"Doyouleavethis，too，Beatrix？"sayshermother，takingtheminiatureout，andwithacrueltyshedidnotveryoftenshow;buttherearesomemomentswhenthetenderestwomenarecruel，andsometriumphswhichangelscan'tforego。*
*Thisremarkshowshowunjustlyandcontemptuouslyeventhebestofmenwillsometimesjudgeofoursex。LadyCastlewoodhadnointentionoftriumphingoverherdaughter;butfromasenseofdutyalonepointedoutherdeplorablewrong。——H。E。
Havingdeliveredthisstab，LadyCastlewoodwasfrightenedattheeffectofherblow。ItwenttopoorBeatrix'sheart:sheflushedupandpassedahandkerchiefacrosshereyes，andkissedtheminiature，andputitintoherbosom:——"Ihadforgotit，"saysshe;
"myinjurymademeforgetmygrief:mymotherhasrecalledbothtome。Farewell，mother;IthinkInevercanforgiveyou;somethinghathbrokebetweenusthatnotearsnoryearscanrepair。IalwayssaidIwasalone;youneverlovedme，never——andwerejealousofmefromthetimeIsatonmyfather'sknee。Letmegoaway，thesoonerthebetter:Icanbeartobewithyounomore。"
"Go，child，"sayshermother，stillverystern;"goandbendyourproudkneesandaskforgiveness;go，prayinsolitudeforhumilityandrepentance。'Tisnotyourreproachesthatmakemeunhappy，'tisyourhardheart，mypoorBeatrix;mayGodsoftenit，andteachyouonedaytofeelforyourmother。"
Ifmymistresswascruel，atleastshenevercouldbegottoownasmuch。HerhaughtinessquiteovertoppedBeatrix's;and，ifthegirlhadaproudspirit，Iverymuchfearitcametoherbyinheritance。
CHAPTERXI。
OURGUESTQUITSUSASNOTBEINGHOSPITABLEENOUGH。
Beatrix'sdeparturetookplacewithinanhour，hermaidgoingwithherinthepost—chaise，andamanarmedonthecoach—boxtopreventanydangeroftheroad。EsmondandFrankthoughtofescortingthecarriage，butsheindignantlyrefusedtheircompany，andanothermanwassenttofollowthecoach，andnottoleaveittillithadpassedoverHounslowHeathonthenextday。AndthesetwoformingthewholeofLadyCastlewood'smaledomestics，Mr。Esmond'sfaithfulJohnLockwoodcametowaitonhismistressduringtheirabsence，thoughhewouldhavepreferredtoescortMrs。Lucy，hissweetheart，onherjourneyintothecountry。
Wehadagloomyandsilentmeal;itseemedasifadarknesswasoverthehouse，sincethebrightfaceofBeatrixhadbeenwithdrawnfromit。Intheafternooncameamessagefromthefavoritetorelieveussomewhatfromthisdespondency。"TheQueenhathbeenmuchshaken，"thenotesaid;"sheisbetternow，andallthingswillgowell。LetMYLORDCASTLEWOODbereadyagainstwesendforhim。"
Atnighttherecameasecondbillet:"TherehathbeenagreatbattleinCouncil;LordTreasurerhathbrokehisstaff，andhathfallennevertoriseagain;nosuccessorisappointed。LordB————
receivesagreatWhigcompanyto—nightatGoldenSquare。Ifheistrimming，othersaretrue;theQueenhathnomorefits，butisa—bednow，andmorequiet。Bereadyagainstmorning，whenIstillhopeallwillbewell。"
ThePrincecamehomeshortlyafterthemessengerwhoborethisbillethadleftthehouse。HisRoyalHighnesswassomuchthebetterfortheBishop'sliquor，thattotalkaffairstohimnowwasoflittleservice。HewashelpedtotheRoyalbed;hecalledCastlewoodfamiliarlybyhisownname;hequiteforgotthepartupontheactingofwhichhiscrown，hissafety，depended。'TwasluckythatmyLadyCastlewood'sservantswereoutoftheway，andonlythoseheardhimwhowouldnotbetrayhim。HeinquiredaftertheadorableBeatrix，witharoyalhiccupinhisvoice;hewaseasilygottobed，andinaminuteortwoplungedinthatdeepslumberandforgetfulnesswithwhichBacchusrewardsthevotariesofthatgod。WewishedBeatrixhadbeentheretoseehiminhiscups。Weregretted，perhaps，thatshewasgone。
