第11章

"Youareplayingawfulstakes，mylord，inmypatron"shouse，"

Harrysaid，"andmoregamesthanareonthecards。"

"Whatdoyoumean，sir？"criesmylord，turninground，withaflushonhisface。

"Imean，"answersHarry，inasarcastictone，"thatyourgoutiswell——ifeveryouhadit。"

"Sir！"criedmylord，gettinghot。

"AndtotellthetruthIbelieveyourlordshiphasnomoregoutthanIhave。Atanyrate，changeofairwilldoyougood，myLordMohun。AndImeanfairlythatyouhadbettergofromCastlewood。"

"Andwereyouappointedtogivemethismessage？"criestheLordMohun。"DidFrankEsmondcommissionyou？"

"Noonedid。"Twasthehonorofmyfamilythatcommissionedme。"

"Andyouarepreparedtoanswerthis？"criestheother，furiouslylashinghishorses。

"Quite，mylord:yourlordshipwillupsetthecarriageifyouwhipsohotly。"

"ByGeorge，youhaveabravespirit！"mylordcriedout，burstingintoalaugh。"Isuppose"tisthatinfernalbottedeJesuitethatmakesyousobold，"headded。

""TisthepeaceofthefamilyIlovebestintheworld，"HarryEsmondsaidwarmly——""tisthehonorofanoblebenefactor——thehappinessofmydearmistressandherchildren。Iowethemeverythinginlife，mylord;andwouldlayitdownforanyoneofthem。Whatbringsyouheretodisturbthisquiethousehold？Whatkeepsyoulingeringmonthaftermonthinthecountry？Whatmakesyoufeignillness，andinventpretextsfordelay？Isittowinmypoorpatron"smoney？Begenerous，mylord，andsparehisweaknessforthesakeofhiswifeandchildren。Isittopractiseuponthesimpleheartofavirtuouslady？YoumightaswellstormtheTowersingle—handed。Butyoumayblemishhernamebylightcommentsonit，orbylawlesspursuits——andIdon"tdenythat"tisinyourpowertomakeherunhappy。Sparetheseinnocentpeople，andleavethem。"

"BytheLord，IbelievethouhastaneyetotheprettyPuritanthyself，MasterHarry，"saysmylord，withhisreckless，good—

humoredlaugh，andasifhehadbeenlisteningwithinteresttothepassionateappealoftheyoungman。"Whisper，Harry。Artthouinlovewithherthyself？HathtipsyFrankEsmondcomebythewayofallflesh？"

"Mylord，mylord，"criedHarry，hisfaceflushingandhiseyesfillingashespoke，"Ineverhadamother，butIlovethisladyasone。Iworshipherasadevoteeworshipsasaint。Tohearhernamespokenlightlyseemsblasphemytome。Wouldyoudarethinkofyourownmotherso，orsufferanyonesotospeakofher？Itisahorrortometofancythatanymanshouldthinkofherimpurely。I

imploreyou，Ibeseechyou，toleaveher。Dangerwillcomeoutofit。"

"Danger，psha！"saysmylord，givingacuttothehorses，whichatthisminute——forweweregotontotheDowns——fairlyranoffintoagallopthatnopullingcouldstop。ThereinbrokeinLordMohun"shands，andthefuriousbeastsscamperedmadlyforwards，thecarriageswayingtoandfro，andthepersonswithinitholdingontothesidesasbesttheymight，untilseeingagreatravinebeforethem，whereanupsetwasinevitable，thetwogentlemenleaptfortheirlives，eachoutofhissideofthechaise。HarryEsmondwasquitforafallonthegrass，whichwassoseverethatitstunnedhimforaminute;buthegotuppresentlyverysick，andbleedingatthenose，butwithnootherhurt。TheLordMohunwasnotsofortunate;hefellonhisheadagainstastone，andlayontheground，deadtoallappearance。

