My illness and the doctor together have made wild work of my poor brain; but if you will talk to me--" "Well, then, what shall it be about?
Shall I tell you a fairy tale ?" "I need it not; I feel I am in one this instant." "Well, then, what say you to a legend; for I am rich in my stores of them ?" "The O'Malleys have their chronicles, wild and barbarous enough without the aid of Thor and Woden." "Then, shall we chat of every-day matters?
Should you like to hear how the election and the canvass go on ?" "Yes; of all things." "Well, then, most favorably.

Two baronies, with most unspeakable names, have declared for us, and confidence is rapidly increasing among our party.
This I learned, by chance, yesterday; for papa never permits us to know anything of these matters,--not even the names of the candidates." "Well, that was the very point I was coming to; for the government were about to send down some one just as I left home, and I am most anxious to learn who it is." "Then am I utterly valueless; for I really can't say what party the government espouses, and only know of our own." "Quite enough for me that you wish it success," said I, gallantly.

"Perhaps you can tell me if my uncle has heard of my accident ?" "Oh, yes; but somehow he has not been here himself, but sent a friend,--a Mr.Considine, I think; a very strange person he seemed.

He demanded to see papa, and it seems, asked him if your misfortune had been a thing of his contrivance, and whether he was ready to explain his conduct about it; and, in fact, I believe he is mad." "Heaven confound him!" I muttered between my teeth.
"And then he wished to have an interview with Captain Hammersley.

However, he is too ill; but as the doctor hoped he might be down-stairs in a week, Mr.Considine kindly hinted that he should wait." "Oh, then, do tell me how is the captain." "Very much bruised, very much disfigured, they say," said she, half smiling; "but not so much hurt in body as in mind." "As how, may I ask ?" said I, with an appearance of innocence.
"I don't exactly understand it; but it would appear that there was something like rivalry among you gentlemen _chasseurs_ on that luckless morning, and that while you paid the penalty of a broken head, he was destined to lose his horse and break his arm." "I certainly am sorry,--most sincerely sorry for any share I might have had in the catastrophe; and my greatest regret, I confess, arises from the fact that I should cause _you_ unhappiness." "_Me_?
Pray explain." "Why, as Captain Hammersley--" "Mr.O'Malley, you are too young now to mate me suspect you have an intention to offend; but I caution you, never repeat this." I saw that I had transgressed, but how, I most honestly confess, I could not guess; for though I certainly was the senior of my fair companion in years, I was most lamentably her junior in tact and discretion.
The gray dusk of evening had long fallen as we continued to chat together beside the blazing wood embers,--she evidently amusing herself with the original notions of an untutored, unlettered boy, and I drinking deep those draughts of love that nerved my heart through many a breach and battlefield.
Our colloquy was at length interrupted by the entrance of Sir George, who shook me most cordially by the hand, and made the kindest inquiries about my health.
"They tell me you are to be a lawyer.