Mrs。Tusher,theparson'swife,waswithmylady。Shehadbeenwaiting—womantoherladyshipinthelatelord'stime,and,havinghersoulinthatbusiness,tooknaturallytoitwhentheViscountessofCastlewoodreturnedtoinhabitherfather'shouse。
  "Ipresenttoyourladyshipyourkinsmanandlittlepageofhonor,MasterHenryEsmond,"Mr。Holtsaid,bowinglowly,withasortofcomicalhumility。"Makeaprettybowtomylady,Monsieur;andthenanotherlittlebow,notsolow,toMadameTusher——thefairpriestessofCastlewood。"
  "WhereIhavelivedandhopetodie,sir,"saysMadameTusher,givingahardglanceatthebrat,andthenatmylady。
  Uponhertheboy'swholeattentionwasforatimedirected。Hecouldnotkeephisgreateyesofffromher。SincetheEmpressofEaling,hehadseennothingsoawful。
  "Doesmyappearancepleaseyou,littlepage?"askedthelady。
  "Hewouldbeveryhardtopleaseifitdidn't,"criedMadameTusher。
  "Havedone,yousillyMaria,"saidLadyCastlewood。
  "WhereI'mattached,I'mattached,Madame——andI'ddieratherthannotsayso。"
  "Jemeursoujem'attache,"Mr。Holtsaidwithapolitegrin。"Theivysayssointhepicture,andclingstotheoaklikeafondparasiteasitis。"
  "Parricide,sir!"criesMrs。Tusher。
  "Hush,Tusher——youarealwaysbickeringwithFatherHolt,"criedmylady。"Comeandkissmyhand,child;"andtheoakheldoutaBRANCHtolittleHarryEsmond,whotookanddutifullykissedtheleanoldhand,uponthegnarledknucklesofwhichthereglitteredahundredrings。
  "Tokissthathandwouldmakemanyaprettyfellowhappy!"criedMrs。Tusher:onwhichmyladycryingout,"Go,youfoolishTusher!"
  andtappingherwithhergreatfan,Tusherranforwardtoseizeherhandandkissit。FuryaroseandbarkedfuriouslyatTusher;andFatherHoltlookedonatthisqueerscene,witharch,graveglances。
  Theaweexhibitedbythelittleboyperhapspleasedtheladytowhomthisartlessflatterywasbestowed:forhavinggonedownonhisknee(asFatherHolthaddirectedhim,andthemodethenwas)
  andperformedhisobeisance,shesaid,"PageEsmond,mygroomofthechamberwillinformyouwhatyourdutiesare,whenyouwaituponmylordandme;andgoodFatherHoltwillinstructyouasbecomesagentlemanofourname。Youwillpayhimobedienceineverything,andIprayyoumaygrowtobeaslearnedandasgoodasyourtutor。"
  TheladyseemedtohavethegreatestreverenceforMr。Holt,andtobemoreafraidofhimthanofanythingelseintheworld。Ifshewaseversoangry,awordorlookfromFatherHoltmadehercalm:
  indeedhehadavastpowerofsubjectingthosewhocamenearhim;
  and,amongtherest,hisnewpupilgavehimselfupwithanentireconfidenceandattachmenttothegoodFather,andbecamehiswillingslavealmostfromthefirstmomenthesawhim。
  HeputhissmallhandintotheFather'sashewalkedawayfromhisfirstpresentationtohismistress,andaskedmanyquestionsinhisartlesschildishway。"Whoisthatotherwoman?"heasked。"Sheisfatandround;sheismoreprettythanmyLadyCastlewood。"
  "SheisMadameTusher,theparson'swifeofCastlewood。Shehasasonofyourage,butbiggerthanyou。"
  "Whydoesshelikesotokissmylady'shand。Itisnotgoodtokiss。"
  "Tastesaredifferent,littleman。MadameTusherisattachedtomylady,havingbeenherwaiting—womanbeforeshewasmarried,intheoldlord'stime。ShemarriedDoctorTusherthechaplain。TheEnglishhouseholddivinesoftenmarrythewaiting—women。"
  "YouwillnotmarrytheFrenchwoman,willyou?IsawherlaughingwithBlaiseinthebuttery。"