OneofthepartyatKensingtonSquarewasfoolenoughtoridetoHounslowthatnight，coramlatronibus，andtotheinnwhichthefamilyusedordinarilyintheirjourneysoutofLondon。EsmonddesiredmylandlordnottoacquaintMadamBeatrixwithhiscoming，andhadthegrimsatisfactionofpassingbythedoorofthechamberwhereshelaywithhermaid，andofwatchingherchariotsetforthintheearlymorning。Hesawhersmileandslipmoneyintotheman'shandwhowasorderedtoridebehindthecoachasfarasBagshot。Theroadbeingopen，andtheotherservantarmed，itappearedshedispensedwiththeescortofaseconddomestic;andthisfellow，biddinghisyoungmistressadieuwithmanybows，wentandtookapotofaleinthekitchen，andreturnedincompanywithhisbrotherservant，JohnCoachman，andhishorses，backtoLondon。
TheywerenotamileoutofHounslowwhenthetwoworthiesstoppedformoredrink，andheretheywerescaredbyseeingColonelEsmondgallopbythem。ThemansaidinreplytoColonelEsmond'ssternquestion，thathisyoungmistresshadsentherduty;onlythat，noothermessage:shehadhadaverygoodnight，andwouldreachCastlewoodbynightfall。TheColonelhadnotimeforfurthercolloquy，andgallopedonswiftlytoLondon，havingbusinessofgreatimportancethere，asmyreaderverywellknoweth。ThethoughtofBeatrixridingawayfromthedangersoothedhismindnotalittle。HishorsewasatKensingtonSquare（honestDappleknewthewaythitherwellenough）beforethetipsyguestoflastnightwasawakeandsober。
Theaccountofthepreviouseveningwasknownalloverthetownearlynextday。AviolentaltercationhadtakenplacebeforetheQueenintheCouncilChamber;andallthecoffee—houseshadtheirversionofthequarrel。ThenewsbroughtmyLordBishopearlytoKensingtonSquare，whereheawaitedthewakingofhisRoyalmasterabovestairs，andspokeconfidentlyofhavinghimproclaimedasPrinceofWalesandheirtothethronebeforethatdaywasover。
TheBishophadentertainedonthepreviousafternooncertainofthemostinfluentialgentlemenofthetrueBritishparty。HisRoyalhighnesshadcharmedall，bothScotsandEnglish，PapistsandChurchmen:"EvenQuakers，"sayshe，"wereatourmeeting;and，ifthestrangertookalittletoomuchBritishpunchandale，hewillsoongrowmoreaccustomedtothoseliquors;andmyLordCastlewood，"saystheBishopwithalaugh，"mustbearthecruelchargeofhavingbeenforonceinhislifealittletipsy。Hetoastedyourlovelysisteradozentimes，atwhichwealllaughed，"
saystheBishop，"admiringsomuchfraternalaffection。——Whereisthatcharmingnymph，andwhydothshenotadornyourladyship'stea—tablewithherbrighteyes？"
Herladyshipsaid，dryly，thatBeatrixwasnotathomethatmorning;myLordBishopwastoobusywithgreataffairstotroublehimselfmuchaboutthepresenceorabsenceofanylady，howeverbeautiful。
WewereyetattablewhenDr。A————camefromthePalacewithalookofgreatalarm;theshockstheQueenhadhadthedaybeforehadactedonherseverely;hehadbeensentfor，andhadorderedhertobeblooded。ThesurgeonofLongAcrehadcometocuptheQueen，andherMajestywasnowmoreeasyandbreathedmorefreely。
WhatmadeusstartatthenameofMr。Ayme？"Ilfautetreaimablepouretreaime，"saysthemerryDoctor;Esmondpulledhissleeve，andbadehimhush。ItwastoAyme'shouse，afterhisfatalduel，thatmydearLordCastlewood，Frank'sfather，hadbeencarriedtodie。
NosecondvisitcouldbepaidtotheQueenonthatdayatanyrate;
andwhenourguestabovegavehissignalthathewasawake，theDoctor，theBishop，andColonelEsmondwaiteduponthePrince'slevee，andbroughthimtheirnews，cheerfulordubious。TheDoctorhadtogoawaypresently，butpromisedtokeepthePrinceconstantlyacquaintedwithwhatwastakingplaceatthePalacehardby。Hiscounselwas，andtheBishop's，thatassoonasevertheQueen'smaladytookafavorableturn，thePrinceshouldbeintroducedtoherbedside;theCouncilsummoned;theguardatKensingtonandSt。
