay in bed, sleep forsook my eyelids. This may, in some
degree, have been owing to the excitement of the party; but still my
mind was strangely perplexed with the expression "Units." I felt that
Mrs Russell's expression, though uttered in jest, contained a good
deal of seriousness. "Shoot Units!" "Beware of Units!" What could be
the meaning? There are times certainly in which one is more given to
superstitious feelings than he is at others, and such, perhaps, was my
case at that time; I could not banish the thought that my future fate
in life was somehow connected with the unknown "Units."
"After all," said I, throwing myself out of bed, "the nearest
expression to Mrs Russell's that I know of is, '_Take care of Number
One_.' It is an older precept, and most likely a wiser one; and
henceforward I will be doubly careful to observe it."