  "IbelongtoachurchthatisolderandbetterthantheEnglishchurch,"Mr。Holtsaid(makingasignwhereofEsmonddidnotthenunderstandthemeaning,acrosshisbreastandforehead);"inourchurchtheclergydonotmarry。Youwillunderstandthesethingsbettersoon。"
  "WasnotSaintPetertheheadofyourchurch?——Dr。RabbitsofEalingtoldusso。"
  TheFathersaid,"Yes,hewas。"
  "ButSaintPeterwasmarried,forweheardonlylastSundaythathiswife'smotherlaysickofafever。"OnwhichtheFatheragainlaughed,andsaidhewouldunderstandthistoobettersoon,andtalkedofotherthings,andtookawayHarryEsmond,andshowedhimthegreatoldhousewhichhehadcometoinhabit。
  Itstoodonarisinggreenhill,withwoodsbehindit,inwhichwererooks'nests,wherethebirdsatmorningandreturninghomeateveningmadeagreatcawing。Atthefootofthehillwasariver,withasteepancientbridgecrossingit;andbeyondthatalargepleasantgreenflat,wherethevillageofCastlewoodstood,andstands,withthechurchinthemidst,theparsonagehardbyit,theinnwiththeblacksmith'sforgebesideit,andthesignofthe"ThreeCastles"ontheelm。TheLondonroadstretchedawaytowardstherisingsun,andtothewestwereswellinghillsandpeaks,behindwhichmanyatimeHarryEsmondsawthesamesunsetting,thathenowlooksonthousandsofmilesawayacrossthegreatocean——inanewCastlewood,byanotherstream,thatbears,likethenewcountryofwanderingAEneas,thefondnamesofthelandofhisyouth。
  TheHallofCastlewoodwasbuiltwithtwocourts,whereofoneonly,thefountain—court,wasnowinhabited,theotherhavingbeenbattereddownintheCromwellianwars。Inthefountain—court,stillingoodrepair,wasthegreathall,neartothekitchenandbutteries。Adozenofliving—roomslookingtothenorth,andcommunicatingwiththelittlechapelthatfacedeastwardsandthebuildingsstretchingfromthattothemaingate,andwiththehall(whichlookedtothewest)intothecourtnowdismantled。Thiscourthadbeenthemostmagnificentofthetwo,untiltheProtector'scannontoredownonesideofitbeforetheplacewastakenandstormed。Thebesiegersenteredattheterraceundertheclock—tower,slayingeverymanofthegarrison,andattheirheadmylord'sbrother,FrancisEsmond。
  TheRestorationdidnotbringenoughmoneytotheLordCastlewoodtorestorethisruinedpartofhishouse;wherewerethemorningparlors,abovethemthelongmusic—gallery,andbeforewhichstretchedthegarden—terrace,where,however,theflowersgrewagainwhichthebootsoftheRoundheadshadtroddenintheirassault,andwhichwasrestoredwithoutmuchcost,andonlyalittlecare,bybothladieswhosucceededthesecondviscountinthegovernmentofthismansion。Roundtheterrace—gardenwasalowwallwithawicketleadingtothewoodedheightbeyond,thatiscalledCromwell'sBatterytothisday。
  YoungHarryEsmondlearnedthedomesticpartofhisduty,whichwaseasyenough,fromthegroomofherladyship'schamber:servingtheCountess,asthecustomcommonlywasinhisboyhood,aspage,waitingatherchair,bringingherscentedwaterandthesilverbasinafterdinner——sittingonhercarriage—steponstateoccasions,oronpublicdaysintroducinghercompanytoher。ThiswaschieflyoftheCatholicgentry,ofwhomtherewereaprettymanyinthecountryandneighboringcity;andwhorodenotseldomtoCastlewoodtopartakeofthehospitalitiesthere。Inthesecondyearoftheirresidence,thecompanyseemedespeciallytoincrease。
