第3章

Mrs。Tusher，theparson"swife，waswithmylady。Shehadbeenwaiting—womantoherladyshipinthelatelord"stime，and，havinghersoulinthatbusiness，tooknaturallytoitwhentheViscountessofCastlewoodreturnedtoinhabitherfather"shouse。

"Ipresenttoyourladyshipyourkinsmanandlittlepageofhonor，MasterHenryEsmond，"Mr。Holtsaid，bowinglowly，withasortofcomicalhumility。"Makeaprettybowtomylady，Monsieur;andthenanotherlittlebow，notsolow，toMadameTusher——thefairpriestessofCastlewood。"

"WhereIhavelivedandhopetodie，sir，"saysMadameTusher，givingahardglanceatthebrat，andthenatmylady。

Uponhertheboy"swholeattentionwasforatimedirected。Hecouldnotkeephisgreateyesofffromher。SincetheEmpressofEaling，hehadseennothingsoawful。

"Doesmyappearancepleaseyou，littlepage？"askedthelady。

"Hewouldbeveryhardtopleaseifitdidn"t，"criedMadameTusher。

"Havedone，yousillyMaria，"saidLadyCastlewood。

"WhereI"mattached，I"mattached，Madame——andI"ddieratherthannotsayso。"

"Jemeursoujem"attache，"Mr。Holtsaidwithapolitegrin。"Theivysayssointhepicture，andclingstotheoaklikeafondparasiteasitis。"

"Parricide，sir！"criesMrs。Tusher。

"Hush，Tusher——youarealwaysbickeringwithFatherHolt，"criedmylady。"Comeandkissmyhand，child;"andtheoakheldoutaBRANCHtolittleHarryEsmond，whotookanddutifullykissedtheleanoldhand，uponthegnarledknucklesofwhichthereglitteredahundredrings。

"Tokissthathandwouldmakemanyaprettyfellowhappy！"criedMrs。Tusher:onwhichmyladycryingout，"Go，youfoolishTusher！"

andtappingherwithhergreatfan，Tusherranforwardtoseizeherhandandkissit。FuryaroseandbarkedfuriouslyatTusher;andFatherHoltlookedonatthisqueerscene，witharch，graveglances。

Theaweexhibitedbythelittleboyperhapspleasedtheladytowhomthisartlessflatterywasbestowed:forhavinggonedownonhisknee（asFatherHolthaddirectedhim，andthemodethenwas）

andperformedhisobeisance，shesaid，"PageEsmond，mygroomofthechamberwillinformyouwhatyourdutiesare，whenyouwaituponmylordandme;andgoodFatherHoltwillinstructyouasbecomesagentlemanofourname。Youwillpayhimobedienceineverything，andIprayyoumaygrowtobeaslearnedandasgoodasyourtutor。"

TheladyseemedtohavethegreatestreverenceforMr。Holt，andtobemoreafraidofhimthanofanythingelseintheworld。Ifshewaseversoangry，awordorlookfromFatherHoltmadehercalm:

indeedhehadavastpowerofsubjectingthosewhocamenearhim;

and，amongtherest，hisnewpupilgavehimselfupwithanentireconfidenceandattachmenttothegoodFather，andbecamehiswillingslavealmostfromthefirstmomenthesawhim。

HeputhissmallhandintotheFather"sashewalkedawayfromhisfirstpresentationtohismistress，andaskedmanyquestionsinhisartlesschildishway。"Whoisthatotherwoman？"heasked。"Sheisfatandround;sheismoreprettythanmyLadyCastlewood。"

"SheisMadameTusher，theparson"swifeofCastlewood。Shehasasonofyourage，butbiggerthanyou。"

"Whydoesshelikesotokissmylady"shand。Itisnotgoodtokiss。"

"Tastesaredifferent，littleman。MadameTusherisattachedtomylady，havingbeenherwaiting—womanbeforeshewasmarried，intheoldlord"stime。ShemarriedDoctorTusherthechaplain。TheEnglishhouseholddivinesoftenmarrythewaiting—women。"

"YouwillnotmarrytheFrenchwoman，willyou？IsawherlaughingwithBlaiseinthebuttery。"

