us to the chance acquaintances we meet 
with in life, what can equal this one ? What a claim upon your wordnetdesire 
has he who can, by some passing word, some fast-flitting thought, 
bring back the days of your youth ? What interest can he not excite, 
by some anecdote of your boyish days, some well remembered trait 
of youthful daring, or early enterprise ? Many a year of sunshine and 
of storm has passed above my head ; I have not been without my 
moments of gratified , and rewarded wordnetdesire ; but my  has 
never responded so fully, so thankfully, so proudly to these such as 



THE IRISH DRAGOON. 251 

they were as to the simple touching words of one who knew my early 
home and loved its inmates. 

" Well, Fitzroy, what news ?" inquired I, roused from my musing, 
as an aide-de-camp galloped up at full speed. 

" Tell Merivale to get the regiment under arms at once. Sir Arthur 
Wellesley will be here in less than half an hour. You may look for 
the route immediately. Where are the Germans quartered ?" 

" Lower down ; beside that grove of beech trees, next the river." 

Scarcely was my reply spoken when he dashed spurs to his horse, 
and was soon out of sight.