Peggy was one of five sisters, and eleven children of the noble house of Glenmalony; but her husband, though her own cousin, was of the mother's side, and so had not the inestimable advantage of being allied to the Malonys, whom she believed to be the most famous family in the world.Having tried nine seasons at Dublin and two at Bath and Cheltenham, and not finding a partner for life, Miss Malony ordered her cousin Mick to marry her when she was about thirty-three years of age; and the honest fellow obeying, carried her off to the West Indies, to preside over the ladies of the --th regiment, into which he had just exchanged.
Before Mrs.O'Dowd was half an hour in Amelia's (or indeed in anybody else's) company, this amiable lady told all her birth and pedigree to her new friend."My dear,"said she, good-naturedly, "it was my intention that Garge should be a brother of my own, and my sister Glorvina would have suited him entirely.But as bygones are bygones, and he was engaged to yourself, why, I'm determined to take you as a sister instead, and to look upon you as such, and to love you as one of the family.Faith, you've got such a nice good-natured face and way widg you, that I'm sure we'll agree; and that you'll be an addition to our family anyway.""'Deed and she will," said O'Dowd, with an approving air, and Amelia felt herself not a little amused and grateful to be thus suddenly introduced to so large a party of relations.
"We're all good fellows here," the Major's lady continued.
"There's not a regiment in the service where you'll find a more united society nor a more agreeable mess-room.There's no quarrelling, bickering, slandthering, nor small talk amongst us.We all love each other.""Especially Mrs.Magenis," said George, laughing.
"Mrs.Captain Magenis and me has made up, though her treatment of me would bring me gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.""And you with such a beautiful front of black, Peggy, my dear," the Major cried.
"Hould your tongue, Mick, you booby.Them husbands are always in the way, Mrs.Osborne, my dear; and as for my Mick, I often tell him he should never open his mouth but to give the word of command, or to put meat and drink into it.I'll tell you about the regiment, and warn you when we're alone.Introduce me to your brother now; sure he's a mighty fine man, and reminds me of me cousin, Dan Malony (Malony of Ballymalony, my dear, you know who mar'ied Ophalia Scully, of Oystherstown, own cousin to Lord Poldoody).Mr.Sedley, sir, I'm deloighted to be made known te ye.I suppose you'll dine at the mess to-day.(Mind that divvle of a docther, Mick, and whatever ye du, keep yourself sober for me party this evening.)""It's the 150th gives us a farewell dinner, my love,"interposed the Major, "but we'll easy get a card for Mr.
Sedley."
"Run Simple (Ensign Simple, of Ours, my dear Amelia.
I forgot to introjuice him to ye).Run in a hurry, with Mrs.Major O'Dowd's compliments to Colonel Tavish, and Captain Osborne has brought his brothernlaw down, and will bring him to the 150th mess at five o'clock sharp --when you and I, my dear, will take a snack here, if you like." Before Mrs.O'Dowd's speech was concluded, the young Ensign was trotting downstairs on his commission.
"Obedience is the soul of the army.We will go to our duty while Mrs.O'Dowd will stay and enlighten you, Emmy," Captain Osborne said; and the two gentlemen, taking each a wing of the Major, walked out with that officer, grinning at each other over his head.
And, now having her new friend to herself, the impetuous Mrs: O'Dowd proceeded to pour out such a quantity of information as no poor little woman's memory could ever tax itself to bear.She told Amelia a thousand particulars relative to the very numerous family of which the amazed young lady found herself a member."Mrs.
Heavytop, the Colonel's wife, died in Jamaica of the yellow faver and a broken heart comboined, for the horrud old Colonel, with a head as bald as a cannon-ball, was making sheep's eyes at a half-caste girl there.Mrs.