James's，ofwhichtworegimentsweretobeentirelyreliedon，andoneknownnottobehostile，woulddeclareforthePrince，astheQueenwouldbeforetheLordsofherCouncil，designatinghimastheheirtoherthrone。
Withlockeddoors，andColonelEsmondactingassecretary，thePrinceandhisLordshipofRochesterpassedmanyhoursofthisday，composingProclamationsandAddressestotheCountry，totheScots，totheClergy，tothePeopleofLondonandEngland;announcingthearrivaloftheexiledescendantofthreesovereigns，andhisacknowledgmentbyhissisterasheirtothethrone。Everysafeguardfortheirliberties，theChurchandPeoplecouldask，waspromisedtothem。TheBishopcouldanswerfortheadhesionofverymanyprelates，whobesoughtoftheirflocksandbrotherecclesiasticstorecognizethesacredrightofthefuturesovereign，andtopurgethecountryofthesinofrebellion。
Duringthecompositionofthesepapers，moremessengersthanonecamefromthePalaceregardingthestateoftheaugustpatienttherelying。Atmid—dayshewassomewhatbetter;ateveningthetorporagainseizedher，andshewanderedinhermind。AtnightDr。A————waswithusagain，withareportrathermorefavorable:
noinstantdangeratanyratewasapprehended。InthecourseofthelasttwoyearsherMajestyhadhadmanyattackssimilar，butmoresevere。
Bythistimewehadfinishedahalf—dozenofProclamations，（thewordingofthemsoastooffendnoparties，andnottogiveumbragetoWhigsorDissenters，requiredverygreatcaution，）andtheyoungPrince，whohadindeedshown，duringalongday'slabor，bothalacrityatseizingtheinformationgivenhim，andingenuityandskillinturningthephraseswhichweretogooutsignedbyhisname，hereexhibitedagood—humorandthoughtfulnessthatoughttobesetdowntohiscredit。
"Werethesepaperstobemislaid，"sayshe，"orourschemetocometomishap，myLordEsmond'swritingwouldbringhimtoaplacewhereIheartilyhopenevertoseehim;andso，byyourleave，I
willcopythepapersmyself，thoughIamnotverystronginspelling;andiftheyarefoundtheywillimplicatenonebutthepersontheymostconcern;"andso，havingcarefullycopiedtheProclamationsout，thePrinceburnedthoseinColonelEsmond'shandwriting:"Andnow，andnow，gentlemen，"sayshe，"letusgotosupper，anddrinkaglasswiththeladies。MyLordEsmond，youwillsupwithusto—night;youhavegivenusoflatetoolittleofyourcompany。"
ThePrince'smealswerecommonlyservedinthechamberwhichhadbeenBeatrix'sbedroom，adjoiningthatinwhichheslept。AndthedutifulpracticeofhisentertainerswastowaituntiltheirRoyalguestbadethemtaketheirplacesattablebeforetheysatdowntopartakeofthemeal。Onthisnight，asyoumaysuppose，onlyFrankCastlewoodandhismotherwereinwaitingwhenthesupperwasannouncedtoreceivethePrince;whohadpassedthewholeofthedayinhisownapartment，withtheBishopashisMinisterofState，andColonelEsmondofficiatingasSecretaryofhisCouncil。
ThePrince'scountenanceworeanexpressionbynomeanspleasant;
whenlookingtowardsthelittlecompanyassembled，andwaitingforhim，hedidnotseeBeatrix'sbrightfacethereasusualtogreethim。HeaskedLadyEsmondforhisfairintroducerofyesterday:
herladyshiponlycasthereyesdown，andsaidquietly，Beatrixcouldnotbeofthesupperthatnight;nordidsheshowtheleastsignofconfusion，whereasCastlewoodturnedred，andEsmondwasnolessembarrassed。Ithinkwomenhaveaninstinctofdissimulation;
theyknowbynaturehowtodisguisetheiremotionsfarbetterthanthemostconsummatemalecourtierscando。Isnotthebetterpartofthelifeofmanyofthemspentinhidingtheirfeelings，incajolingtheirtyrants，inmaskingoverwithfondsmilesandartfulgayety，theirdoubt，ortheirgrief，ortheirterror？
