“‘If Mars leaves his scars, jolly Bacchus as well
Sets his trace on the face, which a toper will tell;
But which a more merry campaign has pursued,
The shedder of wine, or the shedder of blood?’
“I forget the rest of it. Poor Ned Nixon! It was he who made that song—he was afterwards bit in two by a shark, having tumbled overboard in the cool of the evening, one fine summer day, off Port Royal.”
“Well, at all events,” said Burke, continuing his narrative, “I thought I was a better-looking fellow than my rival, and was fretted at being sung down. I resolved to outstay him—and though he sate long enough, I, who was more at home, contrived to remain after him, but it was only to hear him extolled.
“‘A very nice young man,’ said Mrs Macnamara.
“‘An extreme nice young man,’ responded Miss Theodosia.
“‘A perfect gentleman in his manners; he puts me quite in mind of my uncle, the late Jerry O’Regan,’ observed Mrs Macnamara.
“‘Quite the gentleman in every particular,’ ejaculated Miss Theodosia.
“‘He has seen a great deal of the world for so young a man,’ remarked Mrs Macnamara.
“‘He has mixed in the best society, too,’ cried Miss Theodosia.