第6章

Beforethosefataldecreesinlifeareexecuted，therearealwayssecretprevisionsandwarningomens。Wheneverythingyetseemscalm，weareawarethatthestormiscoming。Erethehappydayswereover，twoatleastofthathome—partyfeltthattheyweredrawingtoaclose;andwereuneasy，andonthelook—outforthecloudwhichwastoobscuretheircalm。

"TwaseasyforHarrytosee，howevermuchhisladypersistedinobedienceandadmirationforherhusband，thatmylordtiredofhisquietlife，andgrewweary，andthentesty，atthosegentlebondswithwhichhiswifewouldhaveheldhim。AstheysaytheGrandLamaofThibetisverymuchfatiguedbyhischaracterofdivinity，andyawnsonhisaltarashisbonzeskneelandworshiphim，manyahome—godgrowsheartilysickofthereverencewithwhichhisfamily—devoteespursuehim，andsighsforfreedomandforhisoldlife，andtobeoffthepedestalonwhichhisdependantswouldhavehimsitforever，whilsttheyadorehim，andplyhimwithflowers，andhymns，andincense，andflattery;——so，afterafewyearsofhismarriagemyhonestLordCastlewoodbegantotire;allthehigh—

flownrapturesanddevotionalceremonieswithwhichhiswife，hischiefpriestess，treatedhim，firstsenthimtosleep，andthendrovehimoutofdoors;forthetruthmustbetold，thatmylordwasajollygentleman，withverylittleoftheaugustordivineinhisnature，thoughhisfondwifepersistedinreveringit——and，besides，hehadtopayapenaltyforthislove，whichpersonsofhisdispositionseldomliketodefray:and，inaword，ifhehadalovingwife，hadaveryjealousandexactingone。Thenheweariedofthisjealousy;thenhebrokeawayfromit;thencame，nodoubt，complaintsandrecriminations;then，perhaps，promisesofamendmentnotfulfilled;thenupbraidingsnotthemorepleasantbecausetheyweresilent，andonlysadlooksandtearfuleyesconveyedthem。

Then，perhaps，thepairreachedthatotherstagewhichisnotuncommoninmarriedlife，whenthewomanperceivesthatthegodofthehoneymoonisagodnomore;onlyamortalliketherestofus——

andsoshelooksintoherheart，andlo！vacuaesedesetinaniaarcana。Andnow，supposingourladytohaveafinegeniusandabrilliantwitofherown，andthemagicspellandinfatuationremovedfromherwhichhadledhertoworshipasagodaveryordinarymortal——andwhatfollows？Theylivetogether，andtheydinetogether，andtheysay"mydear"and"mylove"asheretofore;

butthemanishimself，andthewomanherself:thatdreamofloveisoveraseverythingelseisoverinlife;asflowersandfury，andgriefsandpleasures，areover。

VerylikelytheLadyCastlewoodhadceasedtoadoreherhusbandherselflongbeforeshegotoffherknees，orwouldallowherhouseholdtodiscontinueworshippinghim。Todohimjustice，mylordneverexactedthissubservience:helaughedandjokedanddrankhisbottle，andsworewhenhewasangry，muchtoofamiliarlyforanyonepretendingtosublimity;anddidhisbesttodestroytheceremonialwithwhichhiswifechosetosurroundhim。AnditrequirednogreatconceitonyoungEsmond"sparttoseethathisownbrainswerebetterthanhispatron"s，who，indeed，neverassumedanyairsofsuperiorityoverthelad，oroveranydependantofhis，savewhenhewasdispleased，inwhichcasehewouldexpresshismindinoathsveryfreely;andwho，onthecontrary，perhaps，spoiled"ParsonHarry，"ashecalledyoungEsmond，byconstantlypraisinghispartsandadmiringhisboyishstockoflearning。

Itmayseemungraciousinonewhohasreceivedahundredfavorsfromhispatrontospeakinanybutareverentialmannerofhiselders;butthepresentwriterhashaddescendantsofhisown，whomhehasbroughtupwithaslittleaspossibleoftheservilityatpresentexactedbyparentsfromchildren（underwhichmaskofdutythereoftenlurksindifference，contempt，orrebellion）:andashewouldhavehisgrandsonsbelieveorrepresenthimtobenotaninchtallerthanNaturehasmadehim:so，withregardtohispastacquaintances，hewouldspeakwithoutanger，butwithtruth，asfarasheknowsit，neitherextenuatingnorsettingdownaughtinmalice。