"IbelongtoachurchthatisolderandbetterthantheEnglishchurch，"Mr。Holtsaid（makingasignwhereofEsmonddidnotthenunderstandthemeaning，acrosshisbreastandforehead）;"inourchurchtheclergydonotmarry。Youwillunderstandthesethingsbettersoon。"

"WasnotSaintPetertheheadofyourchurch？——Dr。RabbitsofEalingtoldusso。"

TheFathersaid，"Yes，hewas。"

"ButSaintPeterwasmarried，forweheardonlylastSundaythathiswife"smotherlaysickofafever。"OnwhichtheFatheragainlaughed，andsaidhewouldunderstandthistoobettersoon，andtalkedofotherthings，andtookawayHarryEsmond，andshowedhimthegreatoldhousewhichhehadcometoinhabit。

Itstoodonarisinggreenhill，withwoodsbehindit，inwhichwererooks"nests，wherethebirdsatmorningandreturninghomeateveningmadeagreatcawing。Atthefootofthehillwasariver，withasteepancientbridgecrossingit;andbeyondthatalargepleasantgreenflat，wherethevillageofCastlewoodstood，andstands，withthechurchinthemidst，theparsonagehardbyit，theinnwiththeblacksmith"sforgebesideit，andthesignofthe"ThreeCastles"ontheelm。TheLondonroadstretchedawaytowardstherisingsun，andtothewestwereswellinghillsandpeaks，behindwhichmanyatimeHarryEsmondsawthesamesunsetting，thathenowlooksonthousandsofmilesawayacrossthegreatocean——inanewCastlewood，byanotherstream，thatbears，likethenewcountryofwanderingAEneas，thefondnamesofthelandofhisyouth。

TheHallofCastlewoodwasbuiltwithtwocourts，whereofoneonly，thefountain—court，wasnowinhabited，theotherhavingbeenbattereddownintheCromwellianwars。Inthefountain—court，stillingoodrepair，wasthegreathall，neartothekitchenandbutteries。Adozenofliving—roomslookingtothenorth，andcommunicatingwiththelittlechapelthatfacedeastwardsandthebuildingsstretchingfromthattothemaingate，andwiththehall（whichlookedtothewest）intothecourtnowdismantled。Thiscourthadbeenthemostmagnificentofthetwo，untiltheProtector"scannontoredownonesideofitbeforetheplacewastakenandstormed。Thebesiegersenteredattheterraceundertheclock—tower，slayingeverymanofthegarrison，andattheirheadmylord"sbrother，FrancisEsmond。

TheRestorationdidnotbringenoughmoneytotheLordCastlewoodtorestorethisruinedpartofhishouse;wherewerethemorningparlors，abovethemthelongmusic—gallery，andbeforewhichstretchedthegarden—terrace，where，however，theflowersgrewagainwhichthebootsoftheRoundheadshadtroddenintheirassault，andwhichwasrestoredwithoutmuchcost，andonlyalittlecare，bybothladieswhosucceededthesecondviscountinthegovernmentofthismansion。Roundtheterrace—gardenwasalowwallwithawicketleadingtothewoodedheightbeyond，thatiscalledCromwell"sBatterytothisday。

YoungHarryEsmondlearnedthedomesticpartofhisduty，whichwaseasyenough，fromthegroomofherladyship"schamber:servingtheCountess，asthecustomcommonlywasinhisboyhood，aspage，waitingatherchair，bringingherscentedwaterandthesilverbasinafterdinner——sittingonhercarriage—steponstateoccasions，oronpublicdaysintroducinghercompanytoher。ThiswaschieflyoftheCatholicgentry，ofwhomtherewereaprettymanyinthecountryandneighboringcity;andwhorodenotseldomtoCastlewoodtopartakeofthehospitalitiesthere。Inthesecondyearoftheirresidence，thecompanyseemedespeciallytoincrease。

Mylordandmyladywereseldomwithoutvisitors，inwhosesocietyitwascurioustocontrastthedifferenceofbehaviorbetweenFatherHolt，thedirectorofthefamily，andDoctorTusher，therectoroftheparish——Mr。Holtmovingamongsttheveryhighestasquitetheirequal，andascommandingthemall;whilepoorDoctorTusher，whosepositionwasindeedadifficultone，havingbeenchaplainoncetotheHall，andstilltotheProtestantservantsthere，seemedmorelikeanusherthananequal，andalwaysrosetogoawayafterthefirstcourse。