  Mylordandmyladywereseldomwithoutvisitors,inwhosesocietyitwascurioustocontrastthedifferenceofbehaviorbetweenFatherHolt,thedirectorofthefamily,andDoctorTusher,therectoroftheparish——Mr。Holtmovingamongsttheveryhighestasquitetheirequal,andascommandingthemall;whilepoorDoctorTusher,whosepositionwasindeedadifficultone,havingbeenchaplainoncetotheHall,andstilltotheProtestantservantsthere,seemedmorelikeanusherthananequal,andalwaysrosetogoawayafterthefirstcourse。
  AlsotherecameinthesetimestoFatherHoltmanyprivatevisitors,whom,afteralittle,HenryEsmondhadlittledifficultyinrecognizingasecclesiasticsoftheFather'spersuasion,whatevertheirdresses(andtheyadoptedall)mightbe。ThesewereclosetedwiththeFatherconstantly,andoftencameandrodeawaywithoutpayingtheirdevoirstomylordandlady——totheladyandlordrather——hislordshipbeinglittlemorethanacipherinthehouse,andentirelyunderhisdomineeringpartner。Alittlefowling,alittlehunting,agreatdealofsleep,andalongdineatcardsandtable,carriedthroughonedayafteranotherwithhislordship。Whenmeetingstookplaceinthissecondyear,whichoftenwouldhappenwithcloseddoors,thepagefoundmylord'ssheetofpaperscribbledoverwithdogsandhorses,and'twassaidhehadmuchadotokeephimselfawakeatthesecouncils:theCountessrulingoverthem,andheactingaslittlemorethanhersecretary。
  FatherHoltbeganspeedilytobesomuchoccupiedwiththesemeetingsasrathertoneglecttheeducationofthelittleladwhosogladlyputhimselfunderthekindpriest'sorders。Atfirsttheyreadmuchandregularly,bothinLatinandFrench;theFathernotneglectinginanythingtoimpresshisfaithuponhispupil,butnotforcinghimviolently,andtreatinghimwithadelicacyandkindnesswhichsurprisedandattachedthechild,alwaysmoreeasilywonbythesemethodsthanbyanysevereexerciseofauthority。AndhisdelightintheirwalkswastotellHarryofthegloriesofhisorder,ofitsmartyrsandheroes,ofitsBrethrenconvertingtheheathenbymyriads,traversingthedesert,facingthestake,rulingthecourtsandcouncils,orbravingthetorturesofkings;sothatHarryEsmondthoughtthattobelongtotheJesuitswasthegreatestprizeoflifeandbravestendofambition;thegreatestcareerhere,andinheaventhesurestreward;andbegantolongfortheday,notonlywhenheshouldenterintotheonechurchandreceivehisfirstcommunion,butwhenhemightjointhatwonderfulbrotherhood,whichwaspresentthroughoutalltheworld,andwhichnumberedthewisest,thebravest,thehighestborn,themosteloquentofmenamongitsmembers。FatherHoltbadehimkeephisviewssecret,andtohidethemasagreattreasurewhichwouldescapehimifitwasrevealed;and,proudofthisconfidenceandsecretvestedinhim,theladbecamefondlyattachedtothemasterwhoinitiatedhimintoamysterysowonderfulandawful。AndwhenlittleTomTusher,hisneighbor,camefromschoolforhisholiday,andsaidhowhe,too,wastobebredupforanEnglishpriest,andwouldgetwhathecalledanexhibitionfromhisschool,andthenacollegescholarshipandfellowship,andthenagoodliving——ittaskedyoungHarryEsmond'spowersofreticencenottosaytohisyoungcompanion,"Church!priesthood!fatliving!MydearTommy,doyoucallyoursachurchandapriesthood?Whatisafatlivingcomparedtoconvertingahundredthousandheathensbyasinglesermon?WhatisascholarshipatTrinitybythesideofacrownofmartyrdom,withangelsawaitingyouasyourheadistakenoff?
  CouldyourmasteratschoolsailovertheThamesonhisgown?Haveyoustatuesinyourchurchthatcanbleed,speak,walk,andcry?
