ButmygoodLordViscountsawthemove——"I'llplayyoufortenmoidores,Mohun,"sayshe。"Yousillyboy,wedon'tplayforgroatshereasyoudoatCambridge。"AndHarry,whohadnosuchsuminhispocket(forhishalf—year'ssalarywasalwaysprettywellspentbeforeitwasdue),fellbackwithrageandvexationinhisheartthathehadnotmoneyenoughtostake。
  "I'llstaketheyounggentlemanacrown,"saystheLordMohun'scaptain。
  "Ithoughtcrownswereratherscarcewiththegentlemenofthearmy,"saysHarry。
  "DotheybirchatCollege?"saystheCaptain。
  "Theybirchfools,"saysHarry,"andtheycanebullies,andtheyflingpuppiesintothewater。"
  "Faith,then,there'ssomeescapesdrowning,"saystheCaptain,whowasanIrishman;andallthegentlemenbegantolaugh,andmadepoorHarryonlymoreangry。
  MyLordMohunpresentlysnuffedacandle。ItwaswhenthedrawersbroughtinfreshbottlesandglassesandwereintheroomonwhichmyLordViscountsaid——"TheDeucetakeyou,Mohun,howdamnedawkwardyouare。Lightthecandle,youdrawer。"
  "Damnedawkwardisadamnedawkwardexpression,mylord,"saystheother。"Towngentlemendon'tusesuchwords——oraskpardoniftheydo。"
  "I'macountrygentleman,"saysmyLordViscount。
  "Iseeitbyyourmanner,"saysmyLordMohun。"Nomanshallsaydamnedawkwardtome。"
  "Iflingthewordsinyourface,mylord,"saystheother;"shallI
  sendthecardstoo?"
  "Gentlemen,gentlemen!beforetheservants?"cryoutColonelWestburyandmyLordWarwickinabreath。Thedrawersgooutoftheroomhastily。Theytellthepeoplebelowofthequarrelupstairs。
  "Enoughhasbeensaid,"saysColonelWestbury。"Willyourlordshipsmeetto—morrowmorning?"
  "WillmyLordCastlewoodwithdrawhiswords?"askstheEarlofWarwick。
  "MyLordCastlewoodwillbe————first,"saysColonelWestbury。
  "Thenwehavenothingforit。Takenotice,gentlemen,therehavebeenoutrageouswords——reparationaskedandrefused。"
  "Andrefused,"saysmyLordCastlewood,puttingonhishat。"Whereshallthemeetingbe?andwhen?"
  "SincemyLordrefusesmesatisfaction,whichIdeeplyregret,thereisnotimesogoodasnow,"saysmyLordMohun。"LetushavechairsandgotoLeicesterField。"
  "AreyourlordshipandItohavethehonorofexchangingapassortwo?"saysColonelWestbury,withalowbowtomyLordofWarwickandHolland。
  "Itisanhonorforme,"saysmylord,withaprofoundcongee,"tobematchedwithagentlemanwhohasbeenatMonsandNamur。"
  "WillyourReverencepermitmetogiveyoualesson?"saystheCaptain。
  "Nay,nay,gentlemen,twoonasideareplenty,"saysHarry'spatron。"Sparetheboy,CaptainMacartney,"andheshookHarry'shand——forthelasttime,saveone,inhislife。
  Atthebarofthetavernallthegentlemenstopped,andmyLordViscountsaid,laughing,tothebarwoman,thatthosecardssetpeoplesadlya—quarrelling;butthatthedisputewasovernow,andthepartieswereallgoingawaytomyLordMohun'shouse,inBowStreet,todrinkabottlemorebeforegoingtobed。
  Ahalf—dozenofchairswerenowcalled,andthesixgentlemensteppingintothem,thewordwasprivatelygiventothechairmentogotoLeicesterField,wherethegentlemenweresetdownoppositethe"StandardTavern。"Itwasmidnight,andthetownwasabedbythistime,andonlyafewlightsinthewindowsofthehouses;butthenightwasbrightenoughfortheunhappypurposewhichthedisputantscameabout;andsoallsixenteredintothatfatalsquare,thechairmenstandingwithouttherailingandkeepingthegate,lestanypersonsshoulddisturbthemeeting。
