ThegeneraltriedthepowerofanotherproclamationontheSpaniards,inwhichheannouncedthatweonlycameintheinterestofSpainandKingCharles,andforourselveswantedtomakenoconquestnorsettlementinSpainatall。ButallthiseloquencewaslostupontheSpaniards,itwouldseem:theCaptain—GeneralofAndalusiawouldnomorelistentousthantheGovernorofCadiz;
andinreplytohisGrace'sproclamation,theMarquisofVilladariasfiredoffanother,whichthosewhoknewtheSpanishthoughtratherthebestofthetwo;andofthisnumberwasHarryEsmond,whosekindJesuitinolddayshadinstructedhim,andnowhadthehonoroftranslatingforhisGracetheseharmlessdocumentsofwar。TherewasahardtouchforhisGrace,and,indeed,forothergeneralsinherMajesty'sservice,intheconcludingsentenceoftheDon:"Thatheandhiscouncilhadthegenerousexampleoftheirancestorstofollow,whohadneveryetsoughttheirelevationinthebloodorintheflightoftheirkings。'Moripropatria'
washisdevice,whichtheDukemightcommunicatetothePrincesswhogovernedEngland。"
Whetherthetroopswereangryatthisreparteeorno,'tiscertainsomethingputtheminafury;for,notbeingabletogetpossessionofCadiz,ourpeopleseizeduponPortSaintMary'sandsackedit,burningdownthemerchants'storehouses,gettingdrunkwiththefamouswinesthere,pillagingandrobbingquiethousesandconvents,murderinganddoingworse。AndtheonlybloodwhichMr。
Esmonddrewinthisshamefulcampaign,wastheknockingdownanEnglishsentinelwithahalf—pike,whowasofferinginsulttoapoortremblingnun。Isshegoingtoturnoutabeauty?oraprincess?orperhapsEsmond'smotherthathehadlostandneverseen?Alasno,itwasbutapoorwheezyolddropsicalwoman,withawartuponhernose。ButhavingbeenearlytaughtapartoftheRomanreligion,heneverhadthehorrorofitthatsomeProtestantshaveshown,andseemtothinktobeapartofours。
AfterthepillageandplunderofSt。Mary'sandanassaultuponafortortwo,thetroopsalltookshipping,andfinishedtheirexpedition,atanyrate,morebrilliantlythanithadbegun。
HearingthattheFrenchfleetwithagreattreasurewasinVigoBay,ourAdmirals,RookeandHopson,pursuedtheenemythither;thetroopslandedandcarriedthefortsthatprotectedthebay,Hopsonpassingtheboomfirstonboardhisshipthe"Torbay,"andtherestoftheships,EnglishandDutch,followinghim。TwentyshipswereburnedortakeninthePortofRedondilla,andavastdealmoreplunderthanwaseveraccountedfor;butpoormenbeforethatexpeditionwererichafterwards,andsooftenwasitfoundandremarkedthattheVigoofficerscamehomewithpocketsfullofmoney,thatthenotoriousJackShafto,whomadesuchafigureatthecoffeehousesandgaming—tablesinLondon,andgaveoutthathehadbeenasoldieratVigo,owned,whenhewasabouttobehanged,thatBagshotHeathhadbeenHISVigo,andthatheonlyspokeofLaRedondillatoturnawaypeople'seyesfromtherealplacewherethebootylay。Indeed,HounsloworVigo——whichmattersmuch?Thelatterwasabadbusiness,thoughMr。AddisondidsingitspraisesinLatin。Thathonestgentleman'smusehadaneyetothemainchance;andIdoubtwhethershesawmuchinspirationinthelosingside。