Solong，then，astheworldmovedaccordingtoLordCastlewood"swishes，hewasgood—humoredenough;ofatempernaturallysprightlyandeasy，likingtojoke，especiallywithhisinferiors，andcharmedtoreceivethetributeoftheirlaughter。Allexercisesofthebodyhecouldperformtoperfection——shootingatamarkandflying，breakinghorses，ridingatthering，pitchingthequoit，playingatallgameswithgreatskill。Andnotonlydidhedothesethingswell，buthethoughthedidthemtoperfection;hencehewasoftentrickedabouthorses，whichhepretendedtoknowbetterthananyjockey;wasmadetoplayatballandbilliardsbysharperswhotookhismoney，andcamebackfromLondonwofullypoorereachtimethanhewent，asthestateofhisaffairstestifiedwhenthesuddenaccidentcamebywhichhiscareerwasbroughttoanend。

Hewasfondoftheparadeofdress，andpassedasmanyhoursdailyathistoiletteasanelderlycoquette。Atenthpartofhisdaywasspentinthebrushingofhisteethandtheoilingofhishair，whichwascurlingandbrown，andwhichhedidnotliketoconcealunderaperiwig，suchasalmosteverybodyofthattimewore。（Wehavethelibertyofourhairbacknow，butpowderandpomatumalongwithit。When，Iwonder，willthesemonstrouspoll—taxesofouragebewithdrawn，andmenallowedtocarrytheircolors，black，red，orgray，asNaturemadethem？）Andashelikedhertobewelldressed，hisladysparednopainsinthatmattertopleasehim;

indeed，shewoulddressherheadorcutitoffifhehadbiddenher。

ItwasawondertoyoungEsmond，servingaspagetomylordandlady，tohear，dayafterday，tosuchcompanyascame，thesameboisterousstoriestoldbymylord，atwhichhisladyneverfailedtosmileorholddownherhead，andDoctorTushertoburstoutlaughingattheproperpoint，orcry，"Fie，mylord，remembermycloth！"butwithsuchafaintshowofresistance，thatitonlyprovokedmylordfurther。LordCastlewood"sstoriesrosebydegrees，andbecamestrongerafterthealeatdinnerandthebottleafterwards;myladyalwaystakingflightaftertheveryfirstglasstoChurchandKing，andleavingthegentlementodrinktherestofthetoastsbythemselves。

And，asHarryEsmondwasherpage，healsowascalledfromdutyatthistime。"Mylordhaslivedinthearmyandwithsoldiers，"shewouldsaytothelad，"amongstwhomgreatlicenseisallowed。Youhavehadadifferentnurture，andItrustthesethingswillchangeasyougrowolder;notthatanyfaultattachestomylord，whoisoneofthebestandmostreligiousmeninthiskingdom。"Andverylikelyshebelievedso。"Tisstrangewhatamanmaydo，andawomanyetthinkhimanangel。

AndasEsmondhastakentruthforhismotto，itmustbeowned，evenwithregardtothatotherangel，hismistress，thatshehadafaultofcharacterwhichflawedherperfections。Withtheothersexperfectlytolerantandkindly，ofherownshewasinvariablyjealous;andaproofthatshehadthisviceis，thatthoughshewouldacknowledgeathousandfaultsthatshehadnot，tothiswhichshehadshecouldneverbegottoown。ButiftherecameawomanwithevenasemblanceofbeautytoCastlewood，shewassosuretofindoutsomewronginher，thatmylord，laughinginhisjollyway，wouldoftenjokewithherconcerningherfoible。Comelyservant—maidsmightcomeforhire，butnoneweretakenatCastlewood。Thehousekeeperwasold;mylady"sownwaiting—womansquinted，andwasmarkedwiththesmall—pox;thehousemaidsandscullionwereordinarycountrywenches，towhomLadyCastlewoodwaskind，ashernaturemadehertoeverybodyalmost;butassoonasevershehadtodowithaprettywoman，shewascold，retiring，andhaughty。Thecountryladiesfoundthisfaultinher;andthoughthemenalladmiredher，theirwivesanddaughterscomplainedofhercoldnessandaims，andsaidthatCastlewoodwaspleasanterinLadyJezebel"stime（asthedowagerwascalled）thanatpresent。