  Allthathappenedtherehathbeenmatterofpublicnotoriety,andisrecorded,forwarningtolawlessmen,intheannalsofourcountry。Afterbeingengagedfornotmorethanacoupleofminutes,asHarryEsmondthought(thoughbeingoccupiedatthetimewithhisownadversary'spoint,whichwasactive,hemaynothavetakenagoodnoteoftime),acryfromthechairmenwithout,whoweresmokingtheirpipes,andleaningovertherailingsofthefieldastheywatchedthedimcombatwithin,announcedthatsomecatastrophehadhappened,whichcausedEsmondtodrophisswordandlookround,atwhichmomenthisenemywoundedhimintherighthand。Buttheyoungmandidnotheedthishurtmuch,andranuptotheplacewherehesawhisdearmasterwasdown。
  MyLordMohunwasstandingoverhim。
  "Areyoumuchhurt,Frank?"heaskedinahollowvoice。
  "IbelieveIamadeadman,"mylordsaidfromtheground。
  "No,no,notso,"saystheother;"andIcallGodtowitness,FrankEsmond,thatIwouldhaveaskedyourpardon,hadyoubutgivenmeachance。In——inthefirstcauseofourfallingout,Iswearthatnoonewastoblamebutme,and——andthatmylady——"
  "Hush!"saysmypoorLordViscount,liftinghimselfonhiselbowandspeakingfaintly。"'Twasadisputeaboutthecards——thecursedcards。Harrymyboy,areyouwounded,too?Godhelpthee!I
  lovedthee,Harry,andthoumustwatchovermylittleFrank——and——
  andcarrythislittlehearttomywife。"
  Andheremydearlordfeltinhisbreastforalocketheworethere,and,intheact,fellbackfainting。
  Wewereallatthisterrified,thinkinghimdead;butEsmondandColonelWestburybadethechairmencomeintothefield;andsomylordwascarriedtooneMr。Aimes,asurgeon,inLongAcre,whokeptabath,andtherethehousewaswakenedup,andthevictimofthisquarrelcarriedin。
  MyLordViscountwasputtobed,andhiswoundlookedtobythesurgeon,whoseemedbothkindandskilful。Whenhehadlookedtomylord,hebandagedupHarryEsmond'shand(who,fromlossofblood,hadfaintedtoo,inthehouse,andmayhavebeensometimeunconscious);andwhentheyoungmancametohimself,youmaybesureheeagerlyaskedwhatnewstherewereofhisdearpatron;onwhichthesurgeoncarriedhimtotheroomwheretheLordCastlewoodlay;whohadalreadysentforapriest;anddesiredearnestly,theysaid,tospeakwithhiskinsman。Hewaslyingonabed,verypaleandghastly,withthatfixed,fatallookinhiseyes,whichbetokensdeath;andfaintlybeckoningalltheotherpersonsawayfromhimwithhishand,andcryingout"OnlyHarryEsmond,"thehandfellpowerlessdownonthecoverlet,asHarrycameforward,andkneltdownandkissedit。
  "Thouartallbutapriest,Harry,"myLordViscountgaspedout,withafaintsmile,andpressureofhiscoldhand。"Aretheyallgone?Letmemaketheeadeath—bedconfession。"
  AndwithsacredDeathwaiting,asitwere,atthebed—foot,asanawfulwitnessofhiswords,thepoordyingsoulgaspedouthislastwishesinrespectofhisfamily;——hishumbleprofessionofcontritionforhisfaults;——andhischaritytowardstheworldhewasleaving。SomethingshesaidconcernedHarryEsmondasmuchastheyastonishedhim。AndmyLordViscount,sinkingvisibly,wasinthemidstofthesestrangeconfessions,whentheecclesiasticforwhommylordhadsent,Mr。Atterbury,arrived。
  Thisgentlemanhadreachedtonogreatchurchdignityasyet,butwasonlypreacheratSt。Bride's,drawingallthetownthitherbyhiseloquentsermons。Hewasgodsontomylord,whohadbeenpupiltohisfather;hadpaidavisittoCastlewoodfromOxfordmorethanonce;anditwasbyhisadvice,Ithink,thatHarryEsmondwassenttoCambridge,ratherthantoOxford,ofwhichplaceMr。Atterbury,thoughadistinguishedmember,spokebutill。