ButthoughEsmond,forhispart,gotnoshareofthisfabulousbooty,onegreatprizewhichhehadoutofthecampaignwas,thatexcitementofactionandchangeofscene,whichshookoffagreatdealofhispreviousmelancholy。Helearntatanyratetobearhisfatecheerfully。Hebroughtbackabrownedface,aheartresoluteenough,andalittlepleasantstoreofknowledgeandobservation,fromthatexpedition,whichwasoverwiththeautumn,whenthetroopswerebackinEnglandagain;andEsmondgivinguphispostofsecretarytoGeneralLumley,whosecommandwasover,andpartingwiththatofficerwithmanykindexpressionsofgoodwillontheGeneral'sside,hadleavetogotoLondon,toseeifhecouldpushhisfortunesanywayfurther,andfoundhimselfoncemoreinhisdowageraunt'scomfortablequartersatChelsey,andingreaterfavorthaneverwiththeoldlady。Hepropitiatedherwithapresentofacomb,afan,andablackmantle,suchastheladiesofCadizwear,andwhichmyLadyViscountesspronouncedbecameherstyleofbeautymightily。Andshewasgreatilyedifiedathearingofthatstoryofhisrescueofthenun,andfeltverylittledoubtbutthatherKingJames'srelic,whichhehadalwaysdutifullyworninhisdesk,hadkepthimoutofdanger,andavertedtheshotoftheenemy。Myladymadefeastsforhim,introducedhimtomorecompany,andpushedhisfortuneswithsuchenthusiasmandsuccess,thatshegotapromiseofacompanyforhimthroughtheLadyMarlborough'sinterest,whowasgraciouslypleasedtoacceptofadiamondworthacoupleofhundredguineas,whichMr。Esmondwasenabledtopresenttoherladyshipthroughhisaunt'sbounty,andwhopromisedthatshewouldtakechargeofEsmond'sfortune。HehadthehonortomakehisappearanceattheQueen'sdrawing—roomoccasionally,andtofrequentmyLordMarlborough'slevees。Thatgreatmanreceivedtheyoungonewithveryespecialfavor,soEsmond'scomradessaid,anddeignedtosaythathehadreceivedthebestreportsofMr。Esmond,bothforcourageandability,whereonyoumaybesuretheyounggentlemanmadeaprofoundbow,andexpressedhimselfeagertoserveunderthemostdistinguishedcaptainintheworld。
Whilsthisbusinesswasgoingonthusprosperously,Esmondhadhisshareofpleasuretoo,andmadehisappearancealongwithotheryounggentlemenatthecoffee—houses,thetheatres,andtheMall。
Helongedtohearofhisdearmistressandherfamily:manyatime,inthemidstofthegayetiesandpleasuresofthetown,hisheartfondlyrevertedtothem;andoftenastheyoungfellowsofhissocietyweremakingmerryatthetavern,andcallingtoasts(asthefashionofthatdaywas)overtheirwine,Esmondthoughtofpersons——oftwofairwomen,whomhehadbeenusedtoadorealmost,andemptiedhisglasswithasigh。
BythistimetheelderViscountesshadgrowntiredagainoftheyounger,andwhenevershespokeofmylord'swidow,'twasintermsbynomeanscomplimentarytowardsthatpoorlady:theyoungerwomannotneedingherprotectionanylonger,theelderabusedher。MostofthefamilyquarrelsthatIhaveseeninlife(savingalwaysthosearisingfrommoneydisputes,whenadivisionoftwopencehalfpennywilloftendrivethedearestrelativesintowarandestrangement,)springoutofjealousyandenvy。JackandTom,bornofthesamefamilyandtothesamefortune,liveverycordiallytogether,notuntilJackisruinedwhenTomdesertshim,butuntilTommakesasuddenriseinprosperity,whichJackcan'tforgive。
Tentimestoone'tistheunprosperousmanthatisangry,nottheotherwhoisinfault。'TisMrs。Jack,whocanonlyaffordachair,thatsickensatMrs。Tom'snewcoach—and—sick,criesoutagainsthersister'sairs,andsetsherhusbandagainsthisbrother。'TisJackwhoseeshisbrothershakinghandswithalord(withwhomJackwouldliketoexchangesnuff—boxeshimself),thatgoeshomeandtellshiswifehowpoorTomisspoiled,hefears,andnobetterthanasneak,parasite,andbeggaronhorseback。I