Ourguestswallowedhissupperverysulkily;itwasnottillthesecondbottlehisHighnessbegantorally。WhenLadyCastlewoodaskedleavetodepart，hesentamessagetoBeatrix，hopingshewouldbepresentatthenextday'sdinner，andappliedhimselftodrink，andtotalkafterwards，forwhichtherewassubjectinplenty。
Thenextday，weheardfromourinformeratKensingtonthattheQueenwassomewhatbetter，andhadbeenupforanhour，thoughshewasnotwellenoughyettoreceiveanyvisitor。
AtdinnerasinglecoverwaslaidforhisRoyalHighness;andthetwogentlemenalonewaitedonhim。WehadhadaconsultationinthemorningwithLadyCastlewood，inwhichithadbeendeterminedthat，shouldhisHighnessaskfurtherquestionsaboutBeatrix，heshouldbeansweredbythegentlemenofthehouse。
Hewasevidentlydisturbedanduneasy，lookingtowardsthedoorconstantly，asifexpectingsomeone。Therecame，however，nobody，excepthonestJohnLockwood，whenheknockedwithadish，whichthosewithintookfromhim;sothemealswerealwaysarranged，andIbelievethecouncilinthekitchenwereofopinionthatmyyounglordhadbroughtoverapriest，whohadconvertedusallintoPapists，andthatPapistswerelikeJews，eatingtogether，andnotchoosingtotaketheirmealsinthesightofChristians。
ThePrincetriedtocoverhisdispleasure;hewasbutaclumsydissembleratthattime，andwhenoutofhumorcouldwithdifficultykeepaserenecountenance;andhavingmadesomefoolishattemptsattrivialtalk，hecametohispointpresently，andinaseasyamannerashecould，sayingtoLordCastlewood，hehoped，herequested，hislordship'smotherandsisterwouldbeofthesupperthatnight。Asthetimehungheavyonhim，andhemustnotgoabroad，wouldnotMissBeatrixholdhimcompanyatagameofcards？
Atthis，lookingupatEsmond，andtakingthesignalfromhim，LordCastlewoodinformedhisRoyalHighness*thathissisterBeatrixwasnotatKensington;andthatherfamilyhadthoughtitbestsheshouldquitthetown。
*InLondonweaddressedthePrinceasRoyalHighnessinvariably，thoughthewomenpersistedingivinghimthetitleofKing。
"NotatKensington！"sayshe;"issheill？shewaswellyesterday;
whereforeshouldshequitthetown？Isitatyourorders，mylord，orColonelEsmond's，whoseemsthemasterofthishouse？"
"Notofthis，sir，"saysFrankverynobly，"onlyofourhouseinthecountry，whichhehathgiventous。Thisismymother'shouse，andWalcoteismyfather's，andtheMarquisofEsmondknowshehathbuttogivehisword，andIreturnhistohim。"
"TheMarquisofEsmond！——theMarquisofEsmond，"saysthePrince，tossingoffaglass，"meddlestoomuchwithmyaffairs，andpresumesontheservicehehathdoneme。IfyouwanttocarryyoursuitwithBeatrix，mylord，byblockingherupingaol，letmetellyouthatisnotthewaytowinawoman。"
"Iwasnotaware，sir，thatIhadspokenofmysuittoMadamBeatrixtoyourRoyalHighness。"
"Bah，bah，Monsieur！weneednotbeaconjurertoseethat。Itmakesitselfseenatallmoments。Youarejealous，mylord，andthemaidofhonorcannotlookatanotherfacewithoutyoursbeginningtoscowl。Thatwhichyoudoisunworthy，Monsieur;isinhospitable——is，islache，yes，lache:（hespokerapidlyinFrench，hisragecarryinghimawaywitheachphrase:）"Icometoyourhouse;Iriskmylife;Ipassitinennui;Ireposemyselfonyourfidelity;Ihavenocompanybutyourlordship'ssermonsortheconversationsofthatadorableyounglady，andyoutakeherfromme，andyou，yourest！Merci，Monsieur！IshallthankyouwhenI
havethemeans;Ishallknowtorecompenseadevotionalittleimportunate，mylord——alittleimportunate。Foramonthpastyourairsofprotectorhaveannoyedmebeyondmeasure。Youdeigntooffermethecrown，andbidmetakeitonmykneeslikeKingJohn——
eh！Iknowmyhistory，Monsieur，andmockmyselfoffrowningbarons。Iadmireyourmistress，andyousendhertoaBastileoftheProvince;Ienteryourhouse，andyoumistrustme。Iwillleaveit，Monsieur;fromto—nightIwillleaveit。Ihaveotherfriendswhoseloyaltywillnotbesoreadytoquestionmine。IfI
havegarterstogiveaway，'tistonoblemenwhoarenotsoreadytothinkevil。Bringmeacoachandletmequitthisplace，orletthefairBeatrixreturntoit。Iwillnothaveyourhospitalityattheexpenseofthefreedomofthatfaircreature。"
ThisharanguewasutteredwithrapidgesticulationsuchastheFrenchuse，andinthelanguageofthatnation。ThePrincestridingupanddowntheroom;hisfaceflushed，andhishandstremblingwithanger。Hewasverythinandfrailfromrepeatedillnessandalifeofpleasure。EitherCastlewoodorEsmondcouldhavebrokehimacrosstheirknee，andinhalfaminute'sstruggleputanendtohim;andherehewasinsultingusboth，andscarcedeigningtohidefromthetwo，whosehonoritmostconcerned，thepassionhefeltfortheyoungladyofourfamily。MyLordCastlewoodrepliedtothePrince'stiradeverynoblyandsimply。
"Sir，"sayshe，"yourRoyalHighnessispleasedtoforgetthatothersrisktheirlives，andforyourcause。VeryfewEnglishmen，pleaseGod，woulddaretolayhandsonyoursacredperson，thoughnonewouldeverthinkofrespectingours。Ourfamily'slivesareatyourservice，andeverythingwehaveexceptourhonor。"
"Honor！bah，sir，whoeverthoughtofhurtingyourhonor？"saysthePrincewithapeevishair。
"WeimploreyourRoyalHighnessnevertothinkofhurtingit，"saysLordCastlewoodwithalowbow。Thenightbeingwarm，thewindowswereopenbothtowardstheGardensandtheSquare。ColonelEsmondheardthroughthecloseddoorthevoiceofthewatchmancallingthehour，inthesquareontheotherside。HeopenedthedoorcommunicatingwiththePrince'sroom;Martin，theservantthathadrodewithBeatrixtoHounslow，wasjustgoingoutofthechamberasEsmondenteredit，andwhenthefellowwasgone，andthewatchmanagainsanghiscryof"Pastteno'clock，andastarlightnight，"
EsmondspoketothePrinceinalowvoice，andsaid——"YourRoyalHighnesshearsthatman。"
"Apres，Monsieur？"saysthePrince。
"Ihavebuttobeckonhimfromthewindow，andsendhimfiftyyards，andhereturnswithaguardofmen，andIdeliveruptohimthebodyofthepersoncallinghimselfJamestheThird，forwhosecaptureParliamenthathofferedarewardof500L。，asyourRoyalHighnesssawonourridefromRochester。Ihavebuttosaytheword，and，bytheheaventhatmademe，IwouldsayitifIthoughtthePrince，forhishonor'ssake，wouldnotdesistfrominsultingours。ButthefirstgentlemanofEnglandknowshisdutytoowelltoforgethimselfwiththehumblest，orperilhiscrownforadeedthatwereshamefulifitweredone。"
"Hasyourlordshipanythingtosay，"saysthePrince，turningtoFrankCastlewood，andquitepalewithanger;"anythreatoranyinsult，withwhichyouwouldliketoendthisagreeablenight'sentertainment？"
"Ifollowtheheadofourhouse，"saysCastlewood，bowinggravely。
"AtwhattimeshallitpleasethePrincethatweshouldwaituponhiminthemorning？"
"YouwillwaitontheBishopofRochesterearly，youwillbidhimbringhiscoachhither;andprepareanapartmentformeinhisownhouse，orinaplaceofsafety。TheKingwillrewardyouhandsomely，neverfear，forallyouhavedoneinhisbehalf。Iwishyouagoodnight，andshallgotobed，unlessitpleasestheMarquisofEsmondtocallhiscolleague，thewatchman，andthatIshouldpassthenightwiththeKensingtonguard。Fareyouwell，besureIwillrememberyou。MyLordCastlewood，Icangotobedto—nightwithoutneedofachamberlain。"AndthePrincedismisseduswithagrimbow，lockingonedoorashespoke，thatintothesupping—room，andtheotherthroughwhichwepassed，afterus。ItledintothesmallchamberwhichFrankCastlewoodorMONSIEURBAPTISTEoccupied，andbywhichMartinenteredwhenColonelEsmondbutnowsawhiminthechamber。
