‘No, Norelia,’ said the Captain (for it was the fashion of those times for lovers to call themselves by the most romantic names out of novels), ’except for you and four others, I vow before all the gods, my heart has never felt the soft flame!’

‘Ah! you men, you men, Eugenio!’ said she (the beast’s name was John), ’your passion is not equal to ours.  We are like—­like some plant I’ve read of—­we bear but one flower and then we die!’

‘Do you mean you never felt an inclination for another?’ said Captain Quin.

’Never, my Eugenio, but for thee!  How can you ask a blushing nymph such a question?’

‘Darling Norelia!’ said he, raising her hand to his lips.

I had a knot of cherry-coloured ribands, which she had given me out of her breast, and which somehow I always wore upon me.  I pulled these out of my bosom, and flung them in Captain Quin’s face, and rushed out with my little sword drawn, shrieking, ’She’s a liar—­ she’s a liar, Captain Quin!  Draw, sir, and defend yourself, if you are a man!’ and with these words I leapt at the monster, and collared him, while Nora made the air echo with her screams; at the sound of which the other captain and Mysie hastened up.

Although I sprang up like a weed in my illness, and was now nearly attained to my full growth of six feet, yet I was but a lath by the side of the enormous English captain, who had calves and shoulders such as no chairman at Bath ever boasted.  He turned very red, and then exceedingly pale at my attack upon him, and slipped back and clutched at his sword—­when Nora, in an agony of terror, flung herself round him, screaming, ’Eugenio!  Captain Quin, for Heaven’s sake spare the child—­he is but an infant.’

‘And ought to be whipped for his impudence,’ said the Captain; ’but never fear, Miss Brady, I shall not touch him; your favourite is safe from me.’  So saying, he stooped down and picked up the bunch of ribands which had fallen at Nora’s feet, and handing it to her, said in a sarcastic tone, ’When ladies make presents to gentlemen, it is time for other gentlemen to retire.’

‘Good heavens, Quin!’ cried the girl; ‘he is but a boy.’

‘I am a man,’ roared I, ‘and will prove it.’

’And don’t signify any more than my parrot or lap-dog.  Mayn’t I give a bit of riband to my own cousin?’

‘You are perfectly welcome, miss,’ continued the Captain, ’as many yards as you like.’

‘Monster!’ exclaimed the dear girl; ’your father was a tailor, and you are always thinking of the shop.  But I’ll have my revenge, I will!  Reddy, will you see me insulted?’

‘Indeed, Miss Nora,’ says I, ’I intend to have his blood as sure as my name’s Redmond.’

‘I’ll send for the usher to cane you, little boy,’ said the Captain, regaining his self-possession; ’but as for you, miss, I have the honour to wish you a good-day.’

He took off his hat with much ceremony, made a low CONGE, and was just walking off, when Mick, my cousin, came up, whose ear had likewise been caught by the scream.