Thismisadventurehappenedasthegentlemenwereontheirreturnhomewards;andmyLordCastlewood，withhissonanddaughter，whoweregoingoutforaride，mettheponiesastheyweregallopingwiththecarbehind，thebrokentracesentanglingtheirheels，andmylord"speopleturnedandstoppedthem。ItwasyoungFrankwhospiedoutLordMohun"sscarletcoatashelayontheground，andthepartymadeuptothatunfortunategentlemanandEsmond，whowasnowstandingoverhim。Hislargeperiwigandfeatheredhathadfallenoff，andhewasbleedingprofuselyfromawoundontheforehead，andlooking，andbeing，indeed，acorpse。

"GreatGod！he"sdead！"saysmylord。"Ride，someone:fetchadoctor——stay。I"llgohomeandbringbackTusher;heknowssurgery，"andmylord，withhissonafterhim，gallopedaway。

TheywerescarcegonewhenHarryEsmond，whowasindeedbutjustcometohimself，bethoughthimofasimilaraccidentwhichhehadseenonaridefromNewmarkettoCambridge，andtakingoffasleeveofmylord"scoat，Harry，withapenknife，openedaveinofhisarm，andwasgreatlyrelieved，afteramoment，toseethebloodflow。Hewasnearhalfanhourbeforehecametohimself，bywhichtimeDoctorTusherandlittleFrankarrived，andfoundmylordnotacorpseindeed，butaspaleasone。

Afteratime，whenhewasabletobearmotion，theyputmylorduponagroom"shorse，andgavetheothertoEsmond，themenwalkingoneachsideofmylord，tosupporthim，ifneedwere，andworthyDoctorTusherwiththem。LittleFrankandHarryrodetogetheratafootpace。

Whenwerodetogetherhome，theboysaid:"Wemetmamma，whowaswalkingontheterracewiththedoctor，andpapafrightenedher，andtoldheryouweredead……"

"ThatIwasdead！"asksHarry。

"Yes。Papasays:"Here"spoorHarrykilled，mydear;"onwhichmammagivesagreatscream;andoh，Harry！shedropsdown;andI

thoughtshewasdeadtoo。Andyouneversawsuchawayaspapawasin:hesworeoneofhisgreatoaths:andheturnedquitepale;andthenhebegantolaughsomehow，andhetoldtheDoctortotakehishorse，andmetofollowhim;andwelefthim。AndIlookedback，andsawhimdashingwateroutofthefountainontomamma。Oh，shewassofrightened！"

Musinguponthiscurioushistory——formyLordMohun"snamewasHenrytoo，andtheycalledeachotherFrankandHarryoften——andnotalittledisturbedandanxious，Esmondrodehome。Hisdearladywasontheterracestill，oneofherwomenwithher，andmylordnolongerthere。Therearestepsandalittledoorthencedownintotheroad。Mylordpassed，lookingveryghastly，withahandkerchiefoverhishead，andwithouthishatandperiwig，whichagroomcarried，buthispolitenessdidnotdeserthim，andhemadeabowtotheladyabove。

"Thankheaven，youaresafe，"shesaid。

"AndsoisHarrytoo，mamma，"sayslittleFrank，——"huzzay！"

HarryEsmondgotoffthehorsetoruntohismistress，asdidlittleFrank，andoneofthegroomstookchargeofthetwobeasts，whiletheother，hatandperiwiginhand，walkedbymylord"sbridletothefrontgate，whichlayhalfamileaway。

"Oh，myboy！whatafrightyouhavegivenme！"LadyCastlewoodsaid，whenHarryEsmondcameup，greetinghimwithoneofhershininglooks，andavoiceoftenderwelcome;andshewassokindastokisstheyoungman（"twasthesecondtimeshehadsohonoredhim），andshewalkedintothehousebetweenhimandherson，holdingahandofeach。