AtanearlyhournextmorningtheBishoparrived，andwasclosetedforsometimewithhismasterinhisownapartment，wherethePrincelaidopentohiscounsellorthewrongswhich，accordingtohisversion，hehadreceivedfromthegentlemenoftheEsmondfamily。Theworthyprelatecameoutfromtheconferencewithanairofgreatsatisfaction;hewasamanfullofresources，andofamostassuredfidelity，andpossessedofgenius，andahundredgoodqualities;butcaptiousandofamostjealoustemper，thatcouldnothelpexultingatthedownfallofanyfavorite;andhewaspleasedinspiteofhimselftohearthattheEsmondMinistrywasatanend。
"Ihavesoothedyourguest，"sayshe，comingouttothetwogentlemenandthewidow;whohadbeenmadeacquaintedwithsomewhatofthedisputeofthenightbefore。（Bytheversionwegaveher，thePrincewasonlymadetoexhibitangerbecausewedoubtedofhisintentionsinrespecttoBeatrix;andtoleaveus，becausewequestionedhishonor。）"ButIthink，allthingsconsidered，'tisaswellheshouldleavethishouse;andthen，myLadyCastlewood，"
saystheBishop，"myprettyBeatrixmaycomebacktoit。"
"SheisquiteaswellathomeatCastlewood，"Esmond'smistresssaid，"tilleverythingisover。"
"Youshallhaveyourtitle，Esmond，thatIpromiseyou，"saysthegoodBishop，assumingtheairsofaPrimeMinister。"ThePrincehathexpressedhimselfmostnoblyinregardofthelittledifferenceoflastnight，andIpromiseyouhehathlistenedtomysermon，aswellastothatofotherfolks，"saystheDoctor，archly;"hehatheverygreatandgenerousquality，withperhapsaweaknessforthesexwhichbelongstohisfamily，andhathbeenknowninscoresofpopularsovereignsfromKingDaviddownwards。"
"Mylord，mylord！"breaksoutLadyEsmond，"thelevitywithwhichyouspeakofsuchconducttowardsoursexshocksme，andwhatyoucallweaknessIcalldeplorablesin。"
"Sinitis，mydearcreature，"saystheBishop，withashrug，takingsnuff;"butconsiderwhatasinnerKingSolomonwas，andinspiteofathousandofwivestoo。"
"Enoughofthis，mylord，"saysLadyCastlewood，withafineblush，andwalkedoutoftheroomverystately。
ThePrinceentereditpresentlywithasmileonhisface，andifhefeltanyoffenceagainstusonthepreviousnight，atpresentexhibitednone。Heofferedahandtoeachgentlemanwithgreatcourtesy。"IfallyourbishopspreachsowellasDoctorAtterbury。"sayshe，"Idon'tknow，gentlemen，whatmayhappentome。Ispokeveryhastily，mylords，lastnight，andaskpardonofbothofyou。ButImustnotstayanylonger，"sayshe，"givingumbragetogoodfriends，orkeepingprettygirlsawayfromtheirhomes。MyLordBishophathfoundasafeplaceforme，hardbyatacurate'shouse，whomtheBishopcantrust，andwhosewifeissouglyastobebeyondalldanger;wewilldecampintothosenewquarters，andIleaveyou，thankingyouforahundredkindnesseshere。Whereismyhostess，thatImaybidherfarewell;towelcomeherinahouseofmyown，soon，Itrust，wheremyfriendsshallhavenocausetoquarrelwithme。"
LadyCastlewoodarrivedpresently，blushingwithgreatgrace，andtearsfillinghereyesasthePrincegraciouslysalutedher。Shelookedsocharmingandyoung，thatthedoctor，inhisbanteringway，couldnothelpspeakingofherbeautytothePrince;whosecomplimentmadeherblush，andlookmorecharmingstill。
CHAPTERXII。
AGREATSCHEME，ANDWHOBALKEDIT。