Somefewwereofmymistress"sside。OldLadyBlenkinsopJointure，whohadbeenatcourtinKingJamestheFirst"stime，alwaystookherside;andsodidoldMistressCrookshank，BishopCrookshank"sdaughter，ofHexton，who，withsomemoreoftheirlike，pronouncedmyladyanangel:buttheprettywomenwerenotofthismind;andtheopinionofthecountrywasthatmylordwastiedtohiswife"sapron—strings，andthatsheruledoverhim。

ThesecondfightwhichHarryEsmondhad，wasatfourteenyearsofage，withBryanHawkshaw，SirJohnHawkshaw"sson，ofBramblebrook，who，advancingthisopinion，thatmyladywasjealousandhenpeckedmylord，putHarryinsuchafury，thatHarryfellonhimandwithsuchrage，thattheotherboy，whowastwoyearsolderandbyfarbiggerthanhe，hadbyfartheworstoftheassault，untilitwasinterruptedbyDoctorTusherwalkingoutofthedinner—room。

BryanHawkshawgotupbleedingatthenose，having，indeed，beensurprised，asmanyastrongermanmighthavebeen，bythefuryoftheassaultuponhim。

"Youlittlebastardbeggar！"hesaid，"I"llmurderyouforthis！"

Andindeedhewasbigenough。

"Bastardornot，"saidtheother，grindinghisteeth，"Ihaveacoupleofswords，andifyouliketomeetme，asaman，ontheterraceto—night——"

AndheretheDoctorcomingup，thecolloquyoftheyoungchampionsended。Verylikely，bigashewas，Hawkshawdidnotcaretocontinueafightwithsuchaferociousopponentasthishadbeen。

CHAPTERVIII。

AFTERGOODFORTUNECOMESEVIL。

SincemyLadyMaryWortleyMontagubroughthomethecustomofinoculationfromTurkey（aperilouspracticemanydeemit，andonlyauselessrushingintothejawsofdanger），Ithinktheseverityofthesmall—pox，thatdreadfulscourgeoftheworld，hassomewhatbeenabatedinourpartofit;andrememberinmytimehundredsoftheyoungandbeautifulwhohavebeencarriedtothegrave，orhaveonlyrisenfromtheirpillowsfrightfullyscarredanddisfiguredbythismalady。Manyasweetfacehathleftitsrosesonthebedonwhichthisdreadfulandwitheringblighthaslaidthem。Inmyearlydays，thispestilencewouldenteravillageanddestroyhalfitsinhabitants:atitsapproach，itmaywellbeimagined，notonlythebeautifulbutthestrongestwerealarmed，andthosefledwhocould。Onedayintheyear1694（Ihavegoodreasontorememberit），DoctorTusherranintoCastlewoodHouse，withafaceofconsternation，sayingthatthemaladyhadmadeitsappearanceattheblacksmith"shouseinthevillage，andthatoneofthemaidstherewasdowninthesmall—pox。

Theblacksmith，besideshisforgeandironsforhorses，hadanale—

houseformen，whichhiswifekept，andhiscompanysatonbenchesbeforetheinn—door，lookingatthesmithywhiletheydranktheirbeer。Now，therewasaprettygirlatthisinn，thelandlord"smencalledNancySievewright，abouncing，fresh—lookinglass，whosefacewasasredasthehollyhocksoverthepalesofthegardenbehindtheinn。AtthistimeHarryEsmondwasaladofsixteen，andsomehowinhiswalksandramblesitoftenhappenedthathefellinwithNancySievewright"sbonnyface;ifhedidnotwantsomethingdoneattheblacksmith"shewouldgoanddrinkaleatthe"ThreeCastles，"orfindsomepretextforseeingthispoorNancy。

