impulse to his effort, when, twining my lash around my wrist, I levelled my heavy and loaded hunting-whip at his head: the weighted ball of lead struck him exactly beneath his hat, he staggered, his hands relaxed, and he fell lifeless to the ground; the same instant I was felled to the earth by a blow from behind, and saw no more.
Chapter XII
Mickey Free
Nearly three weeks followed the event I have just narrated ere I again was restored to consciousness. The blow by which I was felled—from what hand coming it was never after discovered—had brought on concussion of the brain, and for several days my life was despaired of. As by slow steps I advanced towards recovery, I learned from
Considine that Miss Dashwood, whose life was saved by my interference, had testified in the warmest manner her gratitude, and that Sir George had, up to the period of his leaving the country, never omitted a single day to ride over and inquire for me.
“You know, of course,” said the Count, supposing such news was the most likely to interest me,—“you know we beat them.”
“No, Pray tell me all. They’ve not let me hear anything hitherto."
“One day finished the whole affair: we polled man for man till past two o’clock, when our fellows lost all patience, and beat their tallies out of the town; the police came up, but they beat the police; then they got soldiers, but, begad, they were too strong for them too. Sir George witnessed it all, and, knowing besides how little chance he had of success, deemed it best to give in; so that a little before five o’clock he resigned. I must say no man could behave better: he came across the hustings and shook hands with Godfrey, and, as the news of the scrimmage with his daughter had just arrived, said that he was sorry his prospect of success had not been greater, that, in resigning, he might testify how deeply he felt the debt the O’Malleys had laid him under.”
“And my uncle, how did he receive his advances?”
“Like his own honest self—grasped his hand firmly, and, upon my soul, I think he was half sorry that he gained the day. Do you know, he took a mighty fancy to that blue-eyed daughter of the old General’s: faith, Charley, if he were some twenty years younger, I would not say but. Come, came, I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings; but I have been staying here too long: I’ll send up Mickey to sit with you; mind and don’t be talking too much to him.”
So saying the worthy Count left the room, fully impressed that, in hinting at the possibility of my uncle’s marrying again, he had said something to ruffle my temper,
For the next two or three weeks my life was one of the most tiresome monotony. Strict injunctions had been given by the doctors to avoid exciting me, and, consequently, every one that came in walked