Ascharacterswrittenwithasecretinkcomeoutwiththeapplicationoffire，anddisappearagainandleavethepaperwhite，assoonasitiscool;ahundrednamesofmen，highinreputeandfavoringthePrince'scause，thatwerewritinourprivatelists，wouldhavebeenvisibleenoughonthegreatrolloftheconspiracy，haditeverbeenlaidopenunderthesun。Whatcrowdswouldhavepressedforward，andsubscribedtheirnamesandprotestedtheirloyalty，whenthedangerwasover！WhatanumberofWhigs，nowhighinplaceandcreaturesoftheall—powerfulMinister，scornedMr。Walpolethen！Ifeveramatchwasgainedbythemanlinessanddecisionofafewatamomentofdanger;ifeveronewaslostbythetreacheryandimbecilityofthosethathadthecardsintheirhands，andmighthaveplayedthem，itwasinthatmomentousgamewhichwasenactedinthenextthreedays，andofwhichthenoblestcrownintheworldwasthestake。
FromtheconductofmyLordBolingbroke，thosewhowereinterestedintheschemewehadinhand，sawprettywellthathewasnottobetrusted。ShouldthePrinceprevail，itwashislordship'sgraciousintentiontodeclareforhim:shouldtheHanoverianpartybringintheirsovereign，whomorereadytogoonhisknee，andcry，"GodSaveKingGeorge？"AndhebetrayedtheonePrinceandtheother;
butexactlyatthewrongtime。WhenheshouldhavestruckforKingJames，hefalteredandcoquettedwiththeWhigs;andhavingcommittedhimselfbythemostmonstrousprofessionsofdevotion，whichtheElectorrightlyscorned，heprovedthejustnessoftheircontemptforhimbyflyingandtakingrenegadeservicewithSt。
Germains，justwhenheshouldhavekeptaloof:andthatCourtdespisedhim，asthemanlyandresolutemenwhoestablishedtheElectorinEnglandhadbeforedone。Hesignedhisownnametoeveryaccusationofinsincerityhisenemiesmadeagainsthim;andtheKingandthePretenderalikecouldshowproofsofSt。John'streacheryunderhisownhandandseal。
Ourfriendskeptaprettyclosewatchuponhismotions，asonthoseofthebraveandheartyWhigparty，thatmadelittleconcealmentoftheirs。TheywouldhaveintheElector，andusedeverymeansintheirpowertoeffecttheirend。MyLordMarlboroughwasnowwiththem。HisexpulsionfrompowerbytheTorieshadthrownthatgreatcaptainatonceontheWhigside。WeheardhewascomingfromAntwerp;and，infact，onthedayoftheQueen'sdeath，heoncemorelandedonEnglishshore。Agreatpartofthearmywasalwayswiththeirillustriousleader;eventheToriesinitwereindignantattheinjusticeofthepersecutionwhichtheWhigofficersweremadetoundergo。ThechiefsofthesewereinLondon，andattheheadofthemoneofthemostintrepidmenintheworld，theScotsDukeofArgyle，whoseconductontheseconddayafterthattowhichIhavenowbroughtdownmyhistory，ended，assuchhonestyandbraverydeservedtoend，byestablishingthepresentRoyalraceontheEnglishthrone。
MeanwhiletherewasnoslightdifferenceofopinionamongstthecouncillorssurroundingthePrince，astotheplanhisHighnessshouldpursue。HisfemaleMinisteratCourt，fancyingshesawsomeameliorationintheQueen，wasforwaitingafewdays，orhoursitmightbe，untilhecouldbebroughttoherbedside，andacknowledgedasherheir。Mr。Esmondwasforhavinghimmarchthither，escortedbyacoupleoftroopsofHorseGuards，andopenlypresentinghimselftotheCouncil。Duringthewholeofthenightofthe29th—30thJuly，theColonelwasengagedwithgentlemenofthemilitaryprofession，whom'tisneedlessheretoname;sufficeittosaythatseveralofthemhadexceedinghighrankinthearmy，andoneoftheminespecialwasaGeneral，who，whenheheardtheDukeofMarlboroughwascomingontheotherside，wavedhiscrutchoverhisheadwithahuzzah，attheideathatheshouldmarchoutandengagehim。OfthethreeSecretariesofState，weknewthatonewasdevotedtous。TheGovernoroftheTowerwasours;thetwocompaniesondutyatKensingtonbarrackweresafe;andwehadintelligence，veryspeedyandaccurate，ofallthattookplaceatthePalacewithin。
