He had had the
good luck to have an excellent servant assigned to him. Denis Mulligan
was a thoroughly handy fellow, could turn his hand to anything, and
was always good tempered and cheery.
"The fellow is rather free and easy in his ways," Captain O'Connor
told Ralph when he allotted the man to him; "but you will get
accustomed to that. Keep your whisky locked up, and I think you will
be safe in all other respects with him. He was servant to Captain
Daly, who was killed at Toulouse, and I know Daly wouldn't have parted
with him on any account. His master's death almost broke Denis' heart,
and I have no doubt he will get just as much attached to you in time.
These fellows have their faults, and want a little humoring; but, take
them as a whole, I would rather have an Irish soldier servant than one
of any other nationality, provided always that he is not too fond of
the bottle. About once in three months I consider reasonable, and I
don't think you will find Mulligan break out more frequently than
that."
Ralph never regretted the choice O'Connor had made for him, and found
Denis an excellent servant; and his eccentricities and the opinions
which he freely expressed afforded him a constant source of amusement.
A few days later Captain O'Connor came into his room. "Pack up your
kit. The company is ordered on detached duty, and there is an end to
your dancing and flirting.
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