AlsotherecameinthesetimestoFatherHoltmanyprivatevisitors，whom，afteralittle，HenryEsmondhadlittledifficultyinrecognizingasecclesiasticsoftheFather"spersuasion，whatevertheirdresses（andtheyadoptedall）mightbe。ThesewereclosetedwiththeFatherconstantly，andoftencameandrodeawaywithoutpayingtheirdevoirstomylordandlady——totheladyandlordrather——hislordshipbeinglittlemorethanacipherinthehouse，andentirelyunderhisdomineeringpartner。Alittlefowling，alittlehunting，agreatdealofsleep，andalongdineatcardsandtable，carriedthroughonedayafteranotherwithhislordship。Whenmeetingstookplaceinthissecondyear，whichoftenwouldhappenwithcloseddoors，thepagefoundmylord"ssheetofpaperscribbledoverwithdogsandhorses，and"twassaidhehadmuchadotokeephimselfawakeatthesecouncils:theCountessrulingoverthem，andheactingaslittlemorethanhersecretary。

FatherHoltbeganspeedilytobesomuchoccupiedwiththesemeetingsasrathertoneglecttheeducationofthelittleladwhosogladlyputhimselfunderthekindpriest"sorders。Atfirsttheyreadmuchandregularly，bothinLatinandFrench;theFathernotneglectinginanythingtoimpresshisfaithuponhispupil，butnotforcinghimviolently，andtreatinghimwithadelicacyandkindnesswhichsurprisedandattachedthechild，alwaysmoreeasilywonbythesemethodsthanbyanysevereexerciseofauthority。AndhisdelightintheirwalkswastotellHarryofthegloriesofhisorder，ofitsmartyrsandheroes，ofitsBrethrenconvertingtheheathenbymyriads，traversingthedesert，facingthestake，rulingthecourtsandcouncils，orbravingthetorturesofkings;sothatHarryEsmondthoughtthattobelongtotheJesuitswasthegreatestprizeoflifeandbravestendofambition;thegreatestcareerhere，andinheaventhesurestreward;andbegantolongfortheday，notonlywhenheshouldenterintotheonechurchandreceivehisfirstcommunion，butwhenhemightjointhatwonderfulbrotherhood，whichwaspresentthroughoutalltheworld，andwhichnumberedthewisest，thebravest，thehighestborn，themosteloquentofmenamongitsmembers。FatherHoltbadehimkeephisviewssecret，andtohidethemasagreattreasurewhichwouldescapehimifitwasrevealed;and，proudofthisconfidenceandsecretvestedinhim，theladbecamefondlyattachedtothemasterwhoinitiatedhimintoamysterysowonderfulandawful。AndwhenlittleTomTusher，hisneighbor，camefromschoolforhisholiday，andsaidhowhe，too，wastobebredupforanEnglishpriest，andwouldgetwhathecalledanexhibitionfromhisschool，andthenacollegescholarshipandfellowship，andthenagoodliving——ittaskedyoungHarryEsmond"spowersofreticencenottosaytohisyoungcompanion，"Church！priesthood！fatliving！MydearTommy，doyoucallyoursachurchandapriesthood？Whatisafatlivingcomparedtoconvertingahundredthousandheathensbyasinglesermon？WhatisascholarshipatTrinitybythesideofacrownofmartyrdom，withangelsawaitingyouasyourheadistakenoff？

CouldyourmasteratschoolsailovertheThamesonhisgown？Haveyoustatuesinyourchurchthatcanbleed，speak，walk，andcry？

MygoodTommy，indearFatherHolt"schurchthesethingstakeplaceeveryday。YouknowSaintPhilipoftheWillowsappearedtoLordCastlewood，andcausedhimtoturntotheonetruechurch。Nosaintsevercometoyou。"AndHarryEsmond，becauseofhispromisetoFatherHolt，hidingawaythesetreasuresoffaithfromT。

Tusher，deliveredhimselfofthemneverthelesssimplytoFatherHolt;whostrokedhishead，smiledathimwithhisinscrutablelook，andtoldhimthathedidwelltomeditateonthesegreatthings，andnottotalkofthemexceptunderdirection。