Poorthing，Harrymeantorimaginednoharm;andshe，nodoubt，aslittle，butthetruthistheywerealwaysmeeting——inthelanes，orbythebrook，oratthegarden—palings，oraboutCastlewood:itwas，"Lord，Mr。Henry！"and"howdoyoudo，Nancy？"manyandmanyatimeintheweek。"Tissurprisingthemagneticattractionwhichdrawspeopletogetherfromeversofar。IblushasIthinkofpoorNancynow，inaredbodiceandbuxompurplecheeksandacanvaspetticoat;andthatIdevisedschemes，andsettraps，andmadespeechesinmyheart，whichIseldomhadcouragetosaywheninpresenceofthathumbleenchantress，whoknewnothingbeyondmilkingacow，andopenedherblackeyeswithwonderwhenImadeoneofmyfinespeechesoutofWallerorOvid。PoorNancy！fromthemidstoffar—offyearsthinehonestcountryfacebeamsout;andIrememberthykindvoiceasifIhadheardityesterday。

WhenDoctorTusherbroughtthenewsthatthesmall—poxwasatthe"ThreeCastles，"whitheratramper，itwassaid，hadbroughtthemalady，HenryEsmond"sfirstthoughtwasofalarmforpoorNancy，andthenofshameanddisquietfortheCastlewoodfamily，lesthemighthavebroughtthisinfection;forthetruthisthatMr。Harryhadbeensittinginabackroomforanhourthatday，whereNancySievewrightwaswithalittlebrotherwhocomplainedofheadache，andwaslyingstupefiedandcrying，eitherinachairbythecornerofthefire，orinNancy"slap，oronmine。

LittleLadyBeatrixscreamedoutatDr。Tusher"snews;andmylordcriedout，"Godblessme！"Hewasabraveman，andnotafraidofdeathinanyshapebutthis。Hewasveryproudofhispinkcomplexionandfairhair——buttheideaofdeathbysmall—poxscaredhimbeyondallotherends。"Wewilltakethechildrenandrideawayto—morrowtoWalcote:"thiswasmylord"ssmallhouse，inheritedfromhismother，neartoWinchester。

"Thatisthebestrefugeincasethediseasespreads，"saidDr。

Tusher。""Tisawfultothinkofitbeginningattheale—house;

halfthepeopleofthevillagehavevisitedthatto—day，ortheblacksmith"s，whichisthesamething。MyclerkNahumlodgeswiththem——Icannevergointomyreading—deskandhavethatfellowsonearme。IWON"Thavethatmannearme。"

"Ifaparishionerdyinginthesmall—poxsenttoyou，wouldyounotgo？"askedmylady，lookingupfromherframeofwork，withhercalmblueeyes。

"BytheLord，Iwouldn"t，"saidmylord。

"Wearenotinapopishcountry;andasickmandothnotabsolutelyneedabsolutionandconfession，"saidtheDoctor。""Tistruetheyareacomfortandahelptohimwhenattainable，andtobeadministeredwithhopeofgood。Butinacasewherethelifeofaparishpriestinthemidstofhisflockishighlyvaluabletothem，heisnotcalledupontoriskit（andtherewiththelives，futureprospects，andtemporal，evenspiritualwelfareofhisownfamily）

forthesakeofasingleperson，whoisnotverylikelyinaconditioneventounderstandthereligiousmessagewhereofthepriestisthebringer——beinguneducated，andlikewisestupefiedordeliriousbydisease。Ifyourladyshiporhislordship，myexcellentgoodfriendandpatron，weretotakeit……"

"Godforbid！"criedmylord。

"Amen，"continuedDr。Tusher。"Amentothatprayer，myverygoodlord！foryoursakeIwouldlaymylifedown"——and，tojudgefromthealarmedlookoftheDoctor"spurpleface，youwouldhavethoughtthatthatsacrificewasabouttobecalledforinstantly。

Tolovechildren，andbegentlewiththem，wasaninstinct，ratherthanamerit，inHenryEsmond;somuchso，thathethoughtalmostwithasortofshameofhislikingforthem，andofthesoftnessintowhichitbetrayedhim;andonthisdaythepoorfellowhadnotonlyhadhisyoungfriend，themilkmaid"sbrother，onhisknee，buthadbeendrawingpicturesandtellingstoriestothelittleFrankCastlewood，whohadoccupiedthesameplaceforanhourafterdinner，andwasnevertiredofHenry"stales，andhispicturesofsoldiersandhorses。Asluckwouldhaveit，Beatrixhadnotonthateveningtakenherusualplace，whichgenerallyshewasgladenoughtohave，uponhertutor"slap。ForBeatrix，fromtheearliesttime，wasjealousofeverycaresswhichwasgiventoherlittlebrotherFrank。Shewouldflingawayevenfromthematernalarms，ifshesawFrankhadbeentherebeforeher;insomuchthatLadyEsmondwasobligednottoshowherloveforhersoninthepresenceofthelittlegirl，andembracedoneortheotheralone。

ShewouldturnpaleandredwithrageifshecaughtsignsofintelligenceoraffectionbetweenFrankandhismother:wouldsitapart，andnotspeakforawholenight，ifshethoughttheboyhadabetterfruitoralargercakethanhers;wouldflingawayaribbonifhehadone;andfromtheearliestage，sittingupinherlittlechairbythegreatfireplaceoppositetothecornerwhereLadyCastlewoodcommonlysatatherembroidery，wouldutterinfantinesarcasmsaboutthefavorshowntoherbrother。These，ifspokeninthepresenceofLordCastlewood，tickledandamusedhishumor;hewouldpretendtoloveFrankbest，anddandleandkisshim，androarwithlaughteratBeatrix"sjealousy。Butthetruthis，mylorddidnotoftenwitnessthesescenes，norverymuchtroublethequietfiresideatwhichhisladypassedmanylongevenings。Mylordwashuntingalldaywhentheseasonadmitted;hefrequentedallthecock—fightsandfairsinthecountry，andwouldridetwentymilestoseeamainfought，ortwoclownsbreaktheirheadsatacudgelling—match;andhelikedbettertositinhisparlordrinkingaleandpunchwithJackandTom，thaninhiswife"sdrawing—room:whither，ifhecame，hebroughtonlytoooftenbloodshoteyes，ahiccuppingvoice，andareelinggait。Themanagementofthehouse，andtheproperty，thecareofthefewtenantsandthevillagepoor，andtheaccountsoftheestate，wereinthehandsofhisladyandheryoungsecretary，HarryEsmond。Mylordtookchargeofthestables，thekennel，andthecellar——andhefilledthisandemptiedittoo。

Soitchancedthatuponthisveryday，whenpoorHarryEsmondhadhadtheblacksmith"sson，andthepeer"sson，alikeuponhisknee，littleBeatrix，whowouldcometohertutorwillinglyenoughwithherbookandherwriting，hadrefusedhim，seeingtheplaceoccupiedbyherbrother，and，luckilyforher，hadsatatthefurtherendoftheroom，awayfromhim，playingwithaspanieldogwhichshehad，（andforwhich，byfitsandstarts，shewouldtakeagreataffection，）andtalkingatHarryEsmondoverhershoulder，asshepretendedtocaressthedog，sayingthatFidowouldloveher，andshewouldloveFido，andnothingbutFidoallherlife。

When，then，thenewswasbroughtthatthelittleboyatthe"ThreeCastles"wasillwiththesmall—pox，poorHarryEsmondfeltashockofalarm，notsomuchforhimselfasforhismistress"sson，whomhemighthavebroughtintoperil。Beatrix，whohadpoutedsufficiently，（andwho，wheneverastrangerappeared，began，frominfancyalmost，toplayofflittlegracestocatchhisattention，）

herbrotherbeingnowgonetobed，wasfortakingherplaceuponEsmond"sknee:for，thoughtheDoctorwasveryobsequioustoher，shedidnotlikehim，becausehehadthickbootsanddirtyhands（thepertyoungmisssaid），andbecauseshehatedlearningthecatechism。

ButassheadvancedtowardsEsmondfromthecornerwhereshehadbeensulking，hestartedbackandplacedthegreatchaironwhichhewassittingbetweenhimandher——sayingintheFrenchlanguagetoLadyCastlewood，withwhomtheyoungladhadreadmuch，andwhomhehadperfectedinthistongue——Madam，thechildmustnotapproachme;ImusttellyouthatIwasattheblacksmith"sto—day，andhadhislittleboyuponmylap。"

"Whereyoutookmysonafterwards，"LadyCastlewoodsaid，veryangry，andturningred。"Ithankyou，sir，forgivinghimsuchcompany。Beatrix，"shesaidinEnglish，"IforbidyoutotouchMr。

Esmond。Comeaway，child——cometoyourroom。Cometoyourroom——I

wishyourReverencegood—night——andyou，sir，hadyounotbettergobacktoyourfriendsattheale—house？"hereyes，ordinarilysokind，dartedflashesofangerasshespoke;andshetossedupherhead（whichhungdowncommonly）withthemienofaprincess。

"Hey—day！"saysmylord，whowasstandingbythefireplace——indeedhewasinthepositiontowhichhegenerallycamebythathouroftheevening——"Hey—day！Rachel，whatareyouinapassionabout？

Ladiesoughtnevertobeinapassion。Oughtthey，DoctorTusher？

thoughitdoesgoodtoseeRachelinapassion——Damme，LadyCastlewood，youlookdev"lishhandsomeinapassion。"

"Itis，mylord，becauseMr。HenryEsmond，havingnothingtodowithhistimehere，andnothavingatasteforourcompany，hasbeentotheale—house，wherehehasSOMEFRIENDS。"

Mylordburstout，withalaughandanoath——"Youyoungslyboots，you"vebeenatNancySievewright。D———theyounghypocrite，who"dhavethoughtitinhim？Isay，Tusher，he"sbeenafter——"

"Enough，mylord，"saidmylady，"don"tinsultmewiththistalk。"

"Uponmyword，"saidpoorHarry，readytocrywithshameandmortification，"thehonorofthatyoungpersonisperfectlyunstainedforme。"

"Oh，ofcourse，ofcourse，"saysmylord，moreandmorelaughingandtipsy。"UponhisHONOR，Doctor——NancySieve——……"

"TakeMistressBeatrixtobed，"myladycriedatthismomenttoMrs。Tuckerherwoman，whocameinwithherladyship"stea。"Putherintomyroom——no，intoyours，"sheaddedquickly。"Go，mychild:go，Isay:notaword！"AndBeatrix，quitesurprisedatsosuddenatoneofauthorityfromonewhowasseldomaccustomedtoraisehervoice，wentoutoftheroomwithascaredcountenance，andwaitedeventoburstouta—cryinguntilshegottothedoorwithMrs。Tucker。

Foroncehermothertooklittleheedofhersobbing，andcontinuedtospeakeagerly——"Mylord，"shesaid，"thisyoungman——yourdependant——toldmejustnowinFrench——hewasashamedtospeakinhisownlanguage——thathehadbeenattheale—houseallday，wherehehashadthatlittlewretchwhoisnowillofthesmall—poxonhisknee。Andhecomeshomereekingfromthatplace——yes，reekingfromit——andtakesmyboyintohislapwithoutshame，andsitsdownbyme，yes，byME。HemayhavekilledFrankforwhatIknow——

killedourchild。Whywashebroughtintodisgraceourhouse？

Whyishehere？Lethimgo——lethimgo，Isay，to—night，andpollutetheplacenomore。"

ShehadneveronceutteredasyllableofunkindnesstoHarryEsmond;andhercruelwordssmotethepoorboy，sothathestoodforsomemomentsbewilderedwithgriefandrageattheinjusticeofsuchastabfromsuchahand。Heturnedquitewhitefromred，whichhehadbeen。

"Icannothelpmybirth，madam，"hesaid，"normyothermisfortune。

Andasforyourboy，if——ifmycomingnightohimpolluteshimnow，itwasnotsoalways。Good—night，mylord。Heavenblessyouandyoursforyourgoodnesstome。Ihavetiredherladyship"skindnessout，andIwillgo;"and，sinkingdownonhisknee，HarryEsmondtooktheroughhandofhisbenefactorandkissedit。

"Hewantstogototheale—house——lethimgo，"criedmylady。

"I"md——difheshall，"saidmylord。"Ididn"tthinkyoucouldbesod——dungrateful，Rachel。"

Herreplywastoburstintoafloodoftears，andtoquittheroomwitharapidglanceatHarryEsmond，——asmylord，notheedingthem，andstillingreatgood—humor，raiseduphisyoungclientfromhiskneelingposture（forathousandkindnesseshadcausedtheladtoreveremylordasafather），andputhisbroadhandonHarryEsmond"sshoulder。

"Shewasalwaysso，"mylordsaid;"theverynotionofawomandriveshermad。Itooktoliquoronthatveryaccount，byJove，fornootherreasonthanthat;forshecan"tbejealousofabeer—

barrelorabottleofrum，canshe，Doctor？D———it，lookatthemaids——justlookatthemaidsinthehouse"（mylordpronouncedallthewordstogether——just—look—at—the—maze—in—the—house:jever—see—

such—maze？）"Youwouldn"ttakeawifeoutofCastlewoodnow，wouldyou，Doctor？"andmylordburstoutlaughing。

TheDoctor，whohadbeenlookingatmyLordCastlewoodfromunderhiseyelids，said，"Butjokingapart，and，mylord，asadivine，I

cannottreatthesubjectinajocularlight，nor，asapastorofthiscongregation，lookwithanythingbutsorrowattheideaofsoveryyoungasheepgoingastray。"

"Sir，"saidyoungEsmond，burstingoutindignantly，"shetoldmethatyouyourselfwereahorridoldman，andhadofferedtokissherinthedairy。"

"Forshame，Henry，"criedDoctorTusher，turningasredasaturkey—cock，whilemylordcontinuedtoroarwithlaughter。"Ifyoulistentothefalsehoodsofanabandonedgirl——"

"SheisashonestasanywomaninEngland，andaspureforme，"

criedoutHenry，"and，askind，andasgood。Forshameonyoutomalignher！"

"Farbeitfrommetodoso，"criedtheDoctor。"HeavengrantI

maybemistakeninthegirl，andinyou，sir，whohaveatrulyPRECOCIOUSgenius;butthatisnotthepointatissueatpresent。

Itappearsthatthesmall—poxbrokeoutinthelittleboyatthe"ThreeCastles;"thatitwasonhimwhenyouvisitedtheale—house，foryourOWNreasons;andthatyousatwiththechildforsometime，andimmediatelyafterwardswithmyyounglord。"TheDoctorraisedhisvoiceashespoke，andlookedtowardsmylady，whohadnowcomeback，lookingverypale，withahandkerchiefinherhand。

"Thisisallverytrue，sir，"saidLadyEsmond，lookingattheyoungman。

""Tistobefearedthathemayhavebroughttheinfectionwithhim。"

"Fromtheale—house——yes，"saidmylady。

"D———it，IforgotwhenIcollaredyou，boy，"criedmylord，steppingback。"Keepoff，Harrymyboy;there"snogoodinrunningintothewolf"sjaws，youknow。"

Myladylookedathimwithsomesurprise，andinstantlyadvancingtoHenryEsmond，tookhishand。"Ibegyourpardon，Henry，"shesaid;"Ispokeveryunkindly。Ihavenorighttointerferewithyou——withyour——"

Mylordbrokeoutintoanoath。"Can"tyouleavetheboyalone，mylady？"Shelookedalittlered，andfaintlypressedthelad"shandasshedroppedit。

"Thereisnouse，mylord，"shesaid;"Frankwasonhiskneeashewasmakingpictures，andwasrunningconstantlyfromHenrytome。

Theevilisdone，ifany。"

"Notwithme，damme，"criedmylord。"I"vebeensmoking，"——andhelightedhispipeagainwithacoal——"anditkeepsoffinfection;

andasthediseaseisinthevillage——plaguetakeit——Iwouldhaveyouleaveit。We"llgoto—morrowtoWalcote，mylady。"

"Ihavenofear，"saidmylady;"Imayhavehaditasaninfant:itbrokeoutinourhousethen;andwhenfourofmysistershaditathome，twoyearsbeforeourmarriage，Iescapedit，andtwoofmydearsistersdied。"

"Iwon"truntherisk，"saidmylord;"I"masboldasanyman，butI"llnotbearthat。"

