第13章

Itwasthesethoughtsregardingtheliving，farmorethananygreatpoignancyofgriefrespectingthedead，whichaffectedHarryEsmondwhilstinprisonafterhistrial:butitmaybeimaginedthathecouldtakenocomradeofmisfortuneintotheconfidenceofhisfeelings，andtheythoughtitwasremorseandsorrowforhispatron"slosswhichaffectedtheyoungman，inerrorofwhichopinionhechosetoleavethem。Asacompanionhewassomoodyandsilentthatthetwoofficers，hisfellow—sufferers，lefthimtohimselfmostly，likedlittleverylikelywhattheyknewofhim，consoledthemselveswithdice，cards，andthebottle，andwhiledawaytheirowncaptivityintheirownway。ItseemedtoEsmondasifhelivedyearsinthatprison:andwaschangedandagedwhenhecameoutofit。Atcertainperiodsoflifeweliveyearsofemotioninafewweeks——andlookbackonthosetimes，asongreatgapsbetweentheoldlifeandthenew。Youdonotknowhowmuchyousufferinthosecriticalmaladiesoftheheart，untilthediseaseisoverandyoulookbackonitafterwards。Duringthetime，thesufferingisatleastsufferable。Thedaypassesinmoreorlessofpain，andthenightwearsawaysomehow。"Tisonlyinafterdaysthatweseewhatthedangerhasbeen——asamanouta—

huntingorridingforhislifelooksataleap，andwondershowheshouldhavesurvivedthetakingofit。Odarkmonthsofgriefandrage！ofwrongandcruelendurance！Heisoldnowwhorecallsyou。

Longagohehasforgivenandblestthesofthandthatwoundedhim:

butthemarkisthere，andthewoundiscicatrizedonly——notime，tears，caresses，orrepentance，canobliteratethescar。Weareindociletoputupwithgrief，however。Reficimusratesquassas:

wetempttheoceanagainandagain，andtryuponnewventures。

Esmondthoughtofhisearlytimeasanovitiate，andofthispasttrialasaninitiationbeforeenteringintolife——asouryoungIndiansundergotorturessilentlybeforetheypasstotherankofwarriorsinthetribe。

Theofficers，meanwhile，whowerenotletintothesecretofthegriefwhichwasgnawingatthesideoftheirsilentyoungfriend，andbeingaccustomedtosuchtransactions，inwhichonecomradeoranotherwasdailypayingtheforfeitofthesword，didnot，ofcourse，bemoanthemselvesveryinconsolablyaboutthefateoftheirlatecompanioninarms。Thisonetoldstoriesofformeradventuresoflove，orwar，orpleasure，inwhichpoorFrankEsmondhadbeenengaged;t"otherrecollectedhowaconstablehadbeenbilked，oratavern—bullybeaten:whilstmylord"spoorwidowwassittingathistombworshippinghimasanactualsaintandspotlesshero——sothevisitorssaidwhohadnewsofLadyCastlewood;andWestburyandMacartneyhadprettynearlyhadallthetowntocomeandseethem。

Theduel，itsfataltermination，thetrialofthetwopeersandthethreecommonersconcerned，hadcausedthegreatestexcitementinthetown。TheprintsandNewsLetterswerefullofthem。ThethreegentlemeninNewgatewerealmostasmuchcrowdedasthebishopsintheTower，orahighwaymanbeforeexecution。WewereallowedtoliveintheGovernor"shouse，ashathbeensaid，bothbeforetrialandaftercondemnation，waitingtheKing"spleasure;

norwastherealcauseofthefatalquarrelknown，socloselyhadmylordandthetwootherpersonswhoknewitkeptthesecret，buteveryoneimaginedthattheoriginofthemeetingwasagamblingdispute。Exceptfreshair，theprisonershad，uponpayment，mostthingstheycoulddesire。Interestwasmadethattheyshouldnotmixwiththevulgarconvicts，whoseribaldchorusesandloudlaughterandcursescouldbeheardfromtheirownpartoftheprison，wheretheyandthemiserabledebtorswereconfinedpell—

mell。

CHAPTERII。

ICOMETOTHEENDOFMYCAPTIVITY，BUTNOTOFMYTROUBLE。

AmongthecompanywhichcametovisitthetwoofficerswasanoldacquaintanceofHarryEsmond;thatgentlemanoftheGuards，namely，whohadbeensokindtoHarrywhenCaptainWestbury"stroophadbeenquarteredatCastlewoodmorethansevenyearsbefore。DicktheScholarwasnolongerDicktheTroopernow，butCaptainSteeleofLucas"sFusiliers，andsecretarytomyLordCutts，thatfamousofficerofKingWilliam"s，thebravestandmostbelovedmanoftheEnglisharmy。Thetwojollyprisonershadbeendrinkingwithapartyoffriends（forourcellarandthatofthekeepersofNewgate，too，weresuppliedwithendlesshampersofBurgundyandChampagnethatthefriendsoftheColonelssentin）;andHarry，havingnowishfortheirdrinkortheirconversation，beingtoofeebleinhealthfortheoneandtoosadinspiritsfortheother，wassittingapartinhislittleroom，readingsuchbooksashehad，oneevening，whenhonestColonelWestbury，flushedwithliquor，andalwaysgood—humoredinandoutofhiscups，camelaughingintoHarry"sclosetandsaid，"Ho，youngKilljoy！here"safriendcometoseethee;he"llpraywiththee，orhe"lldrinkwiththee;orhe"lldrinkandprayturnabout。Dick，myChristianhero，here"sthelittlescholarofCastlewood。"

DickcameupandkissedEsmondonbothcheeks，impartingastrongperfumeofburntsackalongwithhiscaresstotheyoungman。

"What！isthisthelittlemanthatusedtotalkLatinandfetchourbowls？Howtallthouartgrown！IprotestIshouldhaveknowntheeanywhere。Andsoyouhaveturnedruffianandfighter;andwantedtomeasureswordswithMohun，didyou？IprotestthatMohunsaidattheGuarddinneryesterday，wheretherewasaprettycompanyofus，thattheyoungfellowwantedtofighthim，andwasthebettermanofthetwo。"

"Iwishwecouldhavetriedandprovedit，Mr。Steele，"saysEsmond，thinkingofhisdeadbenefactor，andhiseyesfillingwithtears。

Withtheexceptionofthatonecruelletterwhichhehadfromhismistress，Mr。Esmondheardnothingfromher，andsheseemeddeterminedtoexecuteherresolveofpartingfromhimanddisowninghim。Buthehadnewsofher，suchasitwas，whichMr。SteeleassiduouslybroughthimfromthePrince"sandPrincess"sCourt，whereourhonestCaptainhadbeenadvancedtothepostofgentlemanwaiter。Whenoffdutythere，CaptainDickoftencametoconsolehisfriendsincaptivity;agoodnatureandafriendlydispositiontowardsallwhowereinill—fortunenodoubtpromptinghimtomakehisvisits，andgood—fellowshipandgoodwinetoprolongthem。

"Faith，"saysWestbury，"thelittlescholarwasthefirsttobeginthequarrel——Imindmeofitnow——atLockit"s。IalwayshatedthatfellowMohun。Whatwastherealcause，ofthequarrelbetwixthimandpoorFrank？Iwouldwager"twasawoman。"

""Twasaquarrelaboutplay——onmyword，aboutplay，"Harrysaid。

"MypoorlordlostgreatsumstohisguestatCastlewood。Angrywordspassedbetweenthem;and，thoughLordCastlewoodwasthekindestandmostpliablesoulalive，hisspiritwasveryhigh;andhencethatmeetingwhichhasbroughtusallhere，"saysMr。Esmond，resolvednevertoacknowledgethattherehadeverbeenanyothercausebutcardsfortheduel。

"Idonotliketousebadwordsofanobleman，"saysWestbury;"butifmyLordMohunwereacommoner，Iwouldsay，"twasapityhewasnothanged。Hewasfamiliarwithdiceandwomenatatimeotherboysareatschoolbeingbirched;hewasaswickedastheoldestrake，yearserehehaddonegrowing;andhandledaswordandafoil，andabloodyone，too，beforeheeverusedarazor。HeheldpoorWillMountfordintalkthatnight，whenbloodyDickHillranhimthrough。Hewillcometoabadend，willthatyounglord;andnoendisbadenoughforhim，"sayshonestMr。Westbury:whoseprophecywasfulfilledtwelveyearsafter，uponthatfataldaywhenMohunfell，draggingdownoneofthebravestandgreatestgentlemeninEnglandinhisfall。

FromMr。Steele，then，whobroughtthepublicrumor，aswellashisownprivateintelligence，Esmondlearnedthemovementsofhisunfortunatemistress。Steele"sheartwasofveryinflammablecomposition;andthegentlemanusherspokeintermsofboundlessadmirationbothofthewidow（thatmostbeautifulwoman，ashesaid）andofherdaughter，who，intheCaptain"seyes，wasastillgreaterparagon。Ifthepalewidow，whomCaptainRichard，inhispoeticrapturecomparedtoaNiobeintears——toaSigismunda——toaweepingBelvidera，wasanobjectthemostlovelyandpatheticwhichhiseyeshadeverbeheld，orforwhichhishearthadmelted，evenherripenedperfectionsandbeautywereasnothingcomparedtothepromiseofthatextremelovelinesswhichthegoodCaptainsawinherdaughter。Itwasmatrepulcrafiliapulcrior。SteelecomposedsonnetswhilsthewasondutyinhisPrince"sante—chamber，tothematernalandfilialcharms。HewouldspeakforhoursaboutthemtoHarryEsmond;and，indeed，hecouldhavechosenfewsubjectsmorelikelytointeresttheunhappyyoungman，whoseheartwasnowasalwaysdevotedtotheseladies;andwhowasthankfultoallwholovedthem，orpraisedthem，orwishedthemwell。

Notthathisfidelitywasrecompensedbyanyansweringkindness，orshowofrelentingeven，onthepartofamistressobduratenowaftertenyearsofloveandbenefactions。Thepooryoungmangettingnoanswer，saveTusher"s，tothatletterwhichhehadwritten，andbeingtooproudtowritemore，openedapartofhishearttoSteele，thanwhomnoman，whenunhappy，couldfindakinderhearer，ormorefriendlyemissary;described（inwordswhichwerenodoubtpathetic，fortheycameimopectore，andcausedhonestDicktoweepplentifully）hisyouth，hisconstancy，hisfonddevotiontothathouseholdwhichhadrearedhim;hisaffection，howearned，andhowtenderlyrequiteduntilbutyesterday，and（asfarashemight）thecircumstancesandcausesforwhichthatsadquarrelhadmadeofEsmondaprisonerundersentence，awidowandorphansofthosewhominlifehehelddearest。Intermsthatmightwellmoveaharder—heartedmanthanyoungEsmond"sconfidant——for，indeed，thespeaker"sownheartwashalfbrokeasheutteredthem——

hedescribedapartofwhathadtakenplaceinthatonlysadinterviewwhichhismistresshadgrantedhim;howshehadlefthimwithangerandalmostimprecation，whosewordsandthoughtsuntilthenhadbeenonlyblessingandkindness;howshehadaccusedhimoftheguiltofthatblood，inexchangeforwhichhewouldcheerfullyhavesacrificedhisown（indeed，inthistheLordMohun，theLordWarwick，andallthegentlemenengaged，aswellasthecommonrumoroutofdoors——Steeletoldhim——boreoutthelucklessyoungman）;andwithallhisheart，andtears，hebesoughtMr。

Steeletoinformhismistressofherkinsman"sunhappiness，andtodeprecatethatcruelangersheshowedhim。Halffranticwithgriefattheinjusticedonehim，andcontrastingitwithathousandsoftrecollectionsofloveandconfidencegoneby，thatmadehispresentmiseryinexpressiblymorebitter，thepoorwretchpassedmanyalonelydayandwakefulnightinakindofpowerlessdespairandrageagainsthisiniquitousfortune。Itwasthesoftesthandthatstruckhim，thegentlestandmostcompassionatenaturethatpersecutedhim。"Iwouldaslief，"hesaid，"havepleadedguiltytothemurder，andhavesufferedforitlikeanyotherfelon，ashavetoendurethetorturetowhichmymistresssubjectsme。"

AlthoughtherecitalofEsmond"sstory，andhispassionateappealsandremonstrances，drewsomanytearsfromDickwhoheardthem，theyhadnoeffectuponthepersonwhomtheyweredesignedtomove。

Esmond"sambassadorcamebackfromthemissionwithwhichthepooryounggentlemanhadchargedhim，withasadblankfaceandashakeofthehead，whichtoldthattherewasnohopefortheprisoner;

andscarceawretchedculpritinthatprisonofNewgateorderedforexecution，andtremblingforareprieve，feltmorecastdownthanMr。Esmond，innocentandcondemned。

Ashadbeenarrangedbetweentheprisonerandhiscounselintheirconsultations，Mr。Steelehadgonetothedowager"shouseinChelsey，whereithasbeensaidthewidowandherorphanswere，hadseenmyLadyViscountess，andpleadedthecauseofherunfortunatekinsman。"AndIthinkIspokewell，mypoorboy，"saysMr。Steele;

"forwhowouldnotspeakwellinsuchacause，andbeforesobeautifulajudge？IdidnotseethelovelyBeatrix（sureherfamousnamesakeofFlorencewasneverhalfsobeautiful），onlytheyoungViscountwasintheroomwiththeLordChurchill，myLordofMarlborough"seldestson。Buttheseyounggentlemenwentofftothegarden;Icouldseethemfromthewindowtiltingateachotherwithpolesinamimictournament（grieftouchestheyoungbutlightly，andIrememberthatIbeatadrumatthecoffinofmyownfather）。MyLadyViscountesslookedoutatthetwoboysattheirgameandsaid——"Yousee，sir，childrenaretaughttouseweaponsofdeathastoys，andtomakeasportofmurder;"andasshespokeshelookedsolovely，andstoodthereinherselfsosadandbeautiful，aninstanceofthatdoctrinewhereofIamahumblepreacher，thathadInotdedicatedmylittlevolumeofthe"ChristianHero"——（I

perceive，Harry，thouhastnotcuttheleavesofit。Thesermonisgood，believeme，thoughthepreacher"slifemaynotanswerit）——I

say，hadn"tIdedicatedthevolumetoLordCutts，Iwouldhaveaskedpermissiontoplaceherladyship"snameonthefirstpage。I

thinkIneversawsuchabeautifulvioletasthatofhereyes，Harry。Hercomplexionisofthepinkoftheblush—rose，shehathanexquisiteturnedwristanddimpledhand，andImakenodoubt——"

"Didyoucometotellmeaboutthedimplesonmylady"shand？"

brokeoutMr。Esmond，sadly。

"Alovelycreatureinafflictionseemsalwaysdoublybeautifultome，"saysthepoorCaptain，whoindeedwasbuttooofteninastatetoseedouble，andsocheckedheresumedtheinterruptedthreadofhisstory。"AsIspokemybusiness，"Mr。Steelesaid，"andnarratedtoyourmistresswhatalltheworldknows，andtheothersidehathbeeneagertoacknowledge——thatyouhadtriedtoputyourselfbetweenthetwolords，andtotakeyourpatron"squarrelonyourownpoint;Irecountedthegeneralpraisesofyourgallantry，besidesmyLordMohun"sparticulartestimonytoit;I

thoughtthewidowlistenedwithsomeinterest，andhereyes——Ihaveneverseensuchaviolet，Harry——lookedupatmineonceortwice。

ButafterIhadspokenonthisthemeforawhileshesuddenlybrokeawaywithacryofgrief。"IwouldtoGod，sir，"shesaid，"Ihadneverheardthatwordgallantrywhichyouuse，orknownthemeaningofit。Mylordmighthavebeenherebutforthat;myhomemightbehappy;mypoorboyhaveafather。Itwaswhatyougentlemencallgallantrycameintomyhome，anddrovemyhusbandontothecruelswordthatkilledhim。YoushouldnotspeakthewordtoaChristianwoman，sir，apoorwidowedmotheroforphans，whosehomewashappyuntiltheworldcameintoit——thewickedgodlessworld，thattakesthebloodoftheinnocent，andletstheguiltygofree。"

"Astheafflictedladyspokeinthisstrain，sir，"Mr。Steelecontinued，"itseemedasifindignationmovedher，evenmorethangrief。"Compensation！"shewentonpassionately，hercheeksandeyeskindling;"whatcompensationdoesyourworldgivethewidowforherhusband，andthechildrenforthemurdereroftheirfather？

Thewretchwhodidthedeedhasnotevenapunishment。Conscience！

whatconsciencehashe，whocanenterthehouseofafriend，whisperfalsehoodandinsulttoawomanthatneverharmedhim，andstabthekindheartthattrustedhim？MyLord——myLordWretch"s，myLordVillain"s，myLordMurderer"speersmeettotryhim，andtheydismisshimwithawordortwoofreproofandsendhimintotheworldagain，topursuewomenwithlustandfalsehood，andtomurderunsuspectinggueststhatharborhim。Thatday，myLord——myLordMurderer——（Iwillnevernamehim）——wasletloose，awomanwasexecutedatTyburnforstealinginashop。Butamanmayrobanotherofhislife，oraladyofherhonor，andshallpaynopenalty！Itakemychild，runtothethrone，andonmykneesaskforjustice，andtheKingrefusesme。TheKing！heisnokingofmine——henevershallbe。He，too，robbedthethronefromthekinghisfather——thetrueking——andhehasgoneunpunished，asthegreatdo。"

"Ithenthoughttospeakforyou，"Mr。Steelecontinued，"andI

interposedbysaying，"Therewasone，madam，who，atleast，wouldhaveputhisownbreastbetweenyourhusband"sandmyLordMohun"ssword。Yourpooryoungkinsman，HarryEsmond，hathtoldmethathetriedtodrawthequarrelonhimself。"

""AreyoucomefromHIM？"askedthelady（soMr。Steelewenton）

risingupwithagreatseverityandstateliness。"IthoughtyouhadcomefromthePrincess。IsawMr。Esmondinhisprison，andbadehimfarewell。Hebroughtmiseryintomyhouse。Henevershouldhaveenteredit。"

""Madam，madam，heisnottoblame，"Iinterposed，"continuedMr。

Steele。

""DoIblamehimtoyou，sir？"askedthewidow。"If"tishewhosentyou，saythatIhavetakencounsel，where"——shespokewithaverypallidcheeknow，andabreakinhervoice——"whereallwhoaskmayhaveit;——andthatitbidsmetopartfromhim，andtoseehimnomore。Wemetintheprisonforthelasttime——atleastforyearstocome。Itmaybe，inyearshence，when——whenourkneesandourtearsandourcontritionhavechangedoursinfulhearts，sir，andwroughtourpardon，wemaymeetagain——butnotnow。Afterwhathaspassed，Icouldnotbeartoseehim。Iwishhimwell，sir;butIwishhimfarewell，too;andifhehasthat——thatregardtowardsuswhichhespeaksof，Ibeseechhimtoproveitbyobeyingmeinthis。"

""Ishallbreaktheyoungman"sheart，madam，bythishardsentence，""Mr。Steelesaid。

"Theladyshookherhead，"continuedmykindscholar。""Theheartsofyoungmen，Mr。Steele，arenotsomade，"shesaid。"Mr。Esmondwillfindother——otherfriends。Themistressofthishousehasrelentedverymuchtowardsthelatelord"sson，"sheadded，withablush，"andhaspromisedme，thatis，haspromisedthatshewillcareforhisfortune。WhilstIliveinit，afterthehorridhorriddeedwhichhaspassed，Castlewoodmustneverbeahometohim——

never。NorwouldIhavehimwritetome——except——no——Iwouldhavehimneverwritetome，norseehimmore。Givehim，ifyouwill，myparting——Hush！notawordofthisbeforemydaughter。"

"HerethefairBeatrixenteredfromtheriver，withhercheeksflushingwithhealth，andlookingonlythemorelovelyandfreshforthemourninghabilimentswhichshewore。AndmyLadyViscountesssaid——

""Beatrix，thisisMr。Steele，gentleman—ushertothePrince"sHighness。Whendoesyournewcomedyappear，Mr。Steele？"Ihopethouwiltbeoutofprisonforthefirstnight，Harry。"

ThesentimentalCaptainconcludedhissadtale，saying，"Faith，thebeautyofFiliapulcriordrovepulcrammatremoutofmyhead;andyetasIcamedowntheriver，andthoughtaboutthepair，thepalliddignityandexquisitegraceofthematronhadtheuppermost，andIthoughtherevenmorenoblethanthevirgin！"

ThepartyofprisonerslivedverywellinNewgate，andwithcomfortsverydifferenttothosewhichwereawardedtothepoorwretchesthere（hisinsensibilitytotheirmisery，theirgayetystillmorefrightful，theircursesandblasphemy，hathstruckwithakindofshamesince——asprovinghowselfish，duringhisimprisonment，hisownparticulargriefwas，andhowentirelythethoughtsofitabsorbedhim）:ifthethreegentlemenlivedwellunderthecareoftheWardenofNewgate，itwasbecausetheypaidwell:andindeedthecostatthedearestordinaryorthegrandesttaverninLondoncouldnothavefurnishedalongerreckoning，thanourhostofthe"HandcuffInn"——asColonelWestburycalledit。OurroomswerethethreeinthegateoverNewgate——onthesecondstorylookingupNewgateStreettowardsCheapsideandPaul"sChurch。Andwehadleavetowalkontheroof，andcouldseethenceSmithfieldandtheBluecoatBoys"School，Gardens，andtheChartreux，where，asHarryEsmondremembered，DicktheScholar，andhisfriendTomTusher，hadhadtheirschooling。

Harrycouldneverhavepaidhisshareofthatprodigiousheavyreckoningwhichmylandlordbroughttohisguestsonceaweek:forbehadbutthreepiecesinhispocketsthatfatalnightbeforetheduel，whenthegentlemenwereatcards，andofferedtoplayfive。

ButwhilsthewasyetillattheGatehouse，afterLadyCastlewoodhadvisitedhimthere，andbeforehistrial，therecameoneinanorange—tawnycoatandbluelace，theliverywhichtheEsmondsalwayswore，andbroughtasealedpacketforMr。Esmond，whichcontainedtwentyguineas，andanotesayingthatacounselhadbeenappointedforhim，andthatmoremoneywouldbeforthcomingwheneverheneededit。

"Twasaqueerletterfromthescholarasshewas，orasshecalledherself:theDowagerViscountessCastlewood，writteninthestrangebarbarousFrenchwhichsheandmanyotherfineladiesofthattime——

witnessherGraceofPortsmouth——employed。Indeed，spellingwasnotanarticleofgeneralcommodityintheworldthen，andmyLordMarlborough"sletterscanshowthathe，forone，hadbutalittleshareofthispartofgrammar:——

"MONGCOUSSIN，"myLadyViscountessDowagerwrote，"jescayquevousvousetesbravementbatewetgrievementblessay——ducostedefeuM。leVicomte。M。leComptedeVariqueneseplaytquaparlaydevous:M。deMoonaucy。Ildiquevousavayvoulewvousbastreavecqueluy——quevousestesplusfortqueluyfurl"ayscrimme——

quil"yasurtoutcertaineBottequevousscavayquiln"ajammaysceupariay:etquec"eneutetefaydeluysivouseluyvousvousfussiaybattewsansamb。AincycepauvVicompteestmort。Mortetpontayt——Moncoussin，moncoussin！jaydanslataystequevousn"estesquungpetyMonst——angcyquelesEsmondsongtousjourseste。

Laveuveestchaymoy。J"ayrecuillycet"pauvefamme。Elleestfurieusecontvous，allanstouslesjourschercherleyRoy（d"icy）

demandantagrancrirevanchepoursonMary。Elleneveuxvoyrenientendeparlaydevous:pourtantellenefayqu"enparlaymilfoyparjour。Quandvousserayhorprisonvenaymevoyre。J"auraysoingdevous。SicettepetitePrudeveutsedefairedesongpetyMonste（Helasjecraingquilnesoytrotar！）jem"onchargeray。

J"ayencorquelquinterayetquelquesescusdecostay。

"LaVeuveseraccommodeavecMiladiMarlboroquiesttoutpuicanteavecquelaReineAnne。Cetdamsenteraysentpourlapetiteprude;

quipourctantaunfidumesmeasgequevoussavay。

"Ensortantdeprisongvenezicy。Jenepuyvousrecevoirchaymoyacausedesmechansetesdumonde，maypredumoyvousaurezlogement。

"ISABELLEVICOMTESSED"ESMOND"

MarchionessofEsmondthisladysometimescalledherself，invirtueofthatpatentwhichhadbeengivenbythelateKingJamestoHarryEsmond"sfather;andinthisstateshehadhertraincarriedbyaknight"swife，acupandcoverofassaytodrinkfrom，andfringedcloth。

HewhowasofthesameageaslittleFrancis，whomweshallhenceforthcallViscountCastlewoodhere，wasH。R。H。thePrinceofWales，borninthesameyearandmonthwithFrank，andjustproclaimedatSaintGermains，KingofGreatBritain，France，andIreland。

CHAPTERIII。

ITAKETHEQUEEN"SPAYINQUIN"SREGIMENT。

Thefellowintheorange—tawnyliverywithbluelaceandfacingswasinwaitingwhenEsmondcameoutofprison，and，takingtheyounggentleman"sslenderbaggage，ledthewayoutofthatodiousNewgate，andbyFleetConduit，downtotheThames，whereapairofoarswascalled，andtheywentuptherivertoChelsey。Esmondthoughtthesunhadnevershonesobright;northeairfeltsofreshandexhilarating。TempleGarden，astheyrowedby，lookedlikethegardenofEdentohim，andtheaspectofthequays，wharves，andbuildingsbytheriver，SomersetHouse，andWestminster（wherethesplendidnewbridgewasjustbeginning），Lambethtowerandpalace，andthatbusyshiningsceneoftheThamesswarmingwithboatsandbarges，filledhisheartwithpleasureandcheerfulness——aswellsuchabeautifulscenemighttoonewhohadbeenaprisonersolong，andwithsomanydarkthoughtsdeepeningthegloomofhiscaptivity。TheyrowedupatlengthtotheprettyvillageofChelsey，wherethenobilityhavemanyhandsomecountry—

houses;andsocametomyLadyViscountess"shouse，acheerfulnewhouseintherowfacingtheriver，withahandsomegardenbehindit，andapleasantlook—outbothtowardsSurreyandKensington，wherestandsthenobleancientpalaceoftheLordWarwick，Harry"sreconciledadversary。

Hereinherladyship"ssaloon，theyoungmansawagainsomeofthosepictureswhichhadbeenatCastlewood，andwhichshehadremovedthenceonthedeathofherlord，Harry"sfather。

Specially，andintheplaceofhonor，wasSirPeterLely"spictureofthehonorableMistressIsabellaEsmondasDiana，inyellowsatin，withabowinherhandandacrescentinherforehead;anddogsfriskingabouther。"TwaspaintedaboutthetimewhenroyalEndymionsweresaidtofindfavorwiththisvirginhuntress;and，asgoddesseshaveyouthperpetual，thisonebelievedtothedayofherdeaththatshenevergrewolder:andalwayspersistedinsupposingthepicturewasstilllikeher。

Afterhehadbeenshowntoherroombythegroomofthechamber，whofilledmanyofficesbesidesinherladyship"smodesthousehold，andafteraproperinterval，hiselderlygoddessDianavouchsafedtoappeartotheyoungman。AblackamoorinaTurkishhabit，withredbootsandasilvercollar，onwhichtheViscountess"sarmswereengraven，precededherandborehercushion;thencamehergentlewoman;alittlepackofspanielsbarkingandfriskingaboutprecededtheausterehuntress——then，behold，theViscountessherself"droppingodors。"Esmondrecollectedfromhischildhoodthatricharomaofmuskwhichhismother—in—law（forshemaybecalledso）exhaled。Astheskygrowsredderandreddertowardssunset，so，inthedeclineofheryears，thecheeksofmyLadyDowagerblushedmoredeeply。Herfacewasilluminatedwithvermilion，whichappearedthebrighterfromthewhitepaintemployedtosetitoff。SheworetheringletswhichhadbeeninfashioninKingCharles"stime;whereastheladiesofKingWilliam"shadhead—dresseslikethetowersofCybele。Hereyesgleamedoutfromthemidstofthisqueerstructureofpaint，dyes，andpomatums。SuchwasmyLadyViscountess，Mr。Esmond"sfather"swidow。