CHAPTERIV。

IAMPLACEDUNDERAPOPISHPRIESTANDBREDTOTHATRELIGION。——

VISCOUNTESSCASTLEWOOD。

Hadtimeenoughbeengiven，andhischildishinclinationsbeenproperlynurtured，HarryEsmondhadbeenaJesuitpriesterehewasadozenyearsolder，andmighthavefinishedhisdaysamartyrinChinaoravictimonTowerHill:for，inthefewmonthstheyspenttogetheratCastlewood，Mr。Holtobtainedanentiremasteryovertheboy"sintellectandaffections;andhadbroughthimtothink，asindeedFatherHoltthoughtwithallhishearttoo，thatnolifewassonoble，nodeathsodesirable，asthatwhichmanybrethrenofhisfamousorderwerereadytoundergo。Bylove，byabrightnessofwitandgood—humorthatcharmedall，byanauthoritywhichheknewhowtoassume，byamysteryandsilenceabouthimwhichincreasedthechild"sreverenceforhim，hewonHarry"sabsolutefealty，andwouldhavekeptit，doubtless，ifschemesgreaterandmoreimportantthanapoorlittleboy"sadmissionintoordershadnotcalledhimaway。

Afterbeingathomeforafewmonthsintranquillity（iftheirsmightbecalledtranquillity，whichwas，intruth，aconstantbickering），mylordandladyleftthecountryforLondon，takingtheirdirectorwiththem:andhislittlepupilscarceevershedmorebittertearsinhislifethanhedidfornightsafterthefirstpartingwithhisdearfriend，ashelayinthelonelychambernexttothatwhichtheFatherusedtooccupy。Heandafewdomesticswereleftastheonlytenantsofthegreathouse:and，thoughHarrysedulouslydidallthetaskswhichtheFathersethim，hehadmanyhoursunoccupied，andreadinthelibrary，andbewilderedhislittlebrainswiththegreatbookshefoundthere。

Afterawhile，thelittleladgrewaccustomedtothelonelinessoftheplace;andinafterdaysrememberedthispartofhislifeasaperiodnotunhappy。WhenthefamilywasatLondonthewholeoftheestablishmenttravelledthitherwiththeexceptionoftheporter——

whowas，moreover，brewer，gardener，andwoodman——andhiswifeandchildren。Thesehadtheirlodginginthegate—househardby，withadoorintothecourt;andawindowlookingoutonthegreenwastheChaplain"sroom;andnexttothisasmallchamberwhereFatherHolthadhisbooks，andHarryEsmondhissleepingcloset。ThesideofthehousefacingtheeasthadescapedthegunsoftheCromwellians，whosebatterywasontheheightfacingthewesterncourt;sothatthiseasternendborefewmarksofdemolition，saveinthechapel，wherethepaintedwindowssurvivingEdwardtheSixthhadbeenbrokebytheCommonwealthmen。InFatherHolt"stimelittleHarryEsmondactedashisfamiliarandfaithfullittleservitor;beatinghisclothes，foldinghisvestments，fetchinghiswaterfromthewelllongbeforedaylight，readytorunanywherefortheserviceofhisbelovedpriest。WhentheFatherwasaway，helockedhisprivatechamber;buttheroomwherethebookswerewaslefttolittleHarry，who，butforthesocietyofthisgentleman，waslittlelesssolitarywhenLordCastlewoodwasathome。

TheFrenchwitsaiththataheroisnonetohisvalet—de—chambre，anditrequiredlessquickeyesthanmylady"slittlepagewasnaturallyendowedwith，toseethatshehadmanyqualitiesbynomeansheroic，howevermuchMrs。Tushermightflatterandcoaxher。

WhenFatherHoltwasnotby，whoexercisedanentireauthorityoverthepair，mylordandmyladyquarrelledandabusedeachothersoastomaketheservantslaugh，andtofrightenthelittlepageonduty。Thepoorboytrembledbeforehismistress，whocalledhimbyahundreduglynames，whomadenothingofboxinghisears，andtiltingthesilverbasininhisfacewhichitwashisbusinesstopresenttoherafterdinner。Shehathrepaired，bysubsequentkindnesstohim，theseseverities，whichitmustbeownedmadehischildhoodveryunhappy。Shewasbutunhappyherselfatthistime，poorsoul！andIsupposemadeherdependantsleadherownsadlife。