  MygoodTommy,indearFatherHolt'schurchthesethingstakeplaceeveryday。YouknowSaintPhilipoftheWillowsappearedtoLordCastlewood,andcausedhimtoturntotheonetruechurch。Nosaintsevercometoyou。"AndHarryEsmond,becauseofhispromisetoFatherHolt,hidingawaythesetreasuresoffaithfromT。
  Tusher,deliveredhimselfofthemneverthelesssimplytoFatherHolt;whostrokedhishead,smiledathimwithhisinscrutablelook,andtoldhimthathedidwelltomeditateonthesegreatthings,andnottotalkofthemexceptunderdirection。
  CHAPTERIV。
  IAMPLACEDUNDERAPOPISHPRIESTANDBREDTOTHATRELIGION。——
  VISCOUNTESSCASTLEWOOD。
  Hadtimeenoughbeengiven,andhischildishinclinationsbeenproperlynurtured,HarryEsmondhadbeenaJesuitpriesterehewasadozenyearsolder,andmighthavefinishedhisdaysamartyrinChinaoravictimonTowerHill:for,inthefewmonthstheyspenttogetheratCastlewood,Mr。Holtobtainedanentiremasteryovertheboy'sintellectandaffections;andhadbroughthimtothink,asindeedFatherHoltthoughtwithallhishearttoo,thatnolifewassonoble,nodeathsodesirable,asthatwhichmanybrethrenofhisfamousorderwerereadytoundergo。Bylove,byabrightnessofwitandgood—humorthatcharmedall,byanauthoritywhichheknewhowtoassume,byamysteryandsilenceabouthimwhichincreasedthechild'sreverenceforhim,hewonHarry'sabsolutefealty,andwouldhavekeptit,doubtless,ifschemesgreaterandmoreimportantthanapoorlittleboy'sadmissionintoordershadnotcalledhimaway。
  Afterbeingathomeforafewmonthsintranquillity(iftheirsmightbecalledtranquillity,whichwas,intruth,aconstantbickering),mylordandladyleftthecountryforLondon,takingtheirdirectorwiththem:andhislittlepupilscarceevershedmorebittertearsinhislifethanhedidfornightsafterthefirstpartingwithhisdearfriend,ashelayinthelonelychambernexttothatwhichtheFatherusedtooccupy。Heandafewdomesticswereleftastheonlytenantsofthegreathouse:and,thoughHarrysedulouslydidallthetaskswhichtheFathersethim,hehadmanyhoursunoccupied,andreadinthelibrary,andbewilderedhislittlebrainswiththegreatbookshefoundthere。
  Afterawhile,thelittleladgrewaccustomedtothelonelinessoftheplace;andinafterdaysrememberedthispartofhislifeasaperiodnotunhappy。WhenthefamilywasatLondonthewholeoftheestablishmenttravelledthitherwiththeexceptionoftheporter——
  whowas,moreover,brewer,gardener,andwoodman——andhiswifeandchildren。Thesehadtheirlodginginthegate—househardby,withadoorintothecourt;andawindowlookingoutonthegreenwastheChaplain'sroom;andnexttothisasmallchamberwhereFatherHolthadhisbooks,andHarryEsmondhissleepingcloset。ThesideofthehousefacingtheeasthadescapedthegunsoftheCromwellians,whosebatterywasontheheightfacingthewesterncourt;sothatthiseasternendborefewmarksofdemolition,saveinthechapel,wherethepaintedwindowssurvivingEdwardtheSixthhadbeenbrokebytheCommonwealthmen。InFatherHolt'stimelittleHarryEsmondactedashisfamiliarandfaithfullittleservitor;beatinghisclothes,foldinghisvestments,fetchinghiswaterfromthewelllongbeforedaylight,readytorunanywherefortheserviceofhisbelovedpriest。WhentheFatherwasaway,helockedhisprivatechamber;buttheroomwherethebookswerewaslefttolittleHarry,who,butforthesocietyofthisgentleman,waslittlelesssolitarywhenLordCastlewoodwasathome。
  TheFrenchwitsaiththataheroisnonetohisvalet—de—chambre,anditrequiredlessquickeyesthanmylady'slittlepagewasnaturallyendowedwith,toseethatshehadmanyqualitiesbynomeansheroic,howevermuchMrs。Tushermightflatterandcoaxher。
  WhenFatherHoltwasnotby,whoexercisedanentireauthorityoverthepair,mylordandmyladyquarrelledandabusedeachothersoastomaketheservantslaugh,andtofrightenthelittlepageonduty。Thepoorboytrembledbeforehismistress,whocalledhimbyahundreduglynames,whomadenothingofboxinghisears,andtiltingthesilverbasininhisfacewhichitwashisbusinesstopresenttoherafterdinner。Shehathrepaired,bysubsequentkindnesstohim,theseseverities,whichitmustbeownedmadehischildhoodveryunhappy。Shewasbutunhappyherselfatthistime,poorsoul!andIsupposemadeherdependantsleadherownsadlife。
