The Virginians

of life, and a troop of servants, black and white, eager to do your bidding; good health, affectionate children, and, let us humbly add, a good cook, cellar, and library - ought not a person in the p

o was cut off in early life, was as well perhaps out of the way. Had he survived his marriage by many years, they would have quarrelled fiercely, or, he would infallibly have been a henpecked husband, of which sort there were a few specimens still extant a hundred years ago. The truth is, little Madam Esmond never came near man or woman, but she tried to domineer over them. If people obeyed, she was their very good friend; if they resisted, she fought and fought until she or they gave in. We are all miserable sinners that's a fact we acknowledge in public every Sunday - no one announced it in a more clear resolute voice than the little lady. As a mortal, she may have been in the wrong, of course; only she ve

ly her first subjects. Ere long she discontinued her husband's name of Warrington and went by the name of Madam Esmond in the country. Her family pretensions were known there. She had no objection to talk of the Marquis's title which King James had given to her father and grandfather. Her papa's enormous magnanimity might induce him to give up his titles and rank to the younger branch of the family, and to her half-brother, my Lord Castlewood and his children; but she and her sons were of the elder branch of the Esmonds, and she expected that they should be treated accordingly. Lord Fairfax was the only gentleman in the colony of Virginia to whom she would allow precedence over her. She insisted on the pas before

Judge's lady with whom Madam Esmond had quarrelled returning to England out of Virginia chanced to meet Lady Warrington, who was in London with Sir Miles attending Parliament, and this person repeated some of the speeches which the Princess Pocahontas was in the habit of

eighbours, with her relatives, and, as

e was jealous of books somehow, and thought your bookworms dangerous folks, insinuating bad principles. She had heard that Dempster was a Jesuit in disguise, and the poor fellow was obliged to go build himself a cabin in a clearing, and teach school and practise medicine where he could find customers

her order. "Is not all I have my sons'?" she cried, "and would I not cut myself into little pieces to serve them? With the six thousand pounds I would have bought Mr. Boulter's estate and negroes, which would have given us a good thousand pounds a year, and made a handsome provision for my Harry." Her young friend and neighbour, Mr. Washington of Mount Vernon, could not convince her

r. But Madam Esmond would not hear any of these reasons. Feelings were her reasons. Here was a chance of making Harry's fortune - dear Harry, who was left with such a slender younger brother's; pittance - and the wretches in London would not help him; his own brother, who inherited all her papa's estate, would not help him. To think of a child of hers being so mean at fourteen

nd imported, at great charges, mantelpieces, carved cornice-work, sashes and glass, carpets and costly upholstery from home. No more books were bought. The agent had orders to discontinue sending wine. Madam Esmond deeply regretted the expense of a fine carriage whic

live, and George will give me plent

at her elder boy. "Not unless Heaven softens his heart and teaches him chari

fourth seat in the family coach on these Sundays, said, "Humph! I know you are always dis

d to be disturbed, because my eldest born is a disobedient son and an unkind broth

rs. "I wish you would bless me, too, O my mother!" he said, and burst into a passionate fit of weep

ou are a good brother or not. Don't m

," cries the mother.

ars out Harry. "It's a shame

ountain, shaking his hand. "You ne

my children against me?" cries the

't give you the boy's money. Find another companion who will tell you black is white, and flatter you: it is not my way, ma

nd she looked with eyes of extreme affection, certainly at one - perhap at both - of her children. George kept his head

daughters came more than once, to ask if she would ride, or walk, or take a dish of tea, or play a game at cards; but all these amusements Madam Bernstein declined, saying that she found infinite amusement in Harry's conversation. Especially when any of

ed the honest boy. "You see k

Bernstein's great chair was a Kneller, one of the most brilliant pictures of the gallery, representing a young lady of three or four and twenty, in the easy flowing dress and loose robes of Queen Anne's time

your grandmother - my - my Lady Castlewood, Colonel Esmond's wife; nor he so good as Sir Anthony Van Dyck, who painted your great-grandfather, yonder - and who looks, Harry, a much finer

from instinct, perhaps, and a

pardon, I think she calls herself

er so in our provi

aughter her mother had in England, b

er spoke

ur gran

n, he used to draw a head very like that above your ladyship. That, and V

ver me reminds you

ind

nce - yes, it was - and then I was called Beatrix Esmond. And your mother is m