Ithinkmylordwasasmuchafraidofherasherpagewas，andtheonlypersonofthehouseholdwhomasteredherwasMr。Holt。HarrywasonlytoogladwhentheFatherdinedattable，andtoslinkawayandprattlewithhimafterwards，orreadwithhim，orwalkwithhim。LuckilymyLadyViscountessdidnotrisetillnoon。Heavenhelpthepoorwaiting—womanwhohadchargeofhertoilet！Ihaveoftenseenthepoorwretchcomeoutwithredeyesfromtheclosetwherethoselongandmysteriousritesofherladyship"sdresswereperformed，andthebackgammon—boxlockedupwitharaponMrs。

Tusher"sfingerswhensheplayedill，orthegamewasgoingthewrongway。

Blessedbethekingwhointroducedcards，andthekindinventorsofpiquetandcribbage，fortheyemployedsixhoursatleastofherladyship"sday，duringwhichherfamilywasprettyeasy。Withoutthisoccupationmyladyfrequentlydeclaredsheshoulddie。Herdependantsoneafteranotherrelievedguard——"twasratheradangerousposttoplaywithherladyship——andtookthecardsturnabout。Mr。Holtwouldsitwithheratpiquetduringhourstogether，atwhichtimeshebehavedherselfproperly;andasforDr。Tusher，Ibelievehewouldhaveleftaparishioner"sdyingbed，ifsummonedtoplayarubberwithhispatronessatCastlewood。

Sometimes，whentheywereprettycomfortabletogether，mylordtookahand。BesidesthesemyladyhadherfaithfulpoorTusher，andone，two，threegentlewomenwhomHarryEsmondcouldrecollectinhistime。Theycouldnotbearthatgenteelserviceverylong;oneafteranothertriedandfailedatit。Theseandthehousekeeper，andlittleHarryEsmond，hadatableoftheirown。Poorladiestheirlifewasfarharderthanthepage"s。Hewassoundasleep，tuckedupinhislittlebed，whilsttheyweresittingbyherladyshipreadinghertosleep，withthe"NewsLetter"orthe"GrandCyrus。"MyladyusedtohaveboxesofnewplaysfromLondon，andHarrywasforbidden，underthepainofawhipping，tolookintothem。Iamafraidhedeservedthepenaltyprettyoften，andgotitsometimes。FatherHoltappliedittwiceorthrice，whenhecaughttheyoungscapegracewithadelightfulwickedcomedyofMr。

Shadwell"sorMr。Wycherley"sunderhispillow。

These，whenhetookany，weremylord"sfavoritereading。Buthewasaversetomuchstudy，and，ashislittlepagefancied，tomuchoccupationofanysort。

ItalwaysseemedtoyoungHarryEsmondthatmylordtreatedhimwithmorekindnesswhenhisladywasnotpresent，andLordCastlewoodwouldtaketheladsometimesonhislittlejourneysa—

huntingora—birding;helovedtoplayatcardsandtric—tracwithhim，whichgamestheboylearnedtopleasurehislord:andwasgrowingtolikehimbetterdaily，showingaspecialpleasureifFatherHoltgaveagoodreportofhim，pattinghimonthehead，andpromisingthathewouldprovidefortheboy。However，inmylady"spresence，mylordshowednosuchmarksofkindness，andaffectedtotreattheladroughly，andrebukedhimsharplyforlittlefaults，forwhichheinamanneraskedpardonofyoungEsmondwhentheywereprivate，sayingifhedidnotspeakroughly，shewould，andhistonguewasnotsuchabadoneashislady"s——apointwhereoftheboy，youngashewas，wasverywellassured。

Greatpubliceventswerehappeningallthiswhile，ofwhichthesimpleyoungpagetooklittlecount。Butoneday，ridingintotheneighboringtownonthestepofmylady"scoach，hislordshipandsheandFatherHoltbeinginside，agreatmobofpeoplecamehootingandjeeringroundthecoach，bawlingout"TheBishopsforever！""DownwiththePope！""NoPopery！noPopery！Jezebel，Jezebel！"sothatmylordbegantolaugh，mylady"seyestorollwithanger，forshewasasboldasalioness，andfearednobody;

whilstMr。Holt，asEsmondsawfromhisplaceonthestep，sankbackwithratheranalarmedface，cryingouttoherladyship，"ForGod"ssake，madam，donotspeakorlookoutofwindow;sitstill。"

ButshedidnotobeythisprudentinjunctionoftheFather;shethrustherheadoutofthecoachwindow，andscreamedouttothecoachman，"Flogyourwaythroughthem，thebrutes，James，anduseyourwhip！"

Themobansweredwitharoaringjeeroflaughter，andfreshcriesof"Jezebel！Jezebel！"Mylordonlylaughedthemore:hewasalanguidgentleman:nothingseemedtoexcitehimcommonly，thoughI

haveseenhimcheerandhalloothehoundsverybriskly，andhisface（whichwasgenerallyveryyellowandcalm）growquiteredandcheerfulduringaburstovertheDownsafterahare，andlaugh，andswear，andhuzzahatacockfight，ofwhichsporthewasveryfond。

Andnow，whenthemobbegantohoothislady，helaughedwithsomethingofamischievouslook，asthoughheexpectedsport，andthoughtthatsheandtheywereamatch。

Jamesthecoachmanwasmoreafraidofhismistressthanthemob，probably，forhewhippedonhishorsesashewasbidden，andthepost—boythatrodewiththefirstpair（myladyalwaysrodewithhercoach—and—six，）gaveacutofhisthongovertheshouldersofonefellowwhoputhishandouttowardstheleadinghorse"srein。

Itwasamarket—day，andthecountry—peoplewereallassembledwiththeirbasketsofpoultry，eggs，andsuchthings;thepostilionhadnosoonerlashedthemanwhowouldhavetakenholdofhishorse，butagreatcabbagecamewhirlinglikeabombshellintothecarriage，atwhichmylordlaughedmore，foritknockedmylady"sfanoutofherhand，andplumpedintoFatherHolt"sstomach。Thencameashowerofcarrotsandpotatoes。

"ForHeaven"ssakebestill！"saysMr。Holt;"wearenottenpacesfromthe"Bell"archway，wheretheycanshutthegatesonus，andkeepoutthiscanaille。"

Thelittlepagewasoutsidethecoachonthestep，andafellowinthecrowdaimedapotatoathim，andhithimintheeye，atwhichthepoorlittlewretchsetupashout;themanlaughed，agreatbigsaddler"sapprenticeofthetown。"Ah！youd———littleyellingPopishbastard，"hesaid，andstoopedtopickupanother;thecrowdhadgatheredquitebetweenthehorsesandtheinndoorbythistime，andthecoachwasbroughttoadeadstand—still。Mylordjumpedasbrisklyasaboyoutofthedooronhissideofthecoach，squeezinglittleHarrybehindit;hadholdofthepotato—

thrower"scollarinaninstant，andthenextmomentthebrute"sheelswereintheair，andhefellonthestoneswithathump。

"Youhulkingcoward！"sayshe;"youpackofscreamingblackguards！

howdareyouattackchildren，andinsultwomen？Flinganothershotatthatcarriage，yousneakingpigskincobbler，andbytheLordI"llsendmyrapierthroughyou！"

Someofthemobcried，"Huzzah，mylord！"fortheyknewhim，andthesaddler"smanwasaknownbruiser，neartwiceasbigasmylordViscount。

"Makewaythere，"sayshe（hespokeinahighshrillvoice，butwithagreatairofauthority）。"Makeway，andletherladyship"scarriagepass。"Thementhatwerebetweenthecoachandthegateofthe"Bell"actuallydidmakeway，andthehorseswentin，mylordwalkingafterthemwithhishatonhishead。

Ashewasgoinginatthegate，throughwhichthecoachhadjustrolled，anothercrybegins，of"NoPopery——noPapists！"Mylordturnsroundandfacesthemoncemore。

"GodsavetheKing！"saysheatthehighestpitchofhisvoice。

"WhodaresabusetheKing"sreligion？You，youd——dpsalm—singingcobbler，assureasI"mamagistrateofthiscountyI"llcommityou！"Thefellowshrankback，andmylordretreatedwithallthehonorsoftheday。Butwhenthelittleflurrycausedbythescenewasover，andtheflushpassedoffhisface，herelapsedintohisusuallanguor，trifledwithhislittledog，andyawnedwhenmyladyspoketohim。