CHAPTERXIV。

WERIDEAFTERHIMTOLONDON。

Afterareposeofacoupleofdays，theLordMohunwassofarrecoveredofhishurtastobeabletoannouncehisdepartureforthenextmorning;when，accordingly，hetookleaveofCastlewood，proposingtoridetoLondonbyeasystages，andlietwonightsupontheroad。Hishosttreatedhimwithastudiedandceremoniouscourtesy，certainlydifferentfrommylord"susualfrankandcarelessdemeanor;buttherewasnoreasontosupposethatthetwolordspartedotherwisethangoodfriends，thoughHarryEsmondremarkedthatmyLordViscountonlysawhisguestincompanywithotherpersons，andseemedtoavoidbeingalonewithhim。NordidherideanydistancewithLordMohun，ashiscustomwaswithmostofhisfriends，whomhewasalwayseagertowelcomeandunwillingtolose;butcontentedhimself，whenhislordship"shorseswereannounced，andtheirownerappeared，bootedforhisjourney，totakeacourteousleaveoftheladiesofCastlewood，byfollowingtheLordMohundownstairstohishorses，andbybowingandwishinghimagood—day，inthecourt—yard。"IshallseeyouinLondonbeforeverylong，Mohun，"mylordsaid，withasmile，"whenwewillsettleouraccountstogether。"

"Donotletthemtroubleyou，Frank，"saidtheothergood—

naturedly，andholdingouthishand，lookedrathersurprisedatthegrimandstatelymannerinwhichhishostreceivedhispartingsalutation;andso，followedbyhispeople，herodeaway。

HarryEsmondwaswitnessofthedeparture。Itwasverydifferenttomylord"scoming，forwhichgreatpreparationhadbeenmade（theoldhouseputtingonitsbestappearancetowelcomeitsguest），andtherewasasadnessandconstraintaboutallpersonsthatday，whichfilledMr。Esmondwithgloomyforebodings，andsadindefiniteapprehensions。LordCastlewoodstoodatthedoorwatchinghisguestandhispeopleastheywentoutunderthearchoftheoutergate。Whenhewasthere，LordMohunturnedoncemore，myLordViscountslowlyraisedhisbeaverandbowed。Hisfaceworeapeculiarlividlook，Harrythought。Hecursedandkickedawayhisdogs，whichcamejumpingabouthim——thenhewalkeduptothefountaininthecentreofthecourt，andleanedagainstapillarandlookedintothebasin。AsEsmondcrossedovertohisownroom，latethechaplain"s，ontheothersideofthecourt，andturnedtoenterinatthelowdoor，hesawLadyCastlewoodlookingthroughthecurtainsofthegreatwindowofthedrawing—roomoverhead，atmylordashestoodregardingthefountain。Therewasinthecourtapeculiarsilencesomehow;andthesceneremainedlonginEsmond"smemory:——theskybrightoverhead;thebuttressesofthebuildingandthesun—dialcastingshadowoverthegiltmementomoriinscribedunderneath;thetwodogs，ablackgreyhoundandaspanielnearlywhite，theonewithhisfaceuptothesun，andtheothersnuffingamongstthegrassandstones，andmylordleaningoverthefountain，whichwasbubblingaudibly。"Tisstrangehowthatscene，andthesoundofthatfountain，remainfixedonthememoryofamanwhohasbeheldahundredsightsofsplendor，anddangertoo，ofwhichhehaskeptnoaccount。

ItwasLadyCastlewood——shehadbeenlaughingallthemorning，andespeciallygayandlivelybeforeherhusbandandhisguest——whoassoonasthetwogentlemenwenttogetherfromherroom，rantoHarry，theexpressionofhercountenancequitechangednow，andwithafaceandeyesfullofcare，andsaid，"Followthem，Harry，I

amsuresomethinghasgonewrong。"AndsoitwasthatEsmondwasmadeaneavesdropperatthislady"sordersandretiredtohisownchamber，togivehimselftimeintruthtotryandcomposeastorywhichwouldsoothehismistress，forhecouldnotbuthavehisownapprehensionthatsomeseriousquarrelwaspendingbetweenthetwogentlemen。

