Mrs。Tusher，theparson\'swife，waswithmylady。Shehadbeenwaiting—womantoherladyshipinthelatelord\'stime，and，havinghersoulinthatbusiness，tooknaturallytoitwhentheViscountessofCastlewoodreturnedtoinhabitherfather\'shouse。
\"Ipresenttoyourladyshipyourkinsmanandlittlepageofhonor，MasterHenryEsmond，\"Mr。Holtsaid，bowinglowly，withasortofcomicalhumility。\"Makeaprettybowtomylady，Monsieur;andthenanotherlittlebow，notsolow，toMadameTusher——thefairpriestessofCastlewood。\"
\"WhereIhavelivedandhopetodie，sir，\"saysMadameTusher，givingahardglanceatthebrat，andthenatmylady。
Uponhertheboy\'swholeattentionwasforatimedirected。Hecouldnotkeephisgreateyesofffromher。SincetheEmpressofEaling，hehadseennothingsoawful。
\"Doesmyappearancepleaseyou，littlepage？\"askedthelady。
\"Hewouldbeveryhardtopleaseifitdidn\'t，\"criedMadameTusher。
\"Havedone，yousillyMaria，\"saidLadyCastlewood。
\"WhereI\'mattached，I\'mattached，Madame——andI\'ddieratherthannotsayso。\"
\"Jemeursoujem\'attache，\"Mr。Holtsaidwithapolitegrin。\"Theivysayssointhepicture，andclingstotheoaklikeafondparasiteasitis。\"
\"Parricide，sir！\"criesMrs。Tusher。
\"Hush，Tusher——youarealwaysbickeringwithFatherHolt，\"criedmylady。\"Comeandkissmyhand，child;\"andtheoakheldoutaBRANCHtolittleHarryEsmond，whotookanddutifullykissedtheleanoldhand，uponthegnarledknucklesofwhichthereglitteredahundredrings。
\"Tokissthathandwouldmakemanyaprettyfellowhappy！\"criedMrs。Tusher:onwhichmyladycryingout，\"Go，youfoolishTusher！\"
andtappingherwithhergreatfan，Tusherranforwardtoseizeherhandandkissit。FuryaroseandbarkedfuriouslyatTusher;andFatherHoltlookedonatthisqueerscene，witharch，graveglances。
Theaweexhibitedbythelittleboyperhapspleasedtheladytowhomthisartlessflatterywasbestowed:forhavinggonedownonhisknee（asFatherHolthaddirectedhim，andthemodethenwas）
andperformedhisobeisance，shesaid，\"PageEsmond，mygroomofthechamberwillinformyouwhatyourdutiesare，whenyouwaituponmylordandme;andgoodFatherHoltwillinstructyouasbecomesagentlemanofourname。Youwillpayhimobedienceineverything，andIprayyoumaygrowtobeaslearnedandasgoodasyourtutor。\"
TheladyseemedtohavethegreatestreverenceforMr。Holt，andtobemoreafraidofhimthanofanythingelseintheworld。Ifshewaseversoangry，awordorlookfromFatherHoltmadehercalm:
indeedhehadavastpowerofsubjectingthosewhocamenearhim;
and，amongtherest，hisnewpupilgavehimselfupwithanentireconfidenceandattachmenttothegoodFather，andbecamehiswillingslavealmostfromthefirstmomenthesawhim。
HeputhissmallhandintotheFather\'sashewalkedawayfromhisfirstpresentationtohismistress，andaskedmanyquestionsinhisartlesschildishway。\"Whoisthatotherwoman？\"heasked。\"Sheisfatandround;sheismoreprettythanmyLadyCastlewood。\"
\"SheisMadameTusher，theparson\'swifeofCastlewood。Shehasasonofyourage，butbiggerthanyou。\"
\"Whydoesshelikesotokissmylady\'shand。Itisnotgoodtokiss。\"
\"Tastesaredifferent，littleman。MadameTusherisattachedtomylady，havingbeenherwaiting—womanbeforeshewasmarried，intheoldlord\'stime。ShemarriedDoctorTusherthechaplain。TheEnglishhouseholddivinesoftenmarrythewaiting—women。\"
\"YouwillnotmarrytheFrenchwoman，willyou？IsawherlaughingwithBlaiseinthebuttery。\"
\"IbelongtoachurchthatisolderandbetterthantheEnglishchurch，\"Mr。Holtsaid（makingasignwhereofEsmonddidnotthenunderstandthemeaning，acrosshisbreastandforehead）;\"inourchurchtheclergydonotmarry。Youwillunderstandthesethingsbettersoon。\"
\"WasnotSaintPetertheheadofyourchurch？——Dr。RabbitsofEalingtoldusso。\"
TheFathersaid，\"Yes，hewas。\"
\"ButSaintPeterwasmarried，forweheardonlylastSundaythathiswife\'smotherlaysickofafever。\"OnwhichtheFatheragainlaughed，andsaidhewouldunderstandthistoobettersoon，andtalkedofotherthings，andtookawayHarryEsmond，andshowedhimthegreatoldhousewhichhehadcometoinhabit。
Itstoodonarisinggreenhill，withwoodsbehindit，inwhichwererooks\'nests，wherethebirdsatmorningandreturninghomeateveningmadeagreatcawing。Atthefootofthehillwasariver，withasteepancientbridgecrossingit;andbeyondthatalargepleasantgreenflat，wherethevillageofCastlewoodstood，andstands，withthechurchinthemidst，theparsonagehardbyit，theinnwiththeblacksmith\'sforgebesideit，andthesignofthe\"ThreeCastles\"ontheelm。TheLondonroadstretchedawaytowardstherisingsun，andtothewestwereswellinghillsandpeaks，behindwhichmanyatimeHarryEsmondsawthesamesunsetting，thathenowlooksonthousandsofmilesawayacrossthegreatocean——inanewCastlewood，byanotherstream，thatbears，likethenewcountryofwanderingAEneas，thefondnamesofthelandofhisyouth。
TheHallofCastlewoodwasbuiltwithtwocourts，whereofoneonly，thefountain—court，wasnowinhabited，theotherhavingbeenbattereddownintheCromwellianwars。Inthefountain—court，stillingoodrepair，wasthegreathall，neartothekitchenandbutteries。Adozenofliving—roomslookingtothenorth，andcommunicatingwiththelittlechapelthatfacedeastwardsandthebuildingsstretchingfromthattothemaingate，andwiththehall（whichlookedtothewest）intothecourtnowdismantled。Thiscourthadbeenthemostmagnificentofthetwo，untiltheProtector\'scannontoredownonesideofitbeforetheplacewastakenandstormed。Thebesiegersenteredattheterraceundertheclock—tower，slayingeverymanofthegarrison，andattheirheadmylord\'sbrother，FrancisEsmond。
TheRestorationdidnotbringenoughmoneytotheLordCastlewoodtorestorethisruinedpartofhishouse;wherewerethemorningparlors，abovethemthelongmusic—gallery，andbeforewhichstretchedthegarden—terrace，where，however，theflowersgrewagainwhichthebootsoftheRoundheadshadtroddenintheirassault，andwhichwasrestoredwithoutmuchcost，andonlyalittlecare，bybothladieswhosucceededthesecondviscountinthegovernmentofthismansion。Roundtheterrace—gardenwasalowwallwithawicketleadingtothewoodedheightbeyond，thatiscalledCromwell\'sBatterytothisday。
YoungHarryEsmondlearnedthedomesticpartofhisduty，whichwaseasyenough，fromthegroomofherladyship\'schamber:servingtheCountess，asthecustomcommonlywasinhisboyhood，aspage，waitingatherchair，bringingherscentedwaterandthesilverbasinafterdinner——sittingonhercarriage—steponstateoccasions，oronpublicdaysintroducinghercompanytoher。ThiswaschieflyoftheCatholicgentry，ofwhomtherewereaprettymanyinthecountryandneighboringcity;andwhorodenotseldomtoCastlewoodtopartakeofthehospitalitiesthere。Inthesecondyearoftheirresidence，thecompanyseemedespeciallytoincrease。
Mylordandmyladywereseldomwithoutvisitors，inwhosesocietyitwascurioustocontrastthedifferenceofbehaviorbetweenFatherHolt，thedirectorofthefamily，andDoctorTusher，therectoroftheparish——Mr。Holtmovingamongsttheveryhighestasquitetheirequal，andascommandingthemall;whilepoorDoctorTusher，whosepositionwasindeedadifficultone，havingbeenchaplainoncetotheHall，andstilltotheProtestantservantsthere，seemedmorelikeanusherthananequal，andalwaysrosetogoawayafterthefirstcourse。
AlsotherecameinthesetimestoFatherHoltmanyprivatevisitors，whom，afteralittle，HenryEsmondhadlittledifficultyinrecognizingasecclesiasticsoftheFather\'spersuasion，whatevertheirdresses（andtheyadoptedall）mightbe。ThesewereclosetedwiththeFatherconstantly，andoftencameandrodeawaywithoutpayingtheirdevoirstomylordandlady——totheladyandlordrather——hislordshipbeinglittlemorethanacipherinthehouse，andentirelyunderhisdomineeringpartner。Alittlefowling，alittlehunting，agreatdealofsleep，andalongdineatcardsandtable，carriedthroughonedayafteranotherwithhislordship。Whenmeetingstookplaceinthissecondyear，whichoftenwouldhappenwithcloseddoors，thepagefoundmylord\'ssheetofpaperscribbledoverwithdogsandhorses，and\'twassaidhehadmuchadotokeephimselfawakeatthesecouncils:theCountessrulingoverthem，andheactingaslittlemorethanhersecretary。
FatherHoltbeganspeedilytobesomuchoccupiedwiththesemeetingsasrathertoneglecttheeducationofthelittleladwhosogladlyputhimselfunderthekindpriest\'sorders。Atfirsttheyreadmuchandregularly，bothinLatinandFrench;theFathernotneglectinginanythingtoimpresshisfaithuponhispupil，butnotforcinghimviolently，andtreatinghimwithadelicacyandkindnesswhichsurprisedandattachedthechild，alwaysmoreeasilywonbythesemethodsthanbyanysevereexerciseofauthority。AndhisdelightintheirwalkswastotellHarryofthegloriesofhisorder，ofitsmartyrsandheroes，ofitsBrethrenconvertingtheheathenbymyriads，traversingthedesert，facingthestake，rulingthecourtsandcouncils，orbravingthetorturesofkings;sothatHarryEsmondthoughtthattobelongtotheJesuitswasthegreatestprizeoflifeandbravestendofambition;thegreatestcareerhere，andinheaventhesurestreward;andbegantolongfortheday，notonlywhenheshouldenterintotheonechurchandreceivehisfirstcommunion，butwhenhemightjointhatwonderfulbrotherhood，whichwaspresentthroughoutalltheworld，andwhichnumberedthewisest，thebravest，thehighestborn，themosteloquentofmenamongitsmembers。FatherHoltbadehimkeephisviewssecret，andtohidethemasagreattreasurewhichwouldescapehimifitwasrevealed;and，proudofthisconfidenceandsecretvestedinhim，theladbecamefondlyattachedtothemasterwhoinitiatedhimintoamysterysowonderfulandawful。AndwhenlittleTomTusher，hisneighbor，camefromschoolforhisholiday，andsaidhowhe，too，wastobebredupforanEnglishpriest，andwouldgetwhathecalledanexhibitionfromhisschool，andthenacollegescholarshipandfellowship，andthenagoodliving——ittaskedyoungHarryEsmond\'spowersofreticencenottosaytohisyoungcompanion，\"Church！priesthood！fatliving！MydearTommy，doyoucallyoursachurchandapriesthood？Whatisafatlivingcomparedtoconvertingahundredthousandheathensbyasinglesermon？WhatisascholarshipatTrinitybythesideofacrownofmartyrdom，withangelsawaitingyouasyourheadistakenoff？
CouldyourmasteratschoolsailovertheThamesonhisgown？Haveyoustatuesinyourchurchthatcanbleed，speak，walk，andcry？
MygoodTommy，indearFatherHolt\'schurchthesethingstakeplaceeveryday。YouknowSaintPhilipoftheWillowsappearedtoLordCastlewood，andcausedhimtoturntotheonetruechurch。Nosaintsevercometoyou。\"AndHarryEsmond，becauseofhispromisetoFatherHolt，hidingawaythesetreasuresoffaithfromT。
Tusher，deliveredhimselfofthemneverthelesssimplytoFatherHolt;whostrokedhishead，smiledathimwithhisinscrutablelook，andtoldhimthathedidwelltomeditateonthesegreatthings，andnottotalkofthemexceptunderdirection。
CHAPTERIV。
IAMPLACEDUNDERAPOPISHPRIESTANDBREDTOTHATRELIGION。——
VISCOUNTESSCASTLEWOOD。
Hadtimeenoughbeengiven，andhischildishinclinationsbeenproperlynurtured，HarryEsmondhadbeenaJesuitpriesterehewasadozenyearsolder，andmighthavefinishedhisdaysamartyrinChinaoravictimonTowerHill:for，inthefewmonthstheyspenttogetheratCastlewood，Mr。Holtobtainedanentiremasteryovertheboy\'sintellectandaffections;andhadbroughthimtothink，asindeedFatherHoltthoughtwithallhishearttoo，thatnolifewassonoble，nodeathsodesirable，asthatwhichmanybrethrenofhisfamousorderwerereadytoundergo。Bylove，byabrightnessofwitandgood—humorthatcharmedall，byanauthoritywhichheknewhowtoassume，byamysteryandsilenceabouthimwhichincreasedthechild\'sreverenceforhim，hewonHarry\'sabsolutefealty，andwouldhavekeptit，doubtless，ifschemesgreaterandmoreimportantthanapoorlittleboy\'sadmissionintoordershadnotcalledhimaway。
Afterbeingathomeforafewmonthsintranquillity（iftheirsmightbecalledtranquillity，whichwas，intruth，aconstantbickering），mylordandladyleftthecountryforLondon，takingtheirdirectorwiththem:andhislittlepupilscarceevershedmorebittertearsinhislifethanhedidfornightsafterthefirstpartingwithhisdearfriend，ashelayinthelonelychambernexttothatwhichtheFatherusedtooccupy。Heandafewdomesticswereleftastheonlytenantsofthegreathouse:and，thoughHarrysedulouslydidallthetaskswhichtheFathersethim，hehadmanyhoursunoccupied，andreadinthelibrary，andbewilderedhislittlebrainswiththegreatbookshefoundthere。
Afterawhile，thelittleladgrewaccustomedtothelonelinessoftheplace;andinafterdaysrememberedthispartofhislifeasaperiodnotunhappy。WhenthefamilywasatLondonthewholeoftheestablishmenttravelledthitherwiththeexceptionoftheporter——
whowas，moreover，brewer，gardener，andwoodman——andhiswifeandchildren。Thesehadtheirlodginginthegate—househardby，withadoorintothecourt;andawindowlookingoutonthegreenwastheChaplain\'sroom;andnexttothisasmallchamberwhereFatherHolthadhisbooks，andHarryEsmondhissleepingcloset。ThesideofthehousefacingtheeasthadescapedthegunsoftheCromwellians，whosebatterywasontheheightfacingthewesterncourt;sothatthiseasternendborefewmarksofdemolition，saveinthechapel，wherethepaintedwindowssurvivingEdwardtheSixthhadbeenbrokebytheCommonwealthmen。InFatherHolt\'stimelittleHarryEsmondactedashisfamiliarandfaithfullittleservitor;beatinghisclothes，foldinghisvestments，fetchinghiswaterfromthewelllongbeforedaylight，readytorunanywherefortheserviceofhisbelovedpriest。WhentheFatherwasaway，helockedhisprivatechamber;buttheroomwherethebookswerewaslefttolittleHarry，who，butforthesocietyofthisgentleman，waslittlelesssolitarywhenLordCastlewoodwasathome。
TheFrenchwitsaiththataheroisnonetohisvalet—de—chambre，anditrequiredlessquickeyesthanmylady\'slittlepagewasnaturallyendowedwith，toseethatshehadmanyqualitiesbynomeansheroic，howevermuchMrs。Tushermightflatterandcoaxher。
WhenFatherHoltwasnotby，whoexercisedanentireauthorityoverthepair，mylordandmyladyquarrelledandabusedeachothersoastomaketheservantslaugh，andtofrightenthelittlepageonduty。Thepoorboytrembledbeforehismistress，whocalledhimbyahundreduglynames，whomadenothingofboxinghisears，andtiltingthesilverbasininhisfacewhichitwashisbusinesstopresenttoherafterdinner。Shehathrepaired，bysubsequentkindnesstohim，theseseverities，whichitmustbeownedmadehischildhoodveryunhappy。Shewasbutunhappyherselfatthistime，poorsoul！andIsupposemadeherdependantsleadherownsadlife。
Ithinkmylordwasasmuchafraidofherasherpagewas，andtheonlypersonofthehouseholdwhomasteredherwasMr。Holt。HarrywasonlytoogladwhentheFatherdinedattable，andtoslinkawayandprattlewithhimafterwards，orreadwithhim，orwalkwithhim。LuckilymyLadyViscountessdidnotrisetillnoon。Heavenhelpthepoorwaiting—womanwhohadchargeofhertoilet！Ihaveoftenseenthepoorwretchcomeoutwithredeyesfromtheclosetwherethoselongandmysteriousritesofherladyship\'sdresswereperformed，andthebackgammon—boxlockedupwitharaponMrs。
Tusher\'sfingerswhensheplayedill，orthegamewasgoingthewrongway。
Blessedbethekingwhointroducedcards，andthekindinventorsofpiquetandcribbage，fortheyemployedsixhoursatleastofherladyship\'sday，duringwhichherfamilywasprettyeasy。Withoutthisoccupationmyladyfrequentlydeclaredsheshoulddie。Herdependantsoneafteranotherrelievedguard——\'twasratheradangerