The Virginians

d, formed her judgment respecting the persons and events described; and if her opinion was not in all respects favourable, what can be said but that men and women are imperfect, and human life not ent

a brisk little woman of business, and all the affairs of her large estate came under her cognisance. No pie was baked at Castlewood but her little finger was in it. She set the maids to their spinning, she saw the kitchen wenches at their work, she trotted afield on her pony, and oversaw the overseers and the negro hands as they worked in the tobacco-and corn-fields. If a s

iveries were often ragged; keeping open houses, and turning away no stranger from their gates; proud, idle, fond of all sorts of field sports as became gentlemen of good lineage. The widow of Castlewood was as hospitable as her neighbours, and a better economist than most of them. More than one, no doubt, would have had no objection to share her life-interest in the estate, and supply the place of

her education, teased and tortured the little American stranger, and laughed at the princified airs which she gave herself from a very early age, Fanny Parker defended and befriended her. They both married ensigns in Kingsley's. They became tenderly attached to each other. It was "my F

though, and perhaps because, it had brought her no good fortune. One marriage was enough for her, she said. Mr. Mountain had amiably spent her little fortune and his own. Her last trinkets went to pay his funeral; and, as long as Madam Warrington would keep her at Castlewood, she preferred a home without a husband to any which as yet had been offered to her in Virginia. The two ladies quarrelled plentifully; but they loved each other: they made up their differences: they fell out again, to be reconcile

mistaken as to his views, and let him know that the daughter of the Marquis of Esmond lived for her people and her sons, and did not propose to change her condition. Have we not read how Queen Elizabeth was a perfectly sensible woman of business, and was pleased to inspire not only terror and awe, but love in the bosoms of her subjects? So the little Virginian princess had her favourites, and accepted their flatteries, and grew tired of them, and was cruel or kind to them as suited her wayward imperial humour.

ittle lady, and strove to expose them with his juvenile satire; so that his mother would say gravely, "The Esmonds were always of a jealous disposition, and my poor boy takes after my father and mother

them; and, there being no Church of England bishop as yet in America, the colonists were obliged to import their divines from the mother-country. Such as came were not, naturally, of the very best or most eloquent kind of pastors. Noblemen's hangers-on, insolvent parsons who had quarrelled with justice or the bailiff, brought their stained cassocks into the colony in the hopes of finding a living there. No wonder that Whitfield's great voice stirred those whom harmless Mr. Broadbent, the Williamsburg chapla

from the East to the West to trumpet the truth and bid slumbering sinners awaken. However, he comforted the widow with precious letters, and promised to send h

scourse. It was over the black sheep of the Castlewood flock that Mr. Ward somehow had the most influence. These woolly lamblings were immensely affected by his exhortations, and, when he gave out the hymn, there was such a negro chorus about the house as might be heard across the Potomac - such a chorus as would never have been heard in the Colonel's time -

For weeks, nay, months, Madam Esmond was never tired of hearing Mr. Ward's great glib voice and voluble commonplaces: and, according to her wont, she insisted that her neighbours should come and listen to him, and ordered them to be converted. Her young favourite, Mr. Washington, she was especially anxious to influence; and again and again pressed him to come and stay at Castlew

ack but for her sons' opposition, which she, on her part, opposed with her own indomitable will. "What matters whether he has more or less of profane learning?" she asked; "in that which is most precious, Mr. W. is able to be a teacher to all of us. What if his manners are a little rough? Heaven does not choose its elect from among the great and wealthy. I wish you knew one book, children, as well as Mr. Ward does. It is your wicked pride - the pride of all the Esmonds - which prevent

ly uncomfortable. He took up Ward's pompous remarks and made jokes of them, so that that young divine chafed and almost choked over his great meals. He made Madam Esmond angry, and doubly so when he sent off Har

eir grandfather's time; and Harry, especially, had got to be quite accustomed to the practice, and made very light of it. But, in the interregnum after Colonel Esmond's death, the cane had been laid aside, and the young gentlemen of Castlewood had been allowed to have their own way. Her own and her lieutenant's authority being now spurned by the youthful rebels, the unfortunate mother tho

hear him flatter, and to see him gobble - the odious wretch! You must be on your guard, my poor boys - you must learn your lessons, and not anger your tutor. A mischief will come, I know it will. Your mamma was talking about you to Mr. Washington the other day, when I came into the room. I don't like that Major Washington, you know I don't. Don't say - O Mounty! Master Harry. You always stand up for your friends, you do. The Major is very handsome and tall, and he may be very good, but he is much t

dle with other folks' affairs, but that our mother was very angry, dangerously angry

ery haughtily. And the caution, far from benefiting him,

thful brother cried out, and owned that he was in the wrong. Mr. Ward kept his temper - to compress, bottle up, cork down, and prevent your anger from present furious explosion, is called keeping your te

he had said: and poor Harry was oblige

rtrait by the chimney, said haughtily that

many of his usual Scripture phrases, at each of which, as they occurred, that wicked young Georg

child," said Madam Esmond, who had been gathering anger du

!" says

to guard you from greater punishment hereafter. The discipline of this family must be maintained. There can be but one command in a house, and I must be the mistress of mine. Y

ever taking Heaven into your confidence about your private affairs, and passionately calling for its interference in your family quarrels and difficulties - to be so familiar with its designs and schemes as to be able to threaten your neighbour with its thun

can be but one command in the house, and you must be mistress - I know who said those words before you," Ge

cries Harry. "That's right, Ge

bedience. When I was headstrong, as I sometimes was as a child before my spirit was changed and humbl

e know what you are doing," Geo

ful boy!" says Madam Esmond, with more references of the sam

the widow set great store, as her father had always been accustomed to drink f

mother?"- and Harry looked at him, wondering. "If I broke it, it could never be mended, could it? All the tinkers' rivets woul

an Esmond had been more of a man than to be afraid, and -" here she gave a little scream as Ha

ned his hand, and let it fall on the marble slab

t is your wish. Will you come and see whether I am afraid? Mr. Ward, I am your servant. Your servant? Your

her little foot. And George, making a low bow to Mr. W

t hear the boy's petition. "You only abet him, sir!" she cried. -"If I had to do it myself, it should be done!" And Harry,

cup. Then she inclined her head towards the door - one of half a dozen of carved mahogany which the Colonel

hind him Harry, with flaring eyes, and brandishing a little couteau-de-chasse of his

lifted his hand, I flung the great ruler at him. I couldn't help it. I won't bear it; and, if

. "My poor Mr. Ward! What a rebel, to strike you! Papa's great ebony ruler, was it? Lay down that hanger, child. 'Twas General Webb gave it to my papa after the siege of Lille. Let me bathe your wound, my good Mr. Ward, and thank Heaven it was no worse. Mountain! Go fetch me some court-plaster out of the middle drawer in the japan cabinet. Here comes George. Put on your coat and waistcoat, child! You were going to take your punishment, sir, and that is sufficient. Ask pardon, Harry, of good

e forehead, and separated from her. "You meant for the best, mother," he said, "and I was in the wrong. But the cup is broken; and all the

. She was not sorry for the defeat; for women like not only to conquer, but to be conquered; and from that day the young gentleman was master at Castlewood. His mother admired him as

l's violence, sir," George said, in great state. "You see, though we are very young, we are gentlemen, and cannot brook

sate me?" says Mr. Ward; "who is

his old-fashioned bows. "We shall be fifteen soon.

rting up, and who knew perfectly well the lads' skill in fe

ought you might like to be consider

sir!" says Ward, glaring furious

ry. "If you don't forgive, why don't you fight? That's what I cal

loudest tropes and similes, nor appeared to be much frightened by the very hottest menaces with which he peppered his discourse. Nay, she pleaded headache, and would absent herself of an evening, on which occasion the remainder of the little congregation was very cold indeed. One day, then, Ward, still making desperate efforts to get back his despised authority, was preaching on the beauty of subordination, the present lax spirit of the age, and the necessity of obeying our spiritual and temporal rulers. "For why, my dear friends," h

s George, loo

t out in an explosion of laughter. Mrs. Mountain, who was full of fun, could not help joining in the chorus; and little Fanny, who had always behaved ve

and manly words, said he would speak no more in that place; and left Castlewood not in the