Thismobwasoneofmanythousandsthatweregoingaboutthecountryatthattime，huzzahingfortheacquittalofthesevenbishopswhohadbeentriedjustthen，andaboutwhomlittleHarryEsmondatthattimeknewscarceanything。ItwasAssizesatHexton，andtherewasagreatmeetingofthegentryatthe"Bell;"

andmylord"speoplehadtheirnewliverieson，andHarryalittlesuitofblueandsilver，whichheworeuponoccasionsofstate;andthegentlefolkscameroundandtalkedtomylord:andajudgeinaredgown，whoseemedaverygreatpersonage，especiallycomplimentedhimandmylady，whowasmightygrand。Harryremembershertrainborneupbyhergentlewoman。Therewasanassemblyandballatthegreatroomatthe"Bell，"andotheryounggentlemenofthecountyfamilieslookedonashedid。Oneofthemjeeredhimforhisblackeye，whichwasswelledbythepotato，andanothercalledhimabastard，onwhichheandHarryfelltofisticuffs。Mylord"scousin，ColonelEsmondofWalcote，wasthere，andseparatedthetwolads——agreattallgentleman，withahandsomegood—naturedface。Theboydidnotknowhownearlyinafter—lifeheshouldbealliedtoColonelEsmond，andhowmuchkindnessheshouldhavetoowehim。

Therewaslittlelovebetweenthetwofamilies。MyladyusednottospareColonelEsmondintalkingofhim，forreasonswhichhavebeenhintedalready;butaboutwhich，athistenderage，HenryEsmondcouldbeexpectedtoknownothing。

Verysoonafterwards，mylordandladywenttoLondonwithMr。

Holt，leaving，however，thepagebehindthem。ThelittlemanhadthegreathouseofCastlewoodtohimself;orbetweenhimandthehousekeeper，Mrs。Worksop，anoldladywhowasakinswomanofthefamilyinsomedistantway，andaProtestant，butastaunchToryandking"s—man，asalltheEsmondswere。HeusedtogotoschooltoDr。Tusherwhenhewasathome，thoughtheDoctorwasmuchoccupiedtoo。Therewasagreatstirandcommotioneverywhere，eveninthelittlequietvillageofCastlewood，whitherapartyofpeoplecamefromthetown，whowouldhavebrokenCastlewoodChapelwindows，butthevillagepeopleturnedout，andevenoldSieveright，therepublicanblacksmith，alongwiththem:formylady，thoughshewasaPapist，andhadmanyoddways，waskindtothetenantry，andtherewasalwaysaplentyofbeef，andblankets，andmedicineforthepooratCastlewoodHall。

Akingdomwaschanginghandswhilstmylordandladywereaway。

KingJameswasflying，theDutchmenwerecoming;awfulstoriesaboutthemandthePrinceofOrangeusedoldMrs。Worksoptotelltotheidlelittlepage。

Helikedthesolitudeofthegreathouseverywell;hehadalltheplay—bookstoread，andnoFatherHolttowhiphim，andahundredchildishpursuitsandpastimes，withoutdoorsandwithin，whichmadethistimeverypleasant。

CHAPTERV。

MYSUPERIORSAREENGAGEDINPLOTSFORTHERESTORATIONOFKINGJAMESII。

Nothavingbeenabletosleep，forthinkingofsomelinesforeelswhichhehadplacedthenightbefore，theladwaslyinginhislittlebed，waitingforthehourwhenthegatewouldbeopen，andheandhiscomrade，JohnLockwood，theporter"sson，mightgotothepondandseewhatfortunehadbroughtthem。AtdaybreakJohnwastoawakenhim，buthisowneagernessforthesporthadservedasareveillezlongsince——solong，thatitseemedtohimasifthedayneverwouldcome。

Itmighthavebeenfouro"clockwhenheheardthedooroftheoppositechamber，theChaplain"sroom，open，andthevoiceofamancoughinginthepassage。Harryjumpedup，thinkingforcertainitwasarobber，orhopingperhapsforaghost，and，flingingopenhisowndoor，sawbeforehimtheChaplain"sdooropen，andalightinside，andafigurestandinginthedoorway，inthemidstofagreatsmokewhichissuedfromtheroom。