  Ithinkmylordwasasmuchafraidofherasherpagewas,andtheonlypersonofthehouseholdwhomasteredherwasMr。Holt。HarrywasonlytoogladwhentheFatherdinedattable,andtoslinkawayandprattlewithhimafterwards,orreadwithhim,orwalkwithhim。LuckilymyLadyViscountessdidnotrisetillnoon。Heavenhelpthepoorwaiting—womanwhohadchargeofhertoilet!Ihaveoftenseenthepoorwretchcomeoutwithredeyesfromtheclosetwherethoselongandmysteriousritesofherladyship'sdresswereperformed,andthebackgammon—boxlockedupwitharaponMrs。
  Tusher'sfingerswhensheplayedill,orthegamewasgoingthewrongway。
  Blessedbethekingwhointroducedcards,andthekindinventorsofpiquetandcribbage,fortheyemployedsixhoursatleastofherladyship'sday,duringwhichherfamilywasprettyeasy。Withoutthisoccupationmyladyfrequentlydeclaredsheshoulddie。Herdependantsoneafteranotherrelievedguard——'twasratheradangerousposttoplaywithherladyship——andtookthecardsturnabout。Mr。Holtwouldsitwithheratpiquetduringhourstogether,atwhichtimeshebehavedherselfproperly;andasforDr。Tusher,Ibelievehewouldhaveleftaparishioner'sdyingbed,ifsummonedtoplayarubberwithhispatronessatCastlewood。
  Sometimes,whentheywereprettycomfortabletogether,mylordtookahand。BesidesthesemyladyhadherfaithfulpoorTusher,andone,two,threegentlewomenwhomHarryEsmondcouldrecollectinhistime。Theycouldnotbearthatgenteelserviceverylong;oneafteranothertriedandfailedatit。Theseandthehousekeeper,andlittleHarryEsmond,hadatableoftheirown。Poorladiestheirlifewasfarharderthanthepage's。Hewassoundasleep,tuckedupinhislittlebed,whilsttheyweresittingbyherladyshipreadinghertosleep,withthe"NewsLetter"orthe"GrandCyrus。"MyladyusedtohaveboxesofnewplaysfromLondon,andHarrywasforbidden,underthepainofawhipping,tolookintothem。Iamafraidhedeservedthepenaltyprettyoften,andgotitsometimes。FatherHoltappliedittwiceorthrice,whenhecaughttheyoungscapegracewithadelightfulwickedcomedyofMr。
  Shadwell'sorMr。Wycherley'sunderhispillow。
  These,whenhetookany,weremylord'sfavoritereading。Buthewasaversetomuchstudy,and,ashislittlepagefancied,tomuchoccupationofanysort。
  ItalwaysseemedtoyoungHarryEsmondthatmylordtreatedhimwithmorekindnesswhenhisladywasnotpresent,andLordCastlewoodwouldtaketheladsometimesonhislittlejourneysa—
  huntingora—birding;helovedtoplayatcardsandtric—tracwithhim,whichgamestheboylearnedtopleasurehislord:andwasgrowingtolikehimbetterdaily,showingaspecialpleasureifFatherHoltgaveagoodreportofhim,pattinghimonthehead,andpromisingthathewouldprovidefortheboy。However,inmylady'spresence,mylordshowednosuchmarksofkindness,andaffectedtotreattheladroughly,andrebukedhimsharplyforlittlefaults,forwhichheinamanneraskedpardonofyoungEsmondwhentheywereprivate,sayingifhedidnotspeakroughly,shewould,andhistonguewasnotsuchabadoneashislady's——apointwhereoftheboy,youngashewas,wasverywellassured。
  Greatpubliceventswerehappeningallthiswhile,ofwhichthesimpleyoungpagetooklittlecount。Butoneday,ridingintotheneighboringtownonthestepofmylady'scoach,hislordshipandsheandFatherHoltbeinginside,agreatmobofpeoplecamehootingandjeeringroundthecoach,bawlingout"TheBishopsforever!""DownwiththePope!""NoPopery!noPopery!Jezebel,Jezebel!"sothatmylordbegantolaugh,mylady'seyestorollwithanger,forshewasasboldasalioness,andfearednobody;
  whilstMr。Holt,asEsmondsawfromhisplaceonthestep,sankbackwithratheranalarmedface,cryingouttoherladyship,"ForGod'ssake,madam,donotspeakorlookoutofwindow;sitstill。"
  ButshedidnotobeythisprudentinjunctionoftheFather;shethrustherheadoutofthecoachwindow,andscreamedouttothecoachman,"Flogyourwaythroughthem,thebrutes,James,anduseyourwhip!"
  Themobansweredwitharoaringjeeroflaughter,andfreshcriesof"Jezebel!Jezebel!"Mylordonlylaughedthemore:hewasalanguidgentleman:nothingseemedtoexcitehimcommonly,thoughI
  haveseenhimcheerandhalloothehoundsverybriskly,andhisface(whichwasgenerallyveryyellowandcalm)growquiteredandcheerfulduringaburstovertheDownsafterahare,andlaugh,andswear,andhuzzahatacockfight,ofwhichsporthewasveryfond。
  Andnow,whenthemobbegantohoothislady,helaughedwithsomethingofamischievouslook,asthoughheexpectedsport,andthoughtthatsheandtheywereamatch。
  Jamesthecoachmanwasmoreafraidofhismistressthanthemob,probably,forhewhippedonhishorsesashewasbidden,andthepost—boythatrodewiththefirstpair(myladyalwaysrodewithhercoach—and—six,)gaveacutofhisthongovertheshouldersofonefellowwhoputhishandouttowardstheleadinghorse'srein。
  Itwasamarket—day,andthecountry—peoplewereallassembledwiththeirbasketsofpoultry,eggs,andsuchthings;thepostilionhadnosoonerlashedthemanwhowouldhavetakenholdofhishorse,butagreatcabbagecamewhirlinglikeabombshellintothecarriage,atwhichmylordlaughedmore,foritknockedmylady'sfanoutofherhand,andplumpedintoFatherHolt'sstomach。Thencameashowerofcarrotsandpotatoes。
  "ForHeaven'ssakebestill!"saysMr。Holt;"wearenottenpacesfromthe'Bell'archway,wheretheycanshutthegatesonus,andkeepoutthiscanaille。"
  Thelittlepagewasoutsidethecoachonthestep,andafellowinthecrowdaimedapotatoathim,andhithimintheeye,atwhichthepoorlittlewretchsetupashout;themanlaughed,agreatbigsaddler'sapprenticeofthetown。"Ah!youd———littleyellingPopishbastard,"hesaid,andstoopedtopickupanother;thecrowdhadgatheredquitebetweenthehorsesandtheinndoorbythistime,andthecoachwasbroughttoadeadstand—still。Mylordjumpedasbrisklyasaboyoutofthedooronhissideofthecoach,squeezinglittleHarrybehindit;hadholdofthepotato—
  thrower'scollarinaninstant,andthenextmomentthebrute'sheelswereintheair,andhefellonthestoneswithathump。
  "Youhulkingcoward!"sayshe;"youpackofscreamingblackguards!
  howdareyouattackchildren,andinsultwomen?Flinganothershotatthatcarriage,yousneakingpigskincobbler,andbytheLordI'llsendmyrapierthroughyou!"
  Someofthemobcried,"Huzzah,mylord!"fortheyknewhim,andthesaddler'smanwasaknownbruiser,neartwiceasbigasmylordViscount。
  "Makewaythere,"sayshe(hespokeinahighshrillvoice,butwithagreatairofauthority)。"Makeway,andletherladyship'scarriagepass。"Thementhatwerebetweenthecoachandthegateofthe"Bell"actuallydidmakeway,andthehorseswentin,mylordwalkingafterthemwithhishatonhishead。
  Ashewasgoinginatthegate,throughwhichthecoachhadjustrolled,anothercrybegins,of"NoPopery——noPapists!"Mylordturnsroundandfacesthemoncemore。
  "GodsavetheKing!"saysheatthehighestpitchofhisvoice。
  "WhodaresabusetheKing'sreligion?You,youd——dpsalm—singingcobbler,assureasI'mamagistrateofthiscountyI'llcommityou!"Thefellowshrankback,andmylordretreatedwithallthehonorsoftheday。Butwhenthelittleflurrycausedbythescenewasover,andtheflushpassedoffhisface,herelapsedintohisusuallanguor,trifledwithhislittledog,andyawnedwhenmyladyspoketohim。
  Thismobwasoneofmanythousandsthatweregoingaboutthecountryatthattime,huzzahingfortheacquittalofthesevenbishopswhohadbeentriedjustthen,andaboutwhomlittleHarryEsmondatthattimeknewscarceanything。ItwasAssizesatHexton,andtherewasagreatmeetingofthegentryatthe"Bell;"
  andmylord'speoplehadtheirnewliverieson,andHarryalittlesuitofblueandsilver,whichheworeuponoccasionsofstate;andthegentlefolkscameroundandtalkedtomylord:andajudgeinaredgown,whoseemedaverygreatpersonage,especiallycomplimentedhimandmylady,whowasmightygrand。Harryremembershertrainborneupbyhergentlewoman。Therewasanassemblyandballatthegreatroomatthe"Bell,"andotheryounggentlemenofthecountyfamilieslookedonashedid。Oneofthemjeeredhimforhisblackeye,whichwasswelledbythepotato,andanothercalledhimabastard,onwhichheandHarryfelltofisticuffs。Mylord'scousin,ColonelEsmondofWalcote,wasthere,andseparatedthetwolads——agreattallgentleman,withahandsomegood—naturedface。Theboydidnotknowhownearlyinafter—lifeheshouldbealliedtoColonelEsmond,andhowmuchkindnessheshouldhavetoowehim。
  Therewaslittlelovebetweenthetwofamilies。MyladyusednottospareColonelEsmondintalkingofhim,forreasonswhichhavebeenhintedalready;butaboutwhich,athistenderage,HenryEsmondcouldbeexpectedtoknownothing。
  Verysoonafterwards,mylordandladywenttoLondonwithMr。
  Holt,leaving,however,thepagebehindthem。ThelittlemanhadthegreathouseofCastlewoodtohimself;orbetweenhimandthehousekeeper,Mrs。Worksop,anoldladywhowasakinswomanofthefamilyinsomedistantway,andaProtestant,butastaunchToryandking's—man,asalltheEsmondswere。HeusedtogotoschooltoDr。Tusherwhenhewasathome,thoughtheDoctorwasmuchoccupiedtoo。Therewasagreatstirandcommotioneverywhere,eveninthelittlequietvillageofCastlewood,whitherapartyofpeoplecamefromthetown,whowouldhavebrokenCastlewoodChapelwindows,butthevillagepeopleturnedout,andevenoldSieveright,therepublicanblacksmith,alongwiththem:formylady,thoughshewasaPapist,andhadmanyoddways,waskindtothetenantry,andtherewasalwaysaplentyofbeef,andblankets,andmedicineforthepooratCastlewoodHall。
  Akingdomwaschanginghandswhilstmylordandladywereaway。
  KingJameswasflying,theDutchmenwerecoming;awfulstoriesaboutthemandthePrinceofOrangeusedoldMrs。Worksoptotelltotheidlelittlepage。
  Helikedthesolitudeofthegreathouseverywell;hehadalltheplay—bookstoread,andnoFatherHolttowhiphim,andahundredchildishpursuitsandpastimes,withoutdoorsandwithin,whichmadethistimeverypleasant。
  CHAPTERV。
  MYSUPERIORSAREENGAGEDINPLOTSFORTHERESTORATIONOFKINGJAMESII。
  Nothavingbeenabletosleep,forthinkingofsomelinesforeelswhichhehadplacedthenightbefore,theladwaslyinginhislittlebed,waitingforthehourwhenthegatewouldbeopen,andheandhiscomrade,JohnLockwood,theporter'sson,mightgotothepondandseewhatfortunehadbroughtthem。AtdaybreakJohnwastoawakenhim,buthisowneagernessforthesporthadservedasareveillezlongsince——solong,thatitseemedtohimasifthedayneverwouldcome。
  Itmighthavebeenfouro'clockwhenheheardthedooroftheoppositechamber,theChaplain'sroom,open,andthevoiceofamancoughinginthepassage。Harryjumpedup,thinkingforcertainitwasarobber,orhopingperhapsforaghost,and,flingingopenhisowndoor,sawbeforehimtheChaplain'sdooropen,andalightinside,andafigurestandinginthedoorway,inthemidstofagreatsmokewhichissuedfromtheroom。
  "Who'sthere?"criedouttheboy,whowasofagoodspirit。
  "Silentium!"whisperedtheother;"'tisI,myboy!"and,holdinghishandout,Harryhadnodifficultyinrecognizinghismasterandfriend,FatherHolt。AcurtainwasoverthewindowoftheChaplain'sroomthatlookedtothecourt,andHarrysawthatthesmokecamefromagreatflameofpaperswhichwereburninginabrazierwhenheenteredtheChaplain'sroom。Aftergivingahastygreetingandblessingtothelad,whowascharmedtoseehistutor,theFathercontinuedtheburningofhispapers,drawingthemfromacupboardoverthemantel—piecewall,whichHarryhadneverseenbefore。
  FatherHoltlaughed,seeingthelad'sattentionfixedatonceonthishole。"Thatisright,Harry,"hesaid;"faithfullittlefamuli,seeallandsaynothing。Youarefaithful,Iknow。"
  "IknowIwouldgotothestakeforyou,"saidHarry。
  "Idon'twantyourhead,"saidtheFather,pattingitkindly;allyouhavetodoistoholdyourtongue。Letusburnthesepapers,andsaynothingtoanybody。Shouldyouliketoreadthem?"
  HarryEsmondblushed,andhelddownhishead;heHADlookedasthefactwas,andwithoutthinking,atthepaperbeforehim;andthoughhehadseenit,couldnotunderstandawordofit,thelettersbeingquiteclearenough,butquitewithoutmeaning。Theyburnedthepapers,beatingdowntheashesinabrazier,sothatscarceanytracesofthemremained。
  HarryhadbeenaccustomedtoseeFatherHoltinmoredressesthanone;itnotbeingsafe,orworththedanger,forPopishecclesiasticstoweartheirproperdress;andhewas,inconsequence,innowiseastonishedthatthepriestshouldnowappearbeforehiminariding—dress,withlargebuffleatherboots,andafeathertohishat,plain,butsuchasgentlemenwore。
  "Youknowthesecretofthecupboard,"saidhe,laughing,"andmustbepreparedforothermysteries;"andheopened——butnotasecretcupboardthistime——onlyawardrobe,whichheusuallykeptlocked,andfromwhichhenowtookouttwoorthreedressesandperruquesofdifferentcolors,andacoupleofswordsofaprettymake(FatherHoltwasanexpertpractitionerwiththesmall—sword,andeveryday,whilsthewasathome,heandhispupilpractisedthisexercise,inwhichtheladbecameaverygreatproficient),amilitarycoatandcloak,andafarmer'ssmock,andplacedtheminthelargeholeoverthemantel—piecefromwhichthepapershadbeentaken。
  "Iftheymissthecupboard,"hesaid,"theywillnotfindthese;iftheyfindthem,they'lltellnotales,exceptthatFatherHoltworemoresuitsofclothesthanone。AllJesuitsdo。Youknowwhatdeceiversweare,Harry。"
  Harrywasalarmedatthenotionthathisfriendwasabouttoleavehim;but"No,"thepriestsaid,"Imayverylikelycomebackwithmylordinafewdays。Wearetobetolerated;wearenottobepersecuted。ButtheymaytakeafancytopayavisitatCastlewoodereourreturn;and,asgentlemenofmyclotharesuspected,theymightchoosetoexaminemypapers,whichconcernnobody——atleastnotthem。"Andtothisday,whetherthepapersincipherrelatedtopolitics,ortotheaffairsofthatmysterioussocietywhereofFatherHoltwasamember,hispupil,HarryEsmond,remainsinentireignorance。
  Therestofhisgoods,hissmallwardrobe,&c。Holtleftuntouchedonhisshelvesandinhiscupboard,takingdown——withalaugh,however——andflingingintothebrazier,whereheonlyhalfburnedthem,sometheologicaltreatiseswhichhehadbeenwritingagainsttheEnglishdivines。"Andnow,"saidhe,"Henry,myson,youmaytestify,withasafeconscience,thatyousawmeburningLatinsermonsthelasttimeIwasherebeforeIwentawaytoLondon;anditwillbedaybreakdirectly,andImustbeawaybeforeLockwoodisstirring。"
  "WillnotLockwoodletyouout,sir?"Esmondasked。Holtlaughed;
  hewasnevermoregayorgood—humoredthanwheninthemidstofactionordanger。