None of the faces were known to me; so threading my way through the crowd, I reached the steps.

Just as I did so, a half-muttered whisper met my ear:-- "Who did you say ?" "O'Malley, the young Irishman who behaved so gallantly at the Douro." The blood rushed hotly to my cheek, my heart bounded with exultation; my step, infirm and tottering but a moment before, became fixed and steady, and I felt a thrill of proud enthusiasm playing through my veins.

How little did the speaker of those few and random words know what courage he had given to a drooping heart, what renewed energy to a breaking spirit! The voice of praise, too, coming from those to whom we had thought ourselves unknown, has a magic about it that must be felt to be understood.
So it happened that in a few seconds a revolution had taken place in all my thoughts and feelings, and I, who had left my quarters dispirited and depressed, now walked confidently and proudly forward.
"Mr.O'Malley, sir," said the servant to the officer waiting, as we entered the antechamber.
"Ah, Mr.O'Malley," said the aide-de-damp, in his blandest accent, "I hope you're better.

Sir George is most anxious to see you; he is at present engaged with the staff--" A bell rang at that moment, and cut short the sentence; he flew to the door of the inner room, and returning in an instant, said,-- "Will you follow me?
This way, if you please." The room was crowded with general officers and aides-de-camp, so that for a second or two I could not distinguish the parties; but no sooner was my name announced, than Sir George Dashwood, forcing his way through, rushed forward to meet me.
"O'Malley, my brave fellow, delighted to shake your hand again! How much grown you are,--twice the man I knew you; and the arm, too, is it getting on well ?" Scarcely giving me a moment to reply, and still holding my hand tightly in his grasp, he introduced me on every side.
"My young Irish friend, Sir Edward, the man of the Douro.

My Lord, allow me to present Lieutenant O'Malley, of the Fourteenth." "A very dashing thing, that of yours, sir, at Ciudad Rodrigo." "A very senseless one, I fear, my Lord." "No, no, I don't agree with you at all; even when no great results follow, the _morale_ of an army benefits by acts of daring." A running fire of kind and civil speeches poured in on me from all quarters, and amidst all that crowd of bronzed and war-worn veterans, I felt myself the lion of the moment.