Atnoon，onthe30thofJuly，amessagecametothePrince'sfriendsthattheCommitteeofCouncilwassittingatKensingtonPalace，theirGracesofOrmondeandShrewsbury，theArchbishopofCanterburyandthethreeSecretariesofState，beingthereassembled。Inanhourafterwards，hurriednewswasbroughtthatthetwogreatWhigDukes，ArgyleandSomerset，hadbrokeintotheCouncil—chamberwithoutasummons，andtakentheirseatattable。
Afterholdingadebatethere，thewholepartyproceededtothechamberoftheQueen，whowaslyingingreatweakness，butstillsensible，andtheLordsrecommendedhisGraceofShrewsburyasthefittestpersontotakethevacantplaceofLordTreasurer;herMajestygavehimthestaff，asallknow。"Andnow，"writmymessengerfromCourt，"NOWORNEVERISTHETIME。"
Noworneverwasthetimeindeed。InspiteoftheWhigDukes，oursidehadstillthemajorityintheCouncil，andEsmond，towhomthemessagehadbeenbrought，（thepersonageatCourtnotbeingawarethatthePrincehadquittedhislodginginKensingtonSquare，）andEsmond'sgallantyoungaide—de—camp，FrankCastlewood，puttingonswordanduniform，tookabriefleaveoftheirdearlady，whoembracedandblessedthemboth，andwenttoherchambertoprayfortheissueofthegreateventwhichwasthenpending。
CastlewoodspedtothebarracktogivewarningtothecaptainoftheGuardthere;andthenwenttothe"King'sArms"tavernatKensington，whereourfriendswereassembled，havingcomebypartiesoftwosandthrees，ridingorincoaches，andweregottogetherintheupperchamber，fifty—threeofthem;theirservants，whohadbeeninstructedtobringarmslikewise，beingbelowinthegardenofthetavern，wheretheywereservedwithdrink。OutofthisgardenisalittledoorthatleadsintotheroadofthePalace，andthroughthisitwasarrangedthatmastersandservantsweretomarch;whenthatsignalwasgiven，andthatPersonageappeared，forwhomallwerewaiting。TherewasinourcompanythefamousofficernextincommandtotheCaptain—GeneraloftheForces，hisGracetheDukeofOrmonde，whowaswithinattheCouncil。Therewerewithhimtwomorelieutenant—generals，ninemajor—generalsandbrigadiers，sevencolonels，elevenPeersofParliament，andtwenty—onemembersoftheHouseofCommons。TheGuardwaswithuswithinandwithoutthePalace:theQueenwaswithus;theCouncil（savethetwoWhigDukes，thatmusthavesuccumbed）;thedaywasourown，andwithabeatingheartEsmondwalkedrapidlytotheMallofKensington，wherehehadpartedwiththePrinceonthenightbefore。ForthreenightstheColonelhadnotbeentobed:thelasthadbeenpassedsummoningthePrince'sfriendstogether，ofwhomthegreatmajorityhadnosortofinklingofthetransactionpendinguntiltheyweretoldthathewasactuallyonthespot，andweresummonedtostriketheblow。ThenightbeforeandafterthealtercationwiththePrince，mygentleman，havingsuspicionsofhisRoyalHighness，andfearinglestheshouldbemindedtogiveustheslip，andflyoffafterhisfugitivebeauty，hadspent，ifthetruthmustbetold，atthe"Greyhound"tavern，overagainstmyLadyCastlewood'shouseinKensingtonSquare，withaneyeonthedoor，lestthePrinceshouldescapefromit。Thenightbeforethathehadpassedinhisbootsatthe"Crown"atHounslow，wherehemustwatchforsoothallnight，inordertogetonemoment'sglimpseofBeatrixinthemorning。
Andfatehaddecreedthathewastohaveafourthnight'srideandwakefulnessbeforehisbusinesswasended。
Herantothecurate'shouseinKensingtonMall，andaskedforMr。
Bates，thenamethePrincewentby。Thecurate'swifesaidMr。
Bateshadgoneabroadveryearlyinthemorninginhisboots，sayinghewasgoingtotheBishopofRochester'shouseatChelsey。