rememberhowfuriousthecoffee—housewitswerewithDickSteelewhenhesetuphiscoachandfinehouseinBloomsbury:theybegantoforgivehimwhenthebailiffswereafterhim,andabusedMr。
AddisonforsellingDick'scountry—house。AndyetDickinthesponging—house,orDickinthePark,withhisfourmaresandplatedharness,wasexactlythesamegentle,kindly,improvident,jovialDickSteele:andyetMr。Addisonwasperfectlyrightingettingthemoneywhichwashis,andnotgivinguptheamountofhisjustclaim,tobespentbyDickuponchampagneandfiddlers,lacedclothes,finefurniture,andparasites,JewandChristian,maleandfemale,whoclungtohim。As,accordingtothefamousmaximofMonsieurdeRochefoucault,"inourfriends'misfortunesthere'ssomethingsecretlypleasanttous;"so,ontheotherhand,theirgoodfortuneisdisagreeable。If'tishardforamantobearhisowngoodluck,'tisharderstillforhisfriendstobearitforhimandbutfewofthemordinarilycanstandthattrial:whereasoneofthe"precioususes"ofadversityis,thatitisagreatreconciler;
thatitbringsbackavertedkindness,disarmsanimosity,andcausesyesterday'senemytoflinghishatredaside,andholdoutahandtothefallenfriendofolddays。There'spityandlove,aswellasenvy,inthesameheartandtowardsthesameperson。Therivalrystopswhenthecompetitortumbles;and,asIviewit,weshouldlookattheseagreeableanddisagreeablequalitiesofourhumanityhumblyalike。Theyareconsequentandnatural,andourkindnessandmeannessbothmanly。
Soyoumayeitherreadthesentence,thattheelderofEsmond'stwokinswomenpardonedtheyoungerherbeauty,whenthathadlostsomewhatofitsfreshness,perhaps;andforgotmosthergrievancesagainsttheother,whenthesubjectofthemwasnolongerprosperousandenviable;orwemaysaymorebenevolently(butthesumcomestothesamefigures,workedeitherway,)thatIsabellarepentedofherunkindnesstowardsRachel,whenRachelwasunhappy;
and,bestirringherselfinbehalfofthepoorwidowandherchildren,gavethemshelterandfriendship。Theladieswerequitegoodfriendsaslongastheweakeroneneededaprotector。BeforeEsmondwentawayonhisfirstcampaign,hismistresswasstillontermsoffriendship(thoughapoorlittlechit,awomanthathadevidentlynospiritinher,&c。)withtheelderLadyCastlewood;
andMistressBeatrixwasallowedtobeabeauty。
ButbetweenthefirstyearofQueenAnne'sreign,andthesecond,sadchangesfortheworsehadtakenplaceinthetwoyoungerladies,atleastintheelder'sdescriptionofthem。Rachel,ViscountessCastlewood,hadnomorefacethanadumpling,andMrs。
Beatrixwasgrownquitecoarse,andwaslosingallherbeauty。
LittleLordBlandford——(sheneverwouldcallhimLordBlandford;
hisfatherwasLordChurchill——theKing,whomhebetrayed,hadmadehimLordChurchill,andhewasLordChurchillstill)——mightbemakingeyesather;buthismother,thatvixenofaSarahJennings,wouldneverhearofsuchafolly。LadyMarlboroughhadgothertobeamaidofhonoratCourttothePrincess,butshewouldrepentofit。ThewidowFrancis(shewasbutMrs。FrancisEsmond)wasascheming,artful,heartlesshussy。Shewasspoilingherbratofaboy,andshewouldendbymarryingherchaplain。
"What,Tusher!"criedMr。Esmond,feelingastrangepangofrageandastonishment。
"Yes——Tusher,mymaid'sson;andwhohasgotallthequalitiesofhisfatherthelackeyinblack,andhisaccomplishedmammathewaiting—woman,"criesmylady。"Whatdoyousupposethatasentimentalwidow,whowilllivedowninthatdingydungeonofaCastlewood,whereshespoilsherboy,killsthepoorwithherdrugs,hasprayerstwiceadayandseesnobodybutthechaplain——
whatdoyousupposeshecando,monCousin,butletthehorridparson,withhisgreatsquaretoesandhideouslittlegreeneyes,makelovetoher?Celac'estvu,monCousin。WhenIwasagirlatCastlewood,allthechaplainsfellinlovewithme——they'venothingelsetodo。"
Myladywentonwithmoretalkofthiskind,though,intruth,Esmondhadnoideaofwhatshesaidfurther,soentirelydidherfirstwordsoccupyhisthought。Weretheytrue?Notall,norhalf,noratenthpartofwhatthegarrulousoldwomansaid,wastrue。Couldthisbeso?NoearhadEsmondforanythingelse,thoughhispatronesschattedonforanhour。
Someyounggentlemenofthetown,withwhomEsmondhadmadeacquaintance,hadpromisedtopresenthimtothatmostcharmingofactresses,andlivelyandagreeableofwomen,Mrs。Bracegirdle,aboutwhomHarry'soldadversaryMohunhaddrawnswords,afewyearsbeforemypoorlordandhefellout。ThefamousMr。Congrevehadstampedwithhishighapproval,tothewhichtherewasnogainsaying,thisdelightfulperson:andshewasactinginDickSteele'scomedies,andfinally,andfortwenty—fourhoursafterbeholdingher,Mr。Esmondfelthimself,orthoughthimself,tobeasviolentlyenamoredofthislovelybrunette,aswereathousandotheryoungfellowsaboutthecity。Tohaveonceseenherwastolongtobeholdheragain;andtobeofferedthedelightfulprivilegeofheracquaintance,wasapleasuretheveryideaofwhichsettheyounglieutenant'sheartonfire。Amancannotlivewithcomradesunderthetentswithoutfindingoutthathetooisfive—and—twenty。Ayoungfellowcannotbecastdownbygriefandmisfortuneeversoseverebutsomenighthebeginstosleepsound,andsomedaywhendinner—timecomestofeelhungryforabeefsteak。
Time,youthandgoodhealth,newscenesandtheexcitementofactionandacampaign,hadprettywellbroughtEsmond'smourningtoanend;andhiscomradessaidthatDonDismal,astheycalledhim,wasDonDismalnomore。Sowhenapartywasmadetodineatthe"Rose,"andgototheplayhouseafterward,Esmondwasaspleasedasanothertotakehisshareofthebottleandtheplay。
Howwasitthattheoldaunt'snews,oritmightbescandal,aboutTomTusher,causedsuchastrangeandsuddenexcitementinTom'soldplayfellow?Hadn'theswornathousandtimesinhisownmindthattheLadyofCastlewood,whohadtreatedhimwithsuchkindnessonce,andthenhadlefthimsocruelly,was,andwastoremainhenceforth,indifferenttohimforever?Hadhisprideandhissenseofjusticenotlongsincehelpedhimtocurethepainofthatdesertion——wasitevenapaintohimnow?Why,butlastnightashewalkedacrossthefieldsandmeadowstoChelseyfromPallMall,hadhenotcomposedtwoorthreestanzasofasong,celebratingBracegirdle'sbrowneyes,anddeclaringthemathousandtimesmorebeautifulthanthebrightestblueonesthateverlanguishedunderthelashesofaninsipidfairbeauty!ButTomTusher!TomTusher,thewaiting—woman'sson,raisinguphislittleeyestohismistress!TomTusherpresumingtothinkofCastlewood'swidow!
