“I am sure it was a mistake,” Desmond said.  “If the terms had been an absolute equality in all matters of religion, and the free pardon of all, without confiscation of their property or other disability, it would have gone far to reconcile our people to defeat; for they would have seen that they could not hope for more than the right of free exercise of their religion, if the Stuarts came to the throne again.”

“Perhaps you are right, Kennedy.  I know that I myself, had it not been for the persecutions and the priest hunting, and the closing of our chapels, should never have thought of leaving Ireland and taking foreign service.  But now there is no going back.”

“No, I suppose not,” Desmond said, gloomily.  “Nothing short of an amnesty, ensuring freedom of worship, and perfect civil equality to all, would induce the majority of us to return to Ireland; and, indeed, it is not easy to see what we could do if we got there.  The estates of our fathers are in the hands of strangers.  We should soon be altogether without resources, and we should be almost driven to conspire again, even though success would in no way mend the matter.

“However, there is no chance of such an act being passed, for, even if the English Ministry desired to do so, the Protestant feeling in England and Scotland would be too strong for them; and Parliament, which strongly represents that feeling, would reject the bill by an immense majority.”

“Then there is nothing to do but to go on fighting,” Moore said.

“I see nothing else for it, Moore, but I own that I do not care for the life.  I have had three years of it now, and don’t like the prospect of another thirty.”

“You have been fortunate, too, Kennedy!”

“Yes, I have been fortunate in the way of getting promotion; fortunate that I was not, long before this, put under the sod; but it is no great gratification to be a captain, and though in another thirty years, if I live, I may be a general, I don’t think even that would reconcile me to the life.  It is just as hard, and a good deal more responsible; and if thirty years passed over, and the Stuarts were not restored, they assuredly never would be, and I should have wasted my life for nothing.”

“Well, I am very glad,” Moore laughed, “that all our fellows do not look at it in the same light as you do, but take things as they come.  I don’t bother myself about the future.”

“It is a good thing,” Desmond said, “and it is the national character to take things as they come.  I dare say I shall get into the same way, some day, but just at present, I suppose partly because we have got a thrashing, I feel rather down in the dumps.”

Desmond continued his duties as aide-de-camp to O’Mahony, and took his share in the various operations, that ended with the army going into winter quarters and Philip making a triumphant entry into Madrid.  Then he went to the general.