AndnowforseveraldaysthelittlecompanyatCastlewoodsatattableasofevenings:thiscare，thoughunnamedandinvisible，beingneverthelesspresentalway，inthemindsofatleastthreepersonsthere。Mylordwasexceedinggentleandkind。Wheneverhequittedtheroom，hiswife"seyesfollowedhim。Hebehavedtoherwithakindofmournfulcourtesyandkindnessremarkableinoneofhisbluntwaysandordinaryroughmanner。HecalledherbyherChristiannameoftenandfondly，wasverysoftandgentlewiththechildren，especiallywiththeboy，whomhedidnotlove，andbeinglaxaboutchurchgenerally，hewentthitherandperformedalltheoffices（downeventolisteningtoDr。Tusher"ssermon）withgreatdevotion。

"Hepaceshisroomallnight;whatisit？Henry，findoutwhatitis，"LadyCastlewoodsaidconstantlytoheryoungdependant。"HehassentthreeletterstoLondon，"shesaid，anotherday。

"Indeed，madam，theyweretoalawyer，"Harryanswered，whoknewoftheseletters，andhadseenapartofthecorrespondence，whichrelatedtoanewloanmylordwasraising;andwhentheyoungmanremonstratedwithhispatron，mylordsaid，"Hewasonlyraisingmoneytopayoffanolddebtontheproperty，whichmustbedischarged。"

Regardingthemoney，LadyCastlewoodwasnotintheleastanxious。

Fewfondwomenfeelmoney—distressed;indeedyoucanhardlygiveawomanagreaterpleasurethantobidherpawnherdiamondsforthemansheloves;andIrememberhearingMr。CongrevesayofmyLordMarlborough，thatthereasonwhymylordwassosuccessfulwithwomenasayoungman，wasbecausehetookmoneyofthem。"Therearefewmenwhowillmakesuchasacrificeforthem，"saysMr。

Congreve，whoknewapartofthesexprettywell。

HarryEsmond"svacationwasjustover，and，ashathbeensaid，hewaspreparingtoreturntotheUniversityforhislasttermbeforetakinghisdegreeandenteringintotheChurch。Hehadmadeuphismindforthisoffice，notindeedwiththatreverencewhichbecomesamanabouttoenteruponadutysoholy，butwithaworldlyspiritofacquiescenceintheprudenceofadoptingthatprofessionforhiscalling。ButhisreasoningwasthatheowedalltothefamilyofCastlewood，andlovedbettertobenearthemthananywhereelseintheworld;thathemightbeusefultohisbenefactors，whohadtheutmostconfidenceinhimandaffectionforhiminreturn;thathemightaidinbringinguptheyoungheirofthehouseandactingashisgovernor;thathemightcontinuetobehisdearpatron"sandmistress"sfriendandadviser，whobothwerepleasedtosaythattheyshouldeverlookuponhimassuch;andso，bymakinghimselfusefultothosehelovedbest，heproposedtoconsolehimselfforgivingupofanyschemesofambitionwhichhemighthavehadinhisownbosom。Indeed，hismistresshadtoldhimthatshewouldnothavehimleaveher;andwhatevershecommandedwaswilltohim。

TheLadyCastlewood"smindwasgreatlyrelievedinthelastfewdaysofthiswell—rememberedholidaytime，bymylord"sannouncingonemorning，aftertheposthadbroughthimlettersfromLondon，inacarelesstone，thattheLordMohunwasgonetoParis，andwasabouttomakeagreatjourneyinEurope;andthoughLordCastlewood"sowngloomdidnotwearoff，orhisbehavioralter，yetthiscauseofanxietybeingremovedfromhislady"smind，shebegantobemorehopefulandeasyinherspirits，strivingtoo，withallherheart，andbyallthemeansofsoothinginherpower，tocallbackmylord"scheerfulnessanddissipatehismoodyhumor。

Heaccountedforithimself，bysayingthathewasoutofhealth;

thathewantedtoseehisphysician;thathewouldgotoLondon，andconsultDoctorCheyne。ItwasagreedthathislordshipandHarryEsmondshouldmakethejourneyasfarasLondontogether;andofaMondaymorning，the11thofOctober，intheyear1700，theysetforwardstowardsLondononhorseback。ThedaybeforebeingSunday，andtherainpouringdown，thefamilydidnotvisitchurch;

andatnightmylordreadtheservicetohisfamilyveryfinely，andwithapeculiarsweetnessandgravity——speakingthepartingbenediction，Harrythought，assolemnaseverheheardit。Andhekissedandembracedhiswifeandchildrenbeforetheywenttotheirownchamberswithmorefondnessthanhewasordinarilywonttoshow，andwithasolemnityandfeelingofwhichtheythoughtinafterdayswithnosmallcomfort。