RageandcontemptfilledMr。Harry'sheartattheverynotion;thehonorofthefamily,ofwhichhewasthechief,madeithisdutytopreventsomonstrousanalliance,andtochastisetheupstartwhocoulddaretothinkofsuchaninsulttotheirhouse。'TistrueMr。Esmondoftenboastedofrepublicanprinciples,andcouldremembermanyfinespeecheshehadmadeatcollegeandelsewhere,withWORTHandnotBIRTHforatext:butTomTushertotaketheplaceofthenobleCastlewood——faugh!'twasasmonstrousasKingHamlet'swidowtakingoffherweedsforClaudius。Esmondlaughedatallwidows,allwives,allwomen;andwerethebannsabouttobepublished,asnodoubttheywere,thatverynextSundayatWalcoteChurch,EsmondsworethathewouldbepresenttoshoutNo!inthefaceofthecongregation,andtotakeaprivaterevengeupontheearsofthebridegroom。
Insteadofgoingtodinnerthenatthe"Rose"thatnight,Mr。
Esmondbadehisservantpackaportmanteauandgethorses,andwasatFarnham,half—wayontheroadtoWalcote,thirtymilesoff,beforehiscomradeshadgottotheirsupperaftertheplay。HebadehismangivenohinttomyLadyDowager'shouseholdoftheexpeditiononwhichhewasgoing;andasChelseywasdistantfromLondon,theroadsbad,andinfestedbyfootpads,andEsmondofteninthehabit,whenengagedinapartyofpleasure,oflyingatafriend'slodgingintown,therewasnoneedthathisoldauntshouldbedisturbedathisabsence——indeed,nothingmoredelightedtheoldladythantofancythatmoncousin,theincorrigibleyoungsinner,wasabroadboxingthewatch,orscouringSt。Giles's。Whenshewasnotatherbooksofdevotion,shethoughtEtheridgeandSedleyverygoodreading。ShehadahundredprettystoriesaboutRochester,HarryJermyn,andHamilton;andifEsmondwouldbuthaverunawaywiththewifeevenofacitizen,'tismybeliefshewouldhavepawnedherdiamonds(thebestofthemwenttoourLadyofChaillot)topayhisdamages。
Mylord'slittlehouseofWalcote——whichheinhabitedbeforehetookhistitleandoccupiedthehouseofCastlewood——liesaboutamilefromWinchester,andhiswidowhadreturnedtoWalcoteaftermylord'sdeathasaplacealwaysdeartoher,andwhereherearliestandhappiestdayshadbeenspent,cheerfullerthanCastlewood,whichwastoolargeforherstraitenedmeans,andgivingher,too,theprotectionoftheex—dean,herfather。TheyoungViscounthadayear'sschoolingatthefamouscollegethere,withMr。Tusherashisgovernor。SomuchnewsofthemMr。EsmondhadhadduringthepastyearfromtheoldViscountess,hisownfather'swidow;fromtheyoungonetherehadneverbeenaword。
Twiceorthriceinhisbenefactor'slifetime,EsmondhadbeentoWalcote;andnow,takingbutacoupleofhours'restonlyattheinnontheroad,hewasupagainlongbeforedaybreak,andmadesuchgoodspeedthathewasatWalcotebytwoo'clockoftheday。
Heridtotheendofthevillage,wherehealightedandsentamanthencetoMr。Tusher,withamessagethatagentlemanfromLondonwouldspeakwithhimonurgentbusiness。ThemessengercamebacktosaytheDoctorwasintown,mostlikelyatprayersintheCathedral。MyLadyViscountesswasthere,too;shealwayswenttoCathedralprayerseveryday。
Thehorsesbelongedtothepost—houseatWinchester。Esmondmountedagainandrodeontothe"George;"whencehewalked,leavinghisgrumblingdomesticatlasthappywithadinner,straighttotheCathedral。Theorganwasplaying:thewinter'sdaywasalreadygrowinggray:ashepassedunderthestreet—archintotheCathedralyard,andmadehiswayintotheancientsolemnedifice。
CHAPTERVI。
THE29THDECEMBER。
TherewasscarceascoreofpersonsintheCathedralbesidetheDeanandsomeofhisclergy,andthechoristers,youngandold,thatperformedthebeautifuleveningprayer。ButMr。Tusherwasoneoftheofficiants,andreadfromtheeagleinanauthoritativevoice,andagreatblackperiwig;andinthestalls,stillinherblackwidow'shood,satEsmond'sdearmistress,hersonbyherside,verymuchgrown,andindeedanoble—lookingyouth,withhismother'seyes,andhisfather'scurlingbrownhair,thatfelloverhispointdeVenise——aprettypicturesuchasVanDyckmighthavepainted。Mons。Rigaud'sportraitofmyLordViscount,doneatParisafterwards,givesbutaFrenchversionofhismanly,frank,Englishface。Whenhelookedupthereweretwosapphirebeamsoutofhiseyessuchasnopainter'spalettehasthecolortomatch,I