Hemadehersuchaprofoundbowasherdignityandrelationshipmerited，andadvancedwiththegreatestgravity，andoncemorekissedthathand，uponthetremblingknucklesofwhichglitteredascoreofrings——rememberingoldtimeswhenthattremblinghandmadehimtremble。"Marchioness，"sayshe，bowing，andononeknee，"isitonlythehandImayhavethehonorofsaluting？"For，accompanyingthatinwardlaughter，whichthesightofsuchanastonishingoldfiguremightwellproduceintheyoungman，therewasgoodwilltoo，andthekindnessofconsanguinity。Shehadbeenhisfather"swife，andwashisgrandfather"sdaughter。Shehadsufferedhiminolddays，andwaskindtohimnowafterherfashion。Andnowthatbar—sinisterwasremovedfromEsmond"sthought，andthatsecretopprobriumnolongercastuponhismind，hewaspleasedtofeelfamilytiesandownthem——perhapssecretlyvainofthesacrificehehadmade，andtothinkthathe，Esmond，wasreallythechiefofhishouse，andonlypreventedbyhisownmagnanimityfromadvancinghisclaim。

Atleast，eversincehehadlearnedthatsecretfromhispoorpatrononhisdyingbed，actuallyashewasstandingbesideit，hehadfeltanindependencywhichhehadneverknownbefore，andwhichsincedidnotdeserthim。SohecalledhisoldauntMarchioness，butwithanairasifhewastheMarquisofEsmondwhosoaddressedher。

Didshereadintheyounggentleman"seyes，whichhadnownofearofhersortheirsuperannuatedauthority，thathekneworsuspectedthetruthabouthisbirth？Shegaveastartofsurpriseathisalteredmanner:indeed，itwasquiteadifferentbearingtothatoftheCambridgestudentwhohadpaidheravisittwoyearssince，andwhomshehaddismissedwithfivepiecessentbythegroomofthechamber。Sheeyedhim，thentrembledalittlemorethanwasherwont，perhaps，andsaid，"Welcome，cousin，"inafrightenedvoice。

Hisresolution，ashasbeensaidbefore，hadbeenquitedifferent，namely，sotobearhimselfthroughlifeasifthesecretofhisbirthwasnotknowntohim;buthesuddenlyandrightlydeterminedonadifferentcourse。Heaskedthatherladyship"sattendantsshouldbedismissed，andwhentheywereprivate——"Welcome，nephew，atleast，madam，itshouldbe，"hesaid。"Agreatwronghasbeendonetomeandtoyou，andtomypoormother，whoisnomore。"

"IdeclarebeforeheaventhatIwasguiltlessofit，"shecriedout，givinguphercauseatonce。"Itwasyourwickedfatherwho——"

"Whobroughtthisdishonoronourfamily，"saysMr。Esmond。"I

knowitfullwell。Iwanttodisturbnoone。Thosewhoareinpresentpossessionhavebeenmydearestbenefactors，andarequiteinnocentofintentionalwrongtome。Thelatelord，mydearpatron，knewnotthetruthuntilafewmonthsbeforehisdeath，whenFatherHoltbroughtthenewstohim。"

"Thewretch！hehaditinconfession！hehaditinconfession！"

criedouttheDowagerLady。

"Notso。Helearneditelsewhereaswellasinconfession，"Mr。

Esmondanswered。"Myfather，whenwoundedattheBoyne，toldthetruthtoaFrenchpriest，whowasinhidingafterthebattle，aswellastothepriestthere，atwhosehousehedied。ThisgentlemandidnotthinkfittodivulgethestorytillhemetwithMr。HoltatSaintOmer"s。Andthelatterkeptitbackforhisownpurpose，anduntilhehadlearnedwhethermymotherwasaliveorno。Sheisdeadyearssince，mypoorpatrontoldmewithhisdyingbreath，andIdoubthimnot。IdonotknowevenwhetherIcouldproveamarriage。IwouldnotifIcould。Idonotcaretobringshameonourname，orgriefuponthosewhomIlove，howeverhardlytheymayuseme。Myfather"sson，madam，won"taggravatethewrongmyfatherdidyou。Continuetobehiswidow，andgivemeyourkindness。"TisallIaskfromyou;andIshallneverspeakofthismatteragain。"

"Maisvousetesunnoblejeunehomme！"breaksoutmylady，speaking，asusualwithherwhenshewasagitated，intheFrenchlanguage。

"Noblesseoblige，"saysMr。Esmond，makingheralowbow。"Therearethosealivetowhom，inreturnfortheirlovetome，IoftenfondlysaidIwouldgivemylifeaway。ShallIbetheirenemynow，andquarrelaboutatitle？Whatmatterswhohasit？"Tiswiththefamilystill。"