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Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges

Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges

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Chapter 1 An Account Of The Family Of Esmond Of Castlewood Hall

Word Count: 2063    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

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

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1 Chapter 1 An Account Of The Family Of Esmond Of Castlewood Hall2 Chapter 2 Relates How Francis, Fourth Viscount, Arrives At Castlewood3 Chapter 3 Whither In The Time Of Thomas, Third Viscount, I Had Preceded Him As Page To Isabella4 Chapter 4 I Am Placed Under A Popish Priest And Bred To That Religion.-Viscountess Castlewood5 Chapter 5 My Superiors Are Engaged In Plots For The Restoration Of King James II6 Chapter 6 The Issue Of The Plots.-The Death Of Thomas, Third Viscount Of Castlewood; And The Imprisonment Of His Viscountess7 Chapter 7 I Am Left At Castlewood An Orphan, And Find Most Kind Protectors There8 Chapter 8 After Good Fortune Comes Evil9 Chapter 9 I Have The Small-Pox, And Prepare To Leave Castlewood10 Chapter 10 I Go To Cambridge, And Do But Little Good There11 Chapter 11 I Come Home For A Holiday To Castlewood, And Find A Skeleton In The House12 Chapter 12 My Lord Mohun Comes Among Us For No Good13 Chapter 13 My Lord Leaves Us And His Evil Behind Him14 Chapter 14 I Am In Prison, And Visited, But Not Consoled There15 Chapter 15 I Come To The End Of My Captivity, But Not Of My Trouble16 Chapter 16 I Take The Queen's Pay In Quin's Regiment17 Chapter 17 Recapitulations18 Chapter 18 I Go On The Vigo Bay Expedition, Taste Salt Water And Smell Powder19 Chapter 19 The 29th December20 Chapter 20 I Am Made Welcome At Walcote21 Chapter 21 Family Talk22 Chapter 22 I Make The Campaign Of 170423 Chapter 23 An Old Story About A Fool And A Woman24 Chapter 24 The Famous Mr. Joseph Addison25 Chapter 25 I Get A Company In The Campaign Of 170626 Chapter 26 I Meet An Old Acquaintance In Flanders, And Find My Mother's Grave And My Own Cradle There27 Chapter 27 The Campaign Of 1707, 170828 Chapter 28 I Come To An End Of My Battles And Bruises29 Chapter 29 I Go Home, And Harp On The Old String30 Chapter 30 A Paper Out Of The "Spectator"31 Chapter 31 Beatrix's New Suitor32 Chapter 32 Mohun Appears For The Last Time In This History33 Chapter 33 Poor Beatrix34 Chapter 34 I Visit Castlewood Once More35 Chapter 35 I Travel To France And Bring Home A Portrait Of Rigaud36 Chapter 36 The Original Of The Portrait Comes To England37 Chapter 37 We Entertain A Very Distinguished Guest At Kensington38 Chapter 38 Our Guest Quits Us As Not Being Hospitable Enough39 Chapter 39 A Great Scheme, And Who Balked It40 Chapter 40 August 1st, 1714