think。Onthisdaytherewasnotmuchchanceofseeingthatparticularbeautyofmyyounglord'scountenance;forthetruthis,hekepthiseyesshutforthemostpart,and,theanthembeingratherlong,wasasleep。
Butthemusicceasing,mylordwokeup,lookingabouthim,andhiseyeslightingonMr。Esmond,whowassittingoppositehim,gazingwithnosmalltendernessandmelancholyupontwopersonswhohadsomuchofhisheartforsomanyyears,LordCastlewood,withastart,pulledathismother'ssleeve(herfacehadscarcebeenliftedfromherbook),andsaid,"Look,mother!"soloud,thatEsmondcouldhearontheothersideofthechurch,andtheoldDeanonhisthronedstall。LadyCastlewoodlookedforaninstantashersonbadeher,andheldupawarningfingertoFrank;Esmondfelthiswholefaceflush,andhisheartthrobbing,asthatdearladybeheldhimoncemore。Therestoftheprayerswerespeedilyover;Mr。
Esmonddidnothearthem;nordidhismistress,verylikely,whosehoodwentmorecloselyoverherface,andwhoneverliftedherheadagainuntiltheservicewasover,theblessinggiven,andMr。Dean,andhisprocessionofecclesiastics,outoftheinnerchapel。
YoungCastlewoodcameclamberingoverthestallsbeforetheclergywerefairlygone,andrunninguptoEsmond,eagerlyembracedhim。
"Mydear,dearestoldHarry!"hesaid,"areyoucomeback?Haveyoubeentothewars?You'lltakemewithyouwhenyougoagain?
Whydidn'tyouwritetous?Cometomother。"
Mr。Esmondcouldhardlysaymorethana"Godblessyou,myboy,"
forhisheartwasveryfullandgratefulatallthistendernessonthelad'spart;andhewasasmuchmovedatseeingFrankashewasfearfulaboutthatotherinterviewwhichwasnowtotakeplace:forheknewnotifthewidowwouldrejecthimasshehaddonesocruellyayearago。
"Itwaskindofyoutocomebacktous,Henry,"LadyEsmondsaid。
"Ithoughtyoumightcome。"
"WereadofthefleetcomingtoPortsmouth。WhydidyounotcomefromPortsmouth?"Frankasked,ormyLordViscount,ashenowmustbecalled。
Esmondhadthoughtofthattoo。Hewouldhavegivenoneofhiseyessothathemightseehisdearfriendsagainoncemore;butbelievingthathismistresshadforbiddenhimherhouse,hehadobeyedher,andremainedatadistance。
"Youhadbuttoask,andyouknowIwouldbehere,"hesaid。
Shegavehimherhand,herlittlefairhand;therewasonlyhermarriageringonit。Thequarrelwasallover。Theyearofgriefandestrangementwaspassed。Theyneverhadbeenseparated。Hismistresshadneverbeenoutofhismindallthattime。No,notonce。No,notintheprison;norinthecamp;noronshorebeforetheenemy;noratseaunderthestarsofsolemnmidnight;norashewatchedthegloriousrisingofthedawn:notevenatthetable,wherehesatcarousingwithfriends,oratthetheatreyonder,wherehetriedtofancythatothereyeswerebrighterthanhers。
Brightereyestheremightbe,andfacesmorebeautiful,butnonesodear——novoicesosweetasthatofhisbelovedmistress,whohadbeensister,mother,goddesstohimduringhisyouth——goddessnownomore,forheknewofherweaknesses;andbythought,bysuffering,andthatexperienceitbrings,wasoldernowthanshe;
butmorefondlycherishedaswomanperhapsthanevershehadbeenadoredasdivinity。Whatisit?Whereliesit?thesecretwhichmakesonelittlehandthedearestofall?Whoevercanunriddlethatmystery?Hereshewas,hersonbyhisside,hisdearboy。
Hereshewas,weepingandhappy。Shetookhishandinbothhers;
hefelthertears。Itwasaraptureofreconciliation。
"HerecomesSquaretoes,"saysFrank。"Here'sTusher。"
Tusher,indeed,nowappeared,creakingonhisgreatheels。Mr。Tomhaddivestedhimselfofhisalborsurplice,andcameforwardhabitedinhiscassockandgreatblackperiwig。HowhadEsmondeverbeenforamomentjealousofthisfellow?
"Giveusthyhand,TomTusher,"hesaid。Thechaplainmadehimaverylowandstatelybow。"IamcharmedtoseeCaptainEsmond,"
sayshe。"MylordandIhavereadtheReddasincolumemprecor,andappliedit,Iamsure,toyou。YoucomebackwithGaditanianlaurels;whenIheardyouwereboundthither,Iwished,Iamsure,IwasanotherSeptimius。MyLordViscount,yourlordshipremembersSeptimi,Gadesadituremecum?"
"There'sanangleofearththatIlovebetterthanGades,Tusher,"
saysMr。Esmond。"'Tisthatonewhereyourreverencehathaparsonage,andwhereouryouthwasbroughtup。"
"Ahousethathassomanysacredrecollectionstome,"saysMr。
Tusher(andHarryrememberedhowTom'sfatherusedtofloghimthere)——"ahouseneartothatofmyrespectedpatron,mymosthonoredpatroness,musteverbeadearabodetome。But,madam,thevergerwaitstoclosethegatesonyourladyship。"
"AndHarry'scominghometosupper。Huzzay!huzzay!"criesmylord。"Mother,IshallrunhomeandbidBeatrixputherribbonson。Beatrixisamaidofhonor,Harry。Suchafineset—upminx!"
"YourheartwasneverintheChurch,Harry,"thewidowsaid,inhersweetlowtone,astheywalkedawaytogether。(Now,itseemedtheyneverhadbeenparted,andagain,asiftheyhadbeenagesasunder。)"Ialwaysthoughtyouhadnovocationthatway;andthat'twasapitytoshutyououtfromtheworld。YouwouldbuthavepinedandchafedatCastlewood:and'tisbetteryoushouldmakeanameforyourself。Ioftensaidsotomydearlord。Howhelovedyou!'Twasmylordthatmadeyoustaywithus。"
"Iaskednobetterthantostaynearyoualways,"saidMr。Esmond。
"Buttogowasbest,Harry。Whentheworldcannotgivepeace,youwillknowwheretofindit;butoneofyourstrongimaginationandeagerdesiresmusttrytheworldfirstbeforehetiresofit。
'Twasnottobethoughtof,orifitoncewas,itwasonlybymyselfishness,thatyoushouldremainaschaplaintoacountrygentlemanandtutortoalittleboy。YouareofthebloodoftheEsmonds,kinsman;andthatwasalwayswildinyouth。LookatFrancis。Heisbutfifteen,andIscarcecankeephiminmynest。
Histalkisallofwarandpleasure,andhelongstoserveinthenextcampaign。PerhapsheandtheyoungLordChurchillshallgothenext。LordMarlboroughhasbeengoodtous。Youknowhowkindtheywereinmymisfortune。Andsowasyour——yourfather'swidow。
Nooneknowshowgoodtheworldis,tillgriefcomestotryus。
'TisthroughmyLadyMarlborough'sgoodnessthatBeatrixhathherplaceatCourt;andFrankisundermyLordChamberlain。Andthedowagerlady,yourfather'swidow,haspromisedtoprovideforyou——
hasshenot?"
Esmondsaid,"Yes。Asfaraspresentfavorwent,LadyCastlewoodwasverygoodtohim。Andshouldhermindchange,"headdedgayly,"asladies'mindswill,Iamstrongenoughtobearmyownburden,andmakemywaysomehow。Notbytheswordverylikely。ThousandshaveabettergeniusforthatthanI,buttherearemanywaysinwhichayoungmanofgoodpartsandeducationcangetonintheworld;andIamprettysure,onewayorother,ofpromotion!"
