Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges

Hants, in the year 1691, almost the only tenant of the place besides the domestics was a lad of twelve years of age, of whom no one see

eorge, second viscount, and that by Mr. Dobson of my lord the third viscount, just deceased, which it seems his lady and widow did not think fit to carry away, when she sen

t book, which he laid down when he was aware that a stranger [pg 017] was at hand. And, knowing who that pe

tretch out to do an act of kindness, or to protect grief and ill-fortune

, and appeared the most charming object he had ever looked on. Her golden hair was shining in the gold of the sun; her complexion wa

e hated), and the old gentlewoman looked significantly towards the late lord's picture, as it now is in the family, noble and severe-loo

iscountess, who had still hold of the boy's hand as she looked at the picture, blushe

ctly in the same spot, and with his hand as it

erness in her eyes, she took his hand again, placing her other fair hand on his head, and saying some words to him, which were so kind and said in a voice so sweet, that the boy, who had never looked upon so much beauty before, felt as if the touch of a superior being or angel smote him down to the ground, and kissed the fair pro

a great laugh at the lady and her adorer, with his little queer figure, his sallow face, and long black hair. The lady blushed, and seemed to deprecate his ridicu

" says my lord, looking down a

t into another great laugh at this, and kinsman Henry looked very silly. He invented a half-dozen of speeches i

r lord; and the boy, who understood her, though doubtless she tho

here," says my lord, in a kind

t quite alone in the world: when he heard the great peal of bells from Castlewood church ringing that morning to welcome the arrival of the new lord and lady, it had rung only terror and anxiety to him, for he knew not how the new owner would deal with him; and those to whom he formerly looked for protection were forgotten or dead. Pride and doubt too had kept him within doors: when the vicar [pg 019] and the people of the village, and the servants of the house, had gone out to welcome my Lord Castlewood-for Henry Esmond was

s lady. They passed thence through the music-gallery, long since dismantled, and Queen Elizabeth's rooms, in the clock-tower, and out into the terrace, where was a fine prospect of sunset, and the great darkling woods with a cloud of rooks returning; and the plain and ri

ys my lord, looking round at the scen

better than he-viz., the history of the house: how by yonder gate the page ran away with the heiress of Castlewood, by which the estate came into the present family, how the Roundheads

ys his wife,

d, looking fondly down at her. Indeed she seemed to be

thing to please you," says she, "and I p

the good-natured father laughed, and the little, trotting boy laughed, not knowing why-but because he was happy no doubt-as every one seemed to b

e to bed, whither he went howling; but little Trix was promised to sit t

"I-I have supper with

Harry's performance as a trencherman, in which character the poor boy acquitted himself very remarkably; for the truth is he had n

toasts: indeed, only too ready. He would not hear of Doctor Tusher (the Vicar of Castlewood, who came to supper) going away when the sweetmeats were brought: he had not had a chaplain long enough, he said, to be tired of him: so his reverence kept

ren-that kind protector and patron; and only fearful lest their welcome [pg 021] of the past night should in any way be withdrawn or altered. But presently little Beatrix came out into the garden, and her mother followed, who greeted Harry as kindly as before. He tol

asked him many more questions regarding himself, which had best be told more fully and