Theytookhorsethenextmorning（afteradieuxfromthefamilyastenderasonthenightprevious），laythatnightontheroad，andenteredLondonatnightfall;mylordgoingtothe"Trumpet，"intheCockpit，Whitehall，ahouseusedbythemilitaryinhistimeasayoungman，andaccustomedbyhislordshipeversince。

Anhouraftermylord"sarrival（whichshowedthathisvisithadbeenarrangedbeforehand），mylord"smanofbusinessarrivedfromGray"sInn;andthinkingthathispatronmightwishtobeprivatewiththelawyer，Esmondwasforleavingthem:butmylordsaidhisbusinesswasshort;introducedMr。Esmondparticularlytothelawyer，whohadbeenengagedforthefamilyintheoldlord"stime;

whosaidthathehadpaidthemoney，asdesiredthatday，tomyLordMohunhimself，athislodgingsinBowStreet;thathislordshiphadexpressedsomesurprise，asitwasnotcustomarytoemploylawyers，hesaid，insuchtransactionsbetweenmenofhonor;

butnevertheless，hehadreturnedmyLordViscount"snoteofhand，whichheheldathisclient"sdisposition。

"IthoughttheLordMohunhadbeeninParis！"criedMr。Esmond，ingreatalarmandastonishment。

"Heiscomebackatmyinvitation，"saidmyLordViscount。"Wehaveaccountstosettletogether。"

"Iprayheaventheyareover，sir，"saysEsmond。

"Oh，quite，"repliedtheother，lookinghardattheyoungman。"HewasrathertroublesomeaboutthatmoneywhichItoldyouIhadlosttohimatplay。Andnow"tispaid，andwearequitsonthatscore，andweshallmeetgoodfriendsagain。"

"Mylord，"criedoutEsmond，"Iamsureyouaredeceivingme，andthatthereisaquarrelbetweentheLordMohunandyou。"

"Quarrel——pish！Weshallsuptogetherthisverynight，anddrinkabottle。Everymanisill—humoredwholosessuchasumasIhavelost。Butnow"tispaid，andmyangerisgonewithit。"

"Whereshallwesup，sir？"saysHarry。

"WE！Letsomegentlemenwaittilltheyareasked，"saysmyLordViscountwithalaugh。"YougotoDukeStreet，andseeMr。

Betterton。Youlovetheplay，Iknow。Leavemetofollowmyowndevices:andinthemorningwe"llbreakfasttogether，withwhatappetitewemay，astheplaysays。"

"ByG——！mylord，Iwillnotleaveyouthisnight，"saysHarryEsmond。"IthinkIknowthecauseofyourdispute。Isweartoyou"tisnothing。OntheverydaytheaccidentbefellLordMohun，I

wasspeakingtohimaboutit。Iknowthatnothinghaspassedbutidlegallantryonhispart。"

"YouknowthatnothinghaspassedbutidlegallantrybetweenLordMohunandmywife，"saysmylord，inathunderingvoice——"youknewofthisanddidnottellme？"

"Iknewmoreofitthanmydearmistressdidherself，sir——athousandtimesmore。Howwasshe，whowasasinnocentasachild，toknowwhatwasthemeaningofthecovertaddressesofavillain？"

"Avillainheis，youallow，andwouldhavetakenmywifeawayfromme。"

"Sir，sheisaspureasanangel，"criedyoungEsmond。

"HaveIsaidawordagainsther？"shrieksoutmylord。"DidIeverdoubtthatshewaspure？ItwouldhavebeenthelastdayofherlifewhenIdid。DoyoufancyIthinkthatSHEwouldgoastray？

No，shehasn"tpassionenoughforthat。Sheneithersinsnorforgives。Iknowhertemper——andnowI"velosther，byheavenI

lovehertenthousandtimesmorethaneverIdid——yes，whenshewasasyoungandasbeautifulasanangel——whenshesmiledatmeinheroldfather"shouse，andusedtolieinwaitformethereasIcamefromhunting——whenIusedtoflingmyheaddownonherlittlekneesandcrylikeachildonherlap——andswearIwouldreform，anddrinknomoreandplaynomore，andfollowwomennomore;whenallthemenoftheCourtusedtobefollowingher——whensheusedtolookwithherchildmorebeautiful，byGeorge，thantheMadonnaintheQueen"sChapel。Iamnotgoodlikeher，Iknowit。Whois——byheaven，whois？Itiredandweariedher，Iknowthatverywell。I

couldnottalktoher。Youmenofwitandbookscoulddothat，andIcouldn"t——IfeltIcouldn"t。Why，whenyouwasbutaboyoffifteenIcouldhearyoutwotogethertalkingyourpoetryandyourbookstillIwasinsucharagethatIwasfittostrangleyou。

Butyouwerealwaysagoodlad，Harry，andIlovedyou，youknowI

did。AndIfeltshedidn"tbelongtome:andthechildrendon"t。

AndIbesottedmyself，andgambledanddrank，andtooktoallsortsofdeviltriesoutofdespairandfury。AndnowcomesthisMohun，andshelikeshim，Iknowshelikeshim。"

"Indeed，andonmysoul，youarewrong，sir，"Esmondcried。

"Shetakeslettersfromhim，"criesmylord——"lookhere，Harry，"

andhepulledoutapaperwithabrownstainofblooduponit。"Itfellfromhimthatdayhewasn"tkilled。Oneofthegroomspickeditupfromthegroundandgaveitme。Hereitisintheird——dcomedyjargon。"DivineGloriana——Whylooksocoldlyonyourslavewhoadoresyou？Haveyounocompassiononthetorturesyouhaveseenmesuffering？Doyouvouchsafenoreplytobilletsthatarewrittenwiththebloodofmyheart。"Shehadmorelettersfromhim。"

"Butsheanswerednone，"criesEsmond。

"That"snotMohun"sfault，"saysmylord，"andIwillberevengedonhim，asGod"sinheaven，Iwill。"

"Foralightwordortwo，willyouriskyourlady"shonorandyourfamily"shappiness，mylord？"Esmondinterposedbeseechingly。

"Psha——thereshallbenoquestionofmywife"shonor，"saidmylord;"wecanquarrelonplentyofgroundsbeside。IfIlive，thatvillainwillbepunished;ifIfall，myfamilywillbeonlythebetter:therewillonlybeaspendthriftthelesstokeepintheworld:andFrankhasbetterteachingthanhisfather。Mymindismadeup，HarryEsmond，andwhatevertheeventis，Iameasyaboutit。Ileavemywifeandyouasguardianstothechildren。"

Seeingthatmylordwasbentuponpursuingthisquarrel，andthatnoentreatieswoulddrawhimfromit，HarryEsmond（thenofahotterandmoreimpetuousnaturethannow，whencare，andreflection，andgrayhairshavecalmedhim）thoughtitwashisdutytostandbyhiskind，generouspatron，andsaid，"Mylord，ifyouaredetermineduponwar，youmustnotgointoitalone。"Tisthedutyofourhousetostandbyitschief;andIshouldneitherforgivemyselfnoryouifyoudidnotcallme，orIshouldbeabsentfromyouatamomentofdanger。"

"Why，Harry，mypoorboy，youarebredforaparson，"saysmylord，takingEsmondbythehandverykindly;"anditwereagreatpitythatyoushouldmeddleinthematter。"

