of the wine; and tossed off one bumper after another of the Madeira from
the Grapes, with an eager shaking hand. The Major came up to the table,
and took up his glass and drained it with a jovial smack. If it had been
Lord Steyne's particular, and not public-house Cape, he could not have
appeared to relish it more.

"Capital Madeira, Captain Costigan," he said. "Where do you get it? I
drink the health of that charming creature in a bumper. Faith, Captain, I
don't wonder that the men are wild about her. I never saw such eyes in my
life, or such a grand manner. I am sure she is as intellectual as she is
beautiful; and I have no doubt she's as good as she is clever."

"A good girl, sir,--a good girl, sir," said the delighted father; "and I
pledge a toast to her with all my heart. Shall I send to the--to the
cellar for another pint? It's handy by. No? Well, indeed sir, ye may say
she is a good girl, and the pride and glory of her father--honest old
Jack Costigan. The man who gets her will have a jew'l to a wife, sir; and
I drink his health, sir, and ye know who I mean, Major."

"I am not surprised at young or old falling in love with her," said the
Major, "and frankly must tell you, that though I was very angry with my
poor nephew Arthur, when I heard of the boy's passion--now I have seen
the lady I can pardon him any extent of it. By George, I should like to
enter for the race myself, if I weren't an old fellow and a poor one."

"And no better man, Major, I'm sure," cried Jack enraptured.

"Your friendship, sir, delights me. Your admiration for my girl brings
tears to me eyes--tears, sir--manlee tears--and when she leaves me humble
home for your own more splendid mansion, I hope she'll keep a place for