"Who"sthere？"criedouttheboy，whowasofagoodspirit。

"Silentium！"whisperedtheother;""tisI，myboy！"and，holdinghishandout，Harryhadnodifficultyinrecognizinghismasterandfriend，FatherHolt。AcurtainwasoverthewindowoftheChaplain"sroomthatlookedtothecourt，andHarrysawthatthesmokecamefromagreatflameofpaperswhichwereburninginabrazierwhenheenteredtheChaplain"sroom。Aftergivingahastygreetingandblessingtothelad，whowascharmedtoseehistutor，theFathercontinuedtheburningofhispapers，drawingthemfromacupboardoverthemantel—piecewall，whichHarryhadneverseenbefore。

FatherHoltlaughed，seeingthelad"sattentionfixedatonceonthishole。"Thatisright，Harry，"hesaid;"faithfullittlefamuli，seeallandsaynothing。Youarefaithful，Iknow。"

"IknowIwouldgotothestakeforyou，"saidHarry。

"Idon"twantyourhead，"saidtheFather，pattingitkindly;allyouhavetodoistoholdyourtongue。Letusburnthesepapers，andsaynothingtoanybody。Shouldyouliketoreadthem？"

HarryEsmondblushed，andhelddownhishead;heHADlookedasthefactwas，andwithoutthinking，atthepaperbeforehim;andthoughhehadseenit，couldnotunderstandawordofit，thelettersbeingquiteclearenough，butquitewithoutmeaning。Theyburnedthepapers，beatingdowntheashesinabrazier，sothatscarceanytracesofthemremained。

HarryhadbeenaccustomedtoseeFatherHoltinmoredressesthanone;itnotbeingsafe，orworththedanger，forPopishecclesiasticstoweartheirproperdress;andhewas，inconsequence，innowiseastonishedthatthepriestshouldnowappearbeforehiminariding—dress，withlargebuffleatherboots，andafeathertohishat，plain，butsuchasgentlemenwore。

"Youknowthesecretofthecupboard，"saidhe，laughing，"andmustbepreparedforothermysteries;"andheopened——butnotasecretcupboardthistime——onlyawardrobe，whichheusuallykeptlocked，andfromwhichhenowtookouttwoorthreedressesandperruquesofdifferentcolors，andacoupleofswordsofaprettymake（FatherHoltwasanexpertpractitionerwiththesmall—sword，andeveryday，whilsthewasathome，heandhispupilpractisedthisexercise，inwhichtheladbecameaverygreatproficient），amilitarycoatandcloak，andafarmer"ssmock，andplacedtheminthelargeholeoverthemantel—piecefromwhichthepapershadbeentaken。

"Iftheymissthecupboard，"hesaid，"theywillnotfindthese;iftheyfindthem，they"lltellnotales，exceptthatFatherHoltworemoresuitsofclothesthanone。AllJesuitsdo。Youknowwhatdeceiversweare，Harry。"

Harrywasalarmedatthenotionthathisfriendwasabouttoleavehim;but"No，"thepriestsaid，"Imayverylikelycomebackwithmylordinafewdays。Wearetobetolerated;wearenottobepersecuted。ButtheymaytakeafancytopayavisitatCastlewoodereourreturn;and，asgentlemenofmyclotharesuspected，theymightchoosetoexaminemypapers，whichconcernnobody——atleastnotthem。"Andtothisday，whetherthepapersincipherrelatedtopolitics，ortotheaffairsofthatmysterioussocietywhereofFatherHoltwasamember，hispupil，HarryEsmond，remainsinentireignorance。

Therestofhisgoods，hissmallwardrobe，&c。Holtleftuntouchedonhisshelvesandinhiscupboard，takingdown——withalaugh，however——andflingingintothebrazier，whereheonlyhalfburnedthem，sometheologicaltreatiseswhichhehadbeenwritingagainsttheEnglishdivines。"Andnow，"saidhe，"Henry，myson，youmaytestify，withasafeconscience，thatyousawmeburningLatinsermonsthelasttimeIwasherebeforeIwentawaytoLondon;anditwillbedaybreakdirectly，andImustbeawaybeforeLockwoodisstirring。"

"WillnotLockwoodletyouout，sir？"Esmondasked。Holtlaughed;

hewasnevermoregayorgood—humoredthanwheninthemidstofactionordanger。