  Ourmessengerfoundthegoodpriestalreadyathisbooksatfiveo'clockinthemorning,andhefollowedthemaneagerlytothehousewheremypoorLordViscountlay——Esmondwatchinghim,andtakinghisdyingwordsfromhismouth。
  Mylord,hearingofMr。Atterbury'sarrival,andsqueezingEsmond'shand,askedtobealonewiththepriest;andEsmondleftthemthereforthissolemninterview。Youmaybesurethathisownprayersandgriefaccompaniedthatdyingbenefactor。Mylordhadsaidtohimthatwhichconfoundedtheyoungman——informedhimofasecretwhichgreatlyconcernedhim。Indeed,afterhearingit,hehadhadgoodcausefordoubtanddismay;formentalanguishaswellasresolution。WhilethecolloquybetweenMr。Atterburyandhisdyingpenitenttookplacewithin,animmensecontestofperplexitywasagitatingLordCastlewood'syoungcompanion。
  Attheendofanhour——itmaybemore——Mr。Atterburycameoutoftheroom,lookingveryhardatEsmond,andholdingapaper。
  "HeisonthebrinkofGod'sawfuljudgment,"thepriestwhispered。
  "Hehasmadehisbreastcleantome。Heforgivesandbelieves,andmakesrestitution。Shallitbeinpublic?Shallwecallawitnesstosignit?"
  "Godknows,"sobbedouttheyoungman,"mydearestlordhasonlydonemekindnessallhislife。"
  ThepriestputthepaperintoEsmond'shand。Helookedatit。Itswambeforehiseyes。
  "'Tisaconfession,"hesaid。
  "'Tisasyouplease,"saidMr。Atterbury。
  Therewasafireintheroomwheretheclothsweredryingforthebaths,andtherelayaheapinacornersaturatedwiththebloodofmydearlord'sbody。Esmondwenttothefire,andthrewthepaperintoit。'TwasagreatchimneywithglazedDutchtiles。Howweremembersuchtriflesatsuchawfulmoments!——thescrapofthebookthatwehavereadinagreatgrief——thetasteofthatlastdishthatwehaveeatenbeforeaduel,orsomesuchsuprememeetingorparting。OntheDutchtilesattheBagniowasarudepicturerepresentingJacobinhairygloves,cheatingIsaacofEsau'sbirthright。Theburningpaperlighteditup。
  "'Tisonlyaconfession,Mr。Atterbury,"saidtheyoungman。Heleanedhisheadagainstthemantel—piece:aburstoftearscametohiseyes。Theywerethefirsthehadshedashesatbyhislord,scaredbythiscalamity,andmoreyetbywhatthepoordyinggentlemanhadtoldhim,andshockedtothinkthatheshouldbetheagentofbringingthisdoublemisfortuneonthosehelovedbest。
  "Letusgotohim,"saidMr。Esmond。Andaccordinglytheywentintothenextchamber,wherebythistime,thedawnhadbroke,whichshowedmylord'spoorpalefaceandwildappealingeyes,thatworethatawfulfatallookofcomingdissolution。Thesurgeonwaswithhim。HewentintothechamberasAtterburycameoutthence。
  MyLordViscountturnedroundhissickeyestowardsEsmond。Itchokedtheothertohearthatrattleinhisthroat。
  "MyLordViscount,"saysMr。Atterbury,"Mr。Esmondwantsnowitnesses,andhathburnedthepaper。"
  "Mydearestmaster!"Esmondsaid,kneelingdown,andtakinghishandandkissingit。
  MyLordViscountsprangupinhisbed,andflunghisarmsroundEsmond。"Godbl——bless——"wasallhesaid。Thebloodrushedfromhismouth,delugingtheyoungman。Mydearestlordwasnomore。
  Hewasgonewithablessingonhislips,andloveandrepentanceandkindnessinhismanlyheart。
  "Benedictibenedicentes,"saysMr。Atterbury,andtheyoungman,kneelingatthebedside,groanedoutan"Amen。"
  "Whoshalltakethenewstoher?"wasMr。Esmond'snextthought。
  AndonthishebesoughtMr。AtterburytobearthetidingstoCastlewood。Hecouldnotfacehismistresshimselfwiththosedreadfulnews。Mr。Atterburycomplyingkindly,Esmondwritahastynoteonhistable—booktomylord'sman,biddinghimgetthehorsesforMr。Atterbury,andridewithhim,andsendEsmond'sownvalisetotheGatehouseprison,whitherheresolvedtogoandgivehimselfup。
  BOOKII。
  CONTAINSMR。ESMOND'SMILITARYLIFE,ANDOTHERMATTERSAPPERTAINING
  TOTHEESMONDFAMILY。
  CHAPTERI。
  IAMINPRISON,ANDVISITED,BUTNOTCONSOLEDTHERE。
  Thosemayimagine,whohaveseendeathuntimelystrikedownpersonsreveredandbeloved,andknowhowunavailingconsolationis,whatwasHarryEsmond'sanguishafterbeinganactorinthatghastlymidnightsceneofbloodandhomicide。Hecouldnot,hefelt,havefacedhisdearmistress,andtoldherthatstory。HewasthankfulthatkindAtterburyconsentedtobreakthesadnewstoher;but,besideshisgrief,whichhetookintoprisonwithhim,hehadthatinhisheartwhichsecretlycheeredandconsoledhim。
  AgreatsecrethadbeentoldtoEsmondbyhisunhappystrickenkinsman,lyingonhisdeath—bed。Werehetodiscloseit,asinequityandhonorhemightdo,thediscoverywouldbutbringgreatergriefuponthosewhomhelovedbestintheworld,andwhoweresadenoughalready。Shouldhebringdownshameandperplexityuponallthosebeingstowhomhewasattachedbysomanytendertiesofaffectionandgratitude?degradehisfather'swidow?impeachandsullyhisfather'sandkinsman'shonor?andforwhat?forabarrentitle,tobewornattheexpenseofaninnocentboy,thesonofhisdearestbenefactress。Hehaddebatedthismatterinhisconscience,whilsthispoorlordwasmakinghisdyingconfession。
  Ononesidewereambition,temptation,justiceeven;butlove,gratitude,andfidelity,pleadedontheother。AndwhenthestrugglewasoverinHarry'smind,aglowofrighteoushappinessfilledit;anditwaswithgratefultearsinhiseyesthathereturnedthankstoGodforthatdecisionwhichhehadbeenenabledtomake。
  "WhenIwasdeniedbymyownblood,"thoughthe,"thesedearestfriendsreceivedandcherishedme。WhenIwasanamelessorphanmyself,andneededaprotector,Ifoundoneinyonderkindsoul,whohasgonetohisaccountrepentingoftheinnocentwronghehasdone。"
  Andwiththisconsolingthoughthewentawaytogivehimselfupattheprison,afterkissingthecoldlipsofhisbenefactor。
  ItwasonthethirddayafterhehadcometotheGatehouseprison,(wherehelayinnosmallpainfromhiswound,whichinflamedandachedseverely,)andwiththosethoughtsandresolutionsthathavebeenjustspokeof,todepress,andyettoconsolehim,thatH。
  Esmond'skeepercameandtoldhimthatavisitorwasaskingforhim,andthoughhecouldnotseeherface,whichwasenvelopedinablackhood,herwholefigure,too,beingveiledandcoveredwiththedeepestmourning,Esmondknewatoncethathisvisitorwashisdearmistress。
  Hegotupfromhisbed,wherehewaslying,beingveryweak;andadvancingtowardsherastheretiringkeepershutthedooruponhimandhisguestinthatsadplace,heputforwardhislefthand(fortherightwaswoundedandbandaged),andhewouldhavetakenthatkindoneofhismistress,whichhaddonesomanyofficesoffriendshipforhimforsomanyyears。
  ButtheLadyCastlewoodwentbackfromhim,puttingbackherhood,andleaningagainstthegreatstanchioneddoorwhichthegaolerhadjustcloseduponthem。Herfacewasghastlywhite,asEsmondsawit,lookingfromthehood;andhereyes,ordinarilysosweetandtender,werefixedonhimwithsuchatragicglanceofwoeandanger,ascausedtheyoungman,unaccustomedtounkindnessfromthatperson,toaverthisownglancesfromherface。
  "Andthis,Mr。Esmond,"shesaid,"iswhereIseeyou;and'tistothisyouhavebroughtme!"
  "Youhavecometoconsolemeinmycalamity,madam,"saidhe(though,intruth,hescarceknewhowtoaddressher,hisemotionsatbeholdinghersooverpoweredhim)。
  Sheadvancedalittle,butstoodsilentandtrembling,lookingoutathimfromherblackdraperies,withhersmallwhitehandsclaspedtogether,andquiveringlipsandholloweyes。
  "Nottoreproachme,"hecontinuedafterapause。"Mygriefissufficientasitis。"
  "Takebackyourhand——donottouchmewithit!"shecried。"Look!
  there'sbloodonit!"
  "Iwishtheyhadtakenitall,"saidEsmond;"ifyouareunkindtome。"
  "Whereismyhusband?"shebrokeout。"Givemebackmyhusband,Henry。Whydidyoustandbyatmidnightandseehimmurdered?Whydidthetraitorescapewhodidit?You,thechampionofyourhouse,whoofferedtodieforus!Youthathelovedandtrusted,andtowhomIconfidedhim——youthatvoweddevotionandgratitude,andIbelievedyou——yes,Ibelievedyou——whyareyouhere,andmynobleFrancisgone?Whydidyoucomeamongus?Youhaveonlybroughtusgriefandsorrow;andrepentance,bitter,bitterrepentance,asareturnforourloveandkindness。DidIeverdoyouawrong,Henry?YouwerebutanorphanchildwhenIfirstsawyou——whenHEfirstsawyou,whowassogood,andnoble,andtrusting。Hewouldhavehadyousentaway,but,likeafoolishwoman,Ibesoughthimtoletyoustay。Andyoupretendedtoloveus,andwebelievedyou——andyoumadeourhousewretched,andmyhusband'sheartwentfromme:andIlosthimthroughyou——Ilosthim——thehusbandofmyyouth,Isay。Iworshippedhim:youknowI
  worshippedhim——andhewaschangedtome。HewasnomoremyFrancisofold——mydear,dearsoldier。Helovedmebeforehesawyou;andIlovedhim。Oh,GodismywitnesshowIlovedhim!Whydidhenotsendyoufromamongus?'Twasonlyhiskindness,thatcouldrefusemenothingthen。And,youngasyouwere——yes,andweakandalone——therewasevil,Iknewtherewasevilinkeepingyou。Ireaditinyourfaceandeyes。Isawthattheybodedharmtous——anditcame,Iknewitwould。Whydidyounotdiewhenyouhadthesmall—pox——andIcamemyselfandwatchedyou,andyoudidn'tknowmeinyourdelirium——andyoucalledoutforme,thoughIwasthereatyourside?Allthathashappenedsince,wasajustjudgmentonmywickedheart——mywickedjealousheart。Oh,Iampunished——awfullypunished!Myhusbandliesinhisblood——murderedfordefendingme,mykind,kind,generouslord——andyouwereby,andyoulethimdie,Henry!"
