And Puddock divulged his
secret but noble flame for Gertrude Chattesworth, and Devereux sang a
song or two, defying fortune, in his sweet, sad tenor; and the nymph who
skipt up and down stairs with the kettle grew sleepy at last; and Mrs.
Irons rebelled in her bed, and refused peremptorily to get up again, to
furnish the musical topers with rum and lemons, and Puddock, having
studied his watch--I'm bound to say with a slight hiccough and
supernatural solemnity--for about five minutes, satisfied himself it was
nearly one o'clock, and took an affecting, though soldier-like leave of
his comrade, who, however, lent him his arm down the stairs, which were
rather steep; and having with difficulty dissuaded him from walking into
the clock, the door of which was ajar, thought it his duty to see the
gallant little lieutenant home to his lodgings; and so in the morning
good little Puddock's head ached. He had gone to bed with his waistcoat
and leggings on--and his watch was missing and despaired of, till
discovered, together with a lemon, in the pocket of his surtout, hanging
against the wall; and a variety of other strange arrangements came to
light, with not one of which could Puddock connect himself.
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