Indeed,hehadfoundpatronsalreadyinthearmy,andamongstpersonsveryabletoservehim,too;andtoldhismistressoftheflatteringaspectoffortune。Theywalkedasthoughtheyhadneverbeenparted,slowly,withthegraytwilightclosingroundthem。
"Andnowwearedrawingneartohome,"shecontinued,"Iknewyouwouldcome,Harry,if——ifitwasbuttoforgivemeforhavingspokenunjustlytoyouafterthathorrid——horridmisfortune。IwashalffranticwithgriefthenwhenIsawyou。AndIknownow——theyhavetoldme。Thatwretch,whosenameIcannevermention,evenhassaidit:howyoutriedtoavertthequarrel,andwouldhavetakenitonyourself,mypoorchild:butitwasGod'swillthatI
shouldbepunished,andthatmydearlordshouldfall。"
"Hegavemehisblessingonhisdeath—bed,"Esmondsaid。"ThankGodforthatlegacy!"
"Amen,amen!dearHenry,"saidthelady,pressinghisarm。"Iknewit。Mr。Atterbury,ofSt。Bride's,whowascalledtohim,toldmeso。AndIthankedGod,too,andinmyprayerseversincerememberedit。"
"Youhadsparedmemanyabitternight,hadyoutoldmesooner,"
Mr。Esmondsaid。
"Iknowit,Iknowit,"sheanswered,inatoneofsuchsweethumility,asmadeEsmondrepentthatheshouldeverhavedaredtoreproachher。"Iknowhowwickedmyhearthasbeen;andIhavesufferedtoo,mydear。IconfessedtoMr。Atterbury——Imustnottellanymore。He——IsaidIwouldnotwritetoyouorgotoyou——
anditwasbettereventhathavingparted,weshouldpart。ButI
knewyouwouldcomeback——Iownthat。Thatisnoone'sfault。Andto—day,Henry,intheanthem,whentheysangit,'WhentheLordturnedthecaptivityofZion,wewerelikethemthatdream,'I
thought,yes,likethemthatdream——themthatdream。Andthenitwent,'Theythatsowintearsshallreapinjoy;andhethatgoethforthandweepeth,shalldoubtlesscomeagainwithrejoicing,bringinghissheaveswithhim;'Ilookedupfromthebook,andsawyou。IwasnotsurprisedwhenIsawyou。Iknewyouwouldcome,mydear,andsawthegoldsunshineroundyourhead。"
Shesmiledanalmostwildsmileasshelookedupathim。Themoonwasupbythistime,glitteringkeeninthefrostysky。Hecouldsee,forthefirsttimenowclearly,hersweetcarewornface。
"Doyouknowwhatdayitis?"shecontinued。"Itisthe29thofDecember——itisyourbirthday!Butlastyearwedidnotdrinkit——
no,no。Mylordwascold,andmyHarrywaslikelytodie:andmybrainwasinafever;andwehadnowine。Butnow——nowyouarecomeagain,bringingyoursheaveswithyou,mydear。"Sheburstintoawildfloodofweepingasshespoke;shelaughedandsobbedontheyoungman'sheart,cryingoutwildly,"bringingyoursheaveswithyou——yoursheaveswithyou!"
Ashehadsometimesfelt,gazingupfromthedeckatmidnightintotheboundlessstarlitdepthsoverhead,inaraptureofdevoutwonderatthatendlessbrightnessandbeauty——insomesuchawaynow,thedepthofthispuredevotion(whichwas,forthefirsttime,revealedtohim)quitesmoteuponhim,andfilledhisheartwiththanksgiving。GraciousGod,whowashe,weakandfriendlesscreature,thatsuchaloveshouldbepouredoutuponhim?Notinvain——notinvainhashelived——hardandthanklessshouldhebetothinkso——thathassuchatreasuregivenhim。Whatisambitioncomparedtothat,butselfishvanity?Toberich,tobefamous?
Whatdotheseprofitayearhence,whenothernamessoundlouderthanyours,whenyouliehiddenawayundertheground,alongwithidletitlesengravenonyourcoffin?Butonlytruelovelivesafteryou——followsyourmemorywithsecretblessing——orprecedesyou,andintercedesforyou。Nonomnismoriar——ifdying,Iyetliveinatenderheartortwo;noramlostandhopelessliving,ifasainteddepartedsoulstilllovesandpraysforme。