"Yourlordshipthoughtofbeingachurchmanonce，"Harryanswered，"andyourfather"sordersdidnotpreventhimfightingatCastlewoodagainsttheRoundheads。Yourenemiesaremine，sir;I

canusethefoils，asyouhaveseen，indifferentlywell，anddon"tthinkIshallbeafraidwhenthebuttonsaretakenoff"em。"AndthenHarryexplained，withsomeblushesandhesitation（forthematterwasdelicate，andhefearedlest，byhavingputhimselfforwardinthequarrel，hemighthaveoffendedhispatron），howhehadhimselfexpostulatedwiththeLordMohun，andproposedtomeasureswordswithhimifneedwere，andhecouldnotbegottowithdrawpeaceablyinthisdispute。"AndIshouldhavebeathim，sir，"saysHarry，laughing。"HenevercouldparrythatbotteI

broughtfromCambridge。Letushavehalfanhourofit，andrehearse——Icanteachityourlordship:"tisthemostdelicatepointintheworld，andifyoumissit，youradversary"sswordisthroughyou。"

"ByGeorge，Harry，yououghttobetheheadofthehouse，"saysmylord，gloomily。"YouhadbeenabetterLordCastlewoodthanalazysotlikeme，"headded，drawinghishandacrosshiseyes，andsurveyinghiskinsmanwithverykindandaffectionateglances。

"Letustakeourcoatsoffandhavehalfanhour"spracticebeforenightfall，"saysHarry，afterthankfullygraspinghispatron"smanlyhand。

"Youarebutalittlebitofalad，"saysmylord，good—humoredly;

"but，infaith，Ibelieveyoucoulddoforthatfellow。No，myboy，"hecontinued，"I"llhavenoneofyourfeintsandtricksofstabbing:Icanusemyswordprettywelltoo，andwillfightmyownquarrelmyownway。"

"ButIshallbebytoseefairplay？"criesHarry。

"Yes，Godblessyou——youshallbeby。"

"Whenisit，sir？"saysHarry，forhesawthatthematterhadbeenarrangedprivatelyandbeforehandbymylord。

""Tisarrangedthus:IsentoffacouriertoJackWestburytosaythatIwantedhimspecially。Heknowsforwhat，andwillbeherepresently，anddrinkpartofthatbottleofsack。ThenweshallgotothetheatreinDukeStreet，whereweshallmeetMohun;andthenweshallallgosupatthe"Rose"orthe"Greyhound。"Thenweshallcallforcards，andtherewillbeprobablyadifferenceoverthecards——andthen，Godhelpus！——eitherawickedvillainandtraitorshallgooutoftheworld，orapoorworthlessdevil，thatdoesn"tcaretoremaininit。Iambetteraway，Hal——mywifewillbeallthehappierwhenIamgone，"saysmylord，withagroan，thattoretheheartofHarryEsmond，sothathefairlybrokeintoasoboverhispatron"skindhand。

"ThebusinesswastalkedoverwithMohunbeforehelefthome——

CastlewoodImean"——mylordwenton。"Itooktheletterintohim，whichIhadread，andIchargedhimwithhisvillainy，andhecouldmakenodenialofit，onlyhesaidthatmywifewasinnocent。"

"Andsosheis;beforeheaven，mylord，sheis！"criesHarry。

"Nodoubt，nodoubt。Theyalwaysare，"saysmylord。"Nodoubt，whensheheardhewaskilled，shefaintedfromaccident。"

"But，mylord，MYnameisHarry，"criedoutEsmond，burningred。

"Youtoldmylady，"Harrywaskilled！""

"Damnation！shallIfightyoutoo？"shoutsmylordinafury。"Areyou，youlittleserpent，warmedbymyfire，goingtosting——YOU？——

No，myboy，you"reanhonestboy;youareagoodboy。"（Andherehebrokefromrageintotearsevenmorecrueltosee。）"Youareanhonestboy，andIloveyou;and，byheavens，IamsowretchedthatIdon"tcarewhatsworditisthatendsme。Stop，here"sJackWestbury。Well，Jack！Welcome，oldboy！Thisismykinsman，HarryEsmond。"

"WhobroughtyourbowlsforyouatCastlewood，sir？"saysHarry，bowing;andthethreegentlemensatdownanddrankofthatbottleofsackwhichwaspreparedforthem。

