"He
is, as you say, rather an ass at present. I will do what I can to give
him a hint; but as I should say he is at least a year older than I am,
I do not suppose it will be of much use."
The voyage was a pleasant one, and Ralph was quite sorry when they
entered the Cove of Cork and dropped anchor. The next morning the ship
sailed up the river, and the following day the party disembarked.
Captain O'Connor's servant came on board as soon as the vessel reached
the quay, and his master charged him to pick out his luggage and that
of the two young officers; he then at once proceeded with them to the
barracks. Ralph felt extremely pleased that Captain O'Connor was with
them, as he felt none of the shyness and unpleasantness he would
otherwise have experienced in joining a set of entire strangers.
Captain O'Connor was evidently a favorite in the regiment, for his
arrival was heartily greeted. He at once introduced the two lads to
their future comrades, took them to the colonel, looked after their
quarters, and made them at home. In their absence he spoke warmly in
favor of Ralph. "You will find Conway a first-rate young fellow. He
has seen something of the world, has been carried out to the West
Indies by a French privateersman, and has gone through a lot of
adventures. He is a bright, pleasant, good-tempered fellow.
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