  Thesewords,utteredinthewildnessofhergrief,byonewhowasordinarilyquiet,andspokeseldomexceptwithagentlesmileandasoothingtone,runginEsmond'sear;and'tissaidthatherepeatedmanyoftheminthefeverintowhichhenowfellfromhiswound,andperhapsfromtheemotionwhichsuchpassionate,undeservedupbraidingscausedhim。Itseemedasifhisverysacrificesandloveforthisladyandherfamilyweretoturntoevilandreproach:asifhispresenceamongstthemwasindeedacauseofgrief,andthecontinuanceofhislifebutwoeandbitternesstotheirs。AstheLadyCastlewoodspokebitterly,rapidly,withoutatear,heneverofferedawordofappealorremonstrance:butsatatthefootofhisprison—bed,strickenonlywiththemorepainatthinkingitwasthatsoftandbelovedhandwhichshouldstabhimsocruelly,andpowerlessagainstherfatalsorrow。Herwordsasshespokestruckthechordsofallhismemory,andthewholeofhisboyhoodandyouthpassedwithinhim;whilstthislady,sofondandgentlebutyesterday——thisgoodangelwhomhehadlovedandworshipped——stoodbeforehim,pursuinghimwithkeenwordsandaspectmalign。
  "IwishIwereinmylord'splace,"hegroanedout。"ItwasnotmyfaultthatIwasnotthere,madam。ButFateisstrongerthanallofus,andwilledwhathascometopass。IthadbeenbetterformetohavediedwhenIhadtheillness。"
  "Yes,Henry,"saidshe——andasshespokeshelookedathimwithaglancethatwasatoncesofondandsosad,thattheyoungman,tossinguphisarms,wildlyfellback,hidinghisheadinthecoverletofthebed。Asheturnedhestruckagainstthewallwithhiswoundedhand,displacingtheligature;andhefeltthebloodrushingagainfromthewound。Herememberedfeelingasecretpleasureattheaccident——andthinking,"SupposeIweretoendnow,whowouldgrieveforme?"
  Thishemorrhage,orthegriefanddespairinwhichthelucklessyoungmanwasatthetimeoftheaccident,musthavebroughtonadeliquiumpresently;forhehadscarceanyrecollectionafterwards,saveofsomeone,hismistressprobably,seizinghishand——andthenofthebuzzingnoiseinhisearsasheawoke,withtwoorthreepersonsoftheprisonaroundhisbed,whereonhelayinapoolofbloodfromhisarm。
  Itwasnowbandagedupagainbytheprisonsurgeon,whohappenedtobeintheplace;andthegovernor'swifeandservant,kindpeopleboth,werewiththepatient。Esmondsawhismistressstillintheroomwhenheawokefromhistrance;butshewentawaywithoutaword;thoughthegovernor'swifetoldhimthatshesatinherroomforsometimeafterward,anddidnotleavetheprisonuntilsheheardthatEsmondwaslikelytodowell。
  Daysafterwards,whenEsmondwasbroughtoutofafeverwhichhehad,andwhichattackedhimthatnightprettysharply,thehonestkeeper'swifebroughtherpatientahandkerchieffreshwashedandironed,andatthecornerofwhichherecognizedhismistress'swell—knowncipherandviscountess'scrown。"Theladyhadbounditroundhisarmwhenhefainted,andbeforeshecalledforhelp,"thekeeper'swifesaid。"Poorlady!shetookonsadlyaboutherhusband。Hehasbeenburiedto—day,andamanyofthecoachesofthenobilitywentwithhim——myLordMarlborough'sandmyLordSunderland's,andmanyoftheofficersoftheGuards,inwhichheservedintheoldKing'stime;andmyladyhasbeenwithhertwochildrentotheKingatKensington,andaskedforjusticeagainstmyLordMohun,whoisinhiding,andmyLordtheEarlofWarwickandHolland,whoisreadytogivehimselfupandtakehistrial。"
  Suchwerethenews,coupledwithassertionsaboutherownhonestyandthatofMollyhermaid,whowouldneverhavestolenacertaintrumperygoldsleeve—buttonofMr。Esmond'sthatwasmissingafterhisfaintingfit,thatthekeeper'swifebroughttoherlodger。