"Harryisnumberthree，"saysmylord。"Youneedn"tbeafraidofhim，Jack。"AndtheColonelgavealook，asmuchastosay，"Indeed，hedon"tlookasifIneed。"Andthenmylordexplainedwhathehadonlytoldbyhintsbefore。WhenhequarrelledwithLordMohunhewasindebtedtohislordshipinasumofsixteenhundredpounds，forwhichLordMohunsaidheproposedtowaituntilmyLordViscountshouldpayhim。MylordhadraisedthesixteenhundredpoundsandsentthemtoLordMohunthatmorning，andbeforequittinghomehadputhisaffairsintoorder，andwasnowquitereadytoabidetheissueofthequarrel。

Whenwehaddrunkacoupleofbottlesofsack，acoachwascalled，andthethreegentlemenwenttotheDuke"sPlayhouse，asagreed。

TheplaywasoneofMr。Wycherley"s——"LoveinaWood。"

HarryEsmondhasthoughtofthatplayeversincewithakindofterror，andofMrs。Bracegirdle，theactresswhoperformedthegirl"spartinthecomedy。Shewasdisguisedasapage，andcameandstoodbeforethegentlemenastheysatonthestage，andlookedoverhershoulderwithapairofarchblackeyes，andlaughedatmylord，andaskedwhatailedthegentlemanfromthecountry，andhadhehadbadnewsfromBullockfair？

Betweentheactsoftheplaythegentlemencrossedoverandconversedfreely。ThereweretwoofLordMohun"sparty，CaptainMacartney，inamilitaryhabit，andagentlemaninasuitofbluevelvetandsilverinafairperiwig，witharichfallofpointofVenicelace——myLordtheEarlofWarwickandHolland。Mylordhadapaperoforanges，whichheateandofferedtotheactresses，jokingwiththem。AndMrs。Bracegirdle，whenmyLordMohunsaidsomethingrude，turnedonhim，andaskedhimwhathedidthere，andwhetherheandhisfriendshadcometostabanybodyelse，astheydidpoorWillMountford？Mylord"sdarkfacegrewdarkeratthistaunt，andworeamischievous，fatallook。Theythatsawitrememberedit，andsaidsoafterward。

Whentheplaywasendedthetwopartiesjoinedcompany;andmyLordCastlewoodthenproposedthattheyshouldgotoatavernandsup。

Lockit"s，the"Greyhound，"inCharingCross，wasthehouseselected。Allsixmarchedtogetherthatway;thethreelordsgoinga—head，LordMohun"scaptain，andColonelWestbury，andHarryEsmond，walkingbehindthem。Astheywalked，WestburytoldHarryEsmondabouthisoldfriendDicktheScholar，whohadgotpromotion，andwasCornetoftheGuards，andhadwroteabookcalledthe"ChristianHero，"andhadalltheGuardstolaughathimforhispains，fortheChristianHerowasbreakingthecommandmentsconstantly，Westburysaid，andhadfoughtoneortwoduelsalready。

And，inalowertone，WestburybesoughtyoungMr。Esmondtotakenopartinthequarrel。"Therewasnoneedformoresecondsthanone，"saidtheColonel，"andtheCaptainorLordWarwickmighteasilywithdraw。"ButHarrysaidno;hewasbentongoingthroughwiththebusiness。Indeed，hehadaplaninhishead，which，hethought，mightpreventmyLordViscountfromengaging。

Theywentinatthebarofthetavern，anddesiredaprivateroomandwineandcards，andwhenthedrawerhadbroughtthese，theybegantodrinkandcallhealths，andaslongastheservantswereintheroomappearedveryfriendly。

HarryEsmond"splanwasnootherthantoengageintalkwithLordMohun，toinsulthim，andsogetthefirstofthequarrel。Sowhencardswereproposedheofferedtoplay。"Psha！"saysmyLordMohun（whetherwishingtosaveHarry，ornotchoosing，totrythebottedeJesuite，itisnottobeknown）——"Younggentlemenfromcollegeshouldnotplaythesestakes。Youaretooyoung。"

"WhodaressayIamtooyoung？"brokeoutHarry。"Isyourlordshipafraid？"

"Afraid！"criesoutMohun。