"TakeBeatrixwithyouandgo，"saidmylady。"Forusthemischiefisdone;andTuckercanwaituponus，whohashadthedisease。"

"Youtakecaretochoose"emuglyenough，"saidmylord，atwhichherladyshiphungdownherheadandlookedfoolish:andmylord，callingawayTusher，badehimcometotheoakparlorandhaveapipe。TheDoctormadealowbowtoherladyship（ofwhichsalaamshewasprofuse），andwalkedoffonhiscreakingsquare—toesafterhispatron。

Whentheladyandtheyoungmanwerealone，therewasasilenceofsomemoments，duringwhichhestoodatthefire，lookingrathervacantlyatthedyingembers，whilstherladyshipbusiedherselfwiththetambour—frameandneedles。

"Iamsorry，"shesaid，afterapause，inahard，dryvoice，——"I

REPEATIamsorrythatIshowedmyselfsoungratefulforthesafetyofmyson。Itwasnotatallmywishthatyoushouldleaveus，I

amsure，unlessyoufoundpleasureelsewhere。Butyoumustperceive，Mr。Esmond，thatatyourage，andwithyourtastes，itisimpossiblethatyoucancontinuetostayupontheintimatefootinginwhichyouhavebeeninthisfamily。YouhavewishedtogototheUniversity，andIthink"tisquiteaswellthatyoushouldbesentthither。Ididnotpressthismatter，thinkingyouachild，asyouare，indeed，inyears——quiteachild;andIshouldneverhavethoughtoftreatingyouotherwiseuntil——untiltheseCIRCUMSTANCEScametolight。AndIshallbegmylordtodespatchyouasquickaspossible:andwillgoonwithFrank"slearningaswellasIcan，（Iowemyfatherthanksforalittlegrounding，andyou，I"msure，formuchthatyouhavetaughtme，）——and——andIwishyouagood—night，Mr。Esmond。"

Andwiththisshedroppedastatelycurtsy，and，takinghercandle，wentawaythroughthetapestrydoor，whichledtoherapartments。

Esmondstoodbythefireplace，blanklystaringafterher。Indeed，hescarceseemedtoseeuntilshewasgone;andthenherimagewasimpresseduponhim，andremainedforeverfixeduponhismemory。

Hesawherretreating，thetaperlightinguphermarbleface，herscarletlipquivering，andhershininggoldenhair。Hewenttohisownroom，andtobed，wherehetriedtoread，ashiscustomwas;

butheneverknewwhathewasreadinguntilafterwardsherememberedtheappearanceofthelettersofthebook（itwasinMontaigne"sEssays），andtheeventsofthedaypassedbeforehim——

thatis，ofthelasthouroftheday;forasforthemorning，andthepoormilkmaidyonder，heneversomuchasoncethought。Andhecouldnotgettosleepuntildaylight，andwokewithaviolentheadache，andquiteunrefreshed。

Hehadbroughtthecontagionwithhimfromthe"ThreeCastles"sureenough，andwaspresentlylaidupwiththesmallpox，whichsparedthehallnomorethanitdidthecottage。

CHAPTERIX。

IHAVETHESMALL—POX，ANDPREPARETOLEAVECASTLEWOOD。

WhenHarryEsmondpassedthroughthecrisisofthatmalady，andreturnedtohealthagain，hefoundthatlittleFrankEsmondhadalsosufferedandralliedafterthedisease，andtheladyhismotherwasdownwithit，withacouplemoreofthehousehold。"ItwasaProvidence，forwhichwealloughttobethankful，"DoctorTushersaid，"thatmyladyandhersonwerespared，whileDeathcarriedoffthepoordomesticsofthehouse;"andrebukedHarryforasking，inhissimpleway，Forwhichweoughttobethankful——thattheservantswerekilled，orthegentlefolksweresaved？NorcouldyoungEsmondagreeintheDoctor"svehementprotestationstomylady，whenhevisitedherduringherconvalescence，thatthemaladyhadnotintheleastimpairedhercharms，andhadnotbeenchurlenoughtoinjurethefairfeaturesoftheViscountessofCastlewood;whereas，inspiteofthesefinespeeches，Harrythoughtthatherladyship"sbeautywasverymuchinjuredbythesmall—pox。