  Histhoughtsfollowedtothatuntimelygrave,thebraveheart,thekindfriend,thegallantgentleman,honestofwordandgenerousofthought,(iffeebleofpurpose,butarehisbettersmuchstrongerthanhe?)whohadgivenhimbreadandshelterwhenhehadnone;
  homeandlovewhenheneededthem;andwho,ifhehadkeptonevitalsecretfromhim,haddonethatofwhichherepentederedying——awrongindeed,butonefollowedbyremorse,andoccasionedbyalmostirresistibletemptation。
  Esmondtookhishandkerchiefwhenhisnurselefthim,andverylikelykissedit,andlookedatthebaubleembroideredinthecorner。"Ithascosttheegriefenough,"hethought,"dearlady,solovingandsotender。ShallItakeitfromtheeandthychildren?No,never!Keepit,andwearit,mylittleFrank,myprettyboy。IfIcannotmakeanameformyself,Icandiewithoutone。Someday,whenmydearmistressseesmyheart,Ishallberighted;orifnothereornow,why,elsewhere;whereHonordothnotfollowus,butwhereLovereignsperpetual。"
  'Tisneedlesstorelatehere,asthereportsofthelawyersalreadyhavechronicledthem,theparticularsorissueofthattrialwhichensueduponmyLordCastlewood'smelancholyhomicide。Ofthetwolordsengagedinthatsadmatter,thesecond,myLordtheEarlofWarwickandHolland,whohadbeenengagedwithColonelWestbury,andwoundedbyhim,wasfoundnotguiltybyhispeers,beforewhomhewastried(underthepresidenceoftheLordSteward,LordSomers);andtheprincipal,theLordMohun,beingfoundguiltyofthemanslaughter,(which,indeed,wasforceduponhim,andofwhichherepentedmostsincerely,)pleadedhisclergy,andsowasdischargedwithoutanypenalty。Thewidowoftheslainnobleman,asitwastoldusinprison,showedanextraordinaryspirit;and,thoughshehadtowaitfortenyearsbeforehersonwasoldenoughtocompassit,declaredshewouldhaverevengeofherhusband'smurderer。Somuchandsuddenlyhadgrief,anger,andmisfortuneappearedtochangeher。Butfortune,goodorill,asItakeit,doesnotchangemenandwomen。Itbutdevelopstheircharacters。
  Asthereareathousandthoughtslyingwithinamanthathedoesnotknowtillhetakesupthepentowrite,sotheheartisasecreteventohim(orher)whohasitinhisownbreast。Whohathnotfoundhimselfsurprisedintorevenge,oraction,orpassion,forgoodorevil,whereoftheseedslaywithinhim,latentandunsuspected,untiltheoccasioncalledthemforth?Withthedeathofherlord,achangeseemedtocomeoverthewholeconductandmindofLadyCastlewood;butofthisweshallspeakintherightseasonandanon。
  ThelordsbeingtriedthenbeforetheirpeersatWestminster,accordingtotheirprivilege,beingbroughtfromtheTowerwithstateprocessionsandbarges,andaccompaniedbylieutenantsandaxe—men,thecommonersengagedinthatmelancholyfraytooktheirtrialatNewgate,asbecamethem;and,beingallfoundguilty,pleadedlikewisetheirbenefitofclergy。Thesentence,asweallknowinthesecases,is,thattheculpritliesayearinprison,orduringtheKing'spleasure,andisburnedinthehand,oronlystampedwithacoldiron;orthispartofthepunishmentisaltogetherremittedatthegraceoftheSovereign。SoHarryEsmondfoundhimselfacriminalandaprisonerattwo—and—twentyyearsold;asforthetwocolonels,hiscomrades,theytookthematterverylightly。Duellingwasapartoftheirbusiness;andtheycouldnotinhonorrefuseanyinvitationsofthatsort。
  ButthecasewasdifferentwithMr。Esmond。Hislifewaschangedbythatstrokeoftheswordwhichdestroyedhiskindpatron's。Ashelayinprison,oldDr。Tusherfellillanddied;andLadyCastlewoodappointedThomasTushertothevacantliving;aboutthefillingofwhichshehadathousandtimesfondlytalkedtoHarryEsmond:howtheynevershouldpart;howheshouldeducateherboy;
  howtobeacountryclergyman,likesaintlyGeorgeHerbertorpiousDr。Ken,wasthehappiestandgreatestlotinlife;how(ifhewereobstinatelybentonit,though,forherpart,sheownedrathertoholdingQueenBess'sopinion,thatabishopshouldhavenowife,andifnotabishopwhyaclergyman?)shewouldfindagoodwifeforHarryEsmond:andsoon,withahundredprettyprospectstoldbyfiresideevenings,infondprattle,asthechildrenplayedaboutthehall。Alltheseplanswereoverthrownnow。ThomasTusherwrotetoEsmond,ashelayinprison,announcingthathispatronesshadconferreduponhimthelivinghisreverendfatherhadheldformanyyears;thatshenever,afterthetragicaleventswhichhadoccurred(whereofTomspokewithaveryedifyinghorror),couldseeinthereveredTusher'spulpit,oratherson'stable,themanwhowasanswerableforthefather'slife;thatherladyshipbadehimtosaythatsheprayedforherkinsman'srepentanceandhisworldlyhappiness;thathewasfreetocommandheraidforanyschemeoflifewhichhemightproposetohimself;butthatonthissideofthegraveshewouldseehimnomore。AndTusher,forhisownpart,addedthatHarryshouldhavehisprayersasafriendofhisyouth,andcommendedhimwhilsthewasinprisontoreadcertainworksoftheology,whichhisReverencepronouncedtobeverywholesomeforsinnersinhislamentablecondition。
  Andthiswasthereturnforalifeofdevotion——thistheendofyearsofaffectionateintercourseandpassionatefidelity!Harrywouldhavediedforhispatron,andwasheldaslittlebetterthanhismurderer:hehadsacrificed,shedidnotknowhowmuch,forhismistress,andshethrewhimaside;hehadendowedherfamilywithalltheyhad,andshetalkedaboutgivinghimalmsastoamenial!
  Thegriefforhispatron'sloss;thepainsofhisownpresentposition,anddoubtsastothefuture:allthesewereforgottenunderthesenseoftheconsummateoutragewhichhehadtoendure,andoverpoweredbythesuperiorpangofthattorture。
  HewritbackalettertoMr。Tusherfromhisprison,congratulatinghisReverenceuponhisappointmenttothelivingofCastlewood:
  sarcasticallybiddinghimtofollowinthefootstepsofhisadmirablefather,whosegownhaddescendeduponhim;thankingherladyshipforherofferofalms,whichhesaidheshouldtrustnottoneed;andbeseechinghertorememberthat,ifeverherdeterminationshouldchangetowardshim,hewouldbereadytogiveherproofsofafidelitywhichhadneverwavered,andwhichoughtnevertohavebeenquestionedbythathouse。"Andifwemeetnomore,oronlyasstrangersinthisworld,"Mr。Esmondconcluded,"asentenceagainstthecrueltyandinjusticeofwhichIdisdaintoappeal;hereaftershewillknowwhowasfaithfultoher,andwhethershehadanycausetosuspecttheloveanddevotionofherkinsmanandservant。"
  Afterthesendingofthisletter,thepooryoungfellow'smindwasmoreateasethanithadbeenpreviously。Theblowhadbeenstruck,andhehadborneit。Hiscruelgoddesshadshakenherwingsandfled:andlefthimaloneandfriendless,butvirtutesua。
  Andhehadtobearhimup,atoncethesenseofhisrightandthefeelingofhiswrongs,hishonorandhismisfortune。AsIhaveseenmenwakingandrunningtoarmsatasuddentrumpet,beforeemergencyamanlyheartleapsupresolute;meetsthethreateningdangerwithundauntedcountenance;and,whetherconqueredorconquering,facesitalways。Ah!nomanknowshisstrengthorhisweakness,tilloccasionprovesthem。Iftherebesomethoughtsandactionsofhislifefromthememoryofwhichamanshrinkswithshame,suretherearesomewhichhemaybeproudtoownandremember;forgiveninjuries,conqueredtemptations(nowandthen)
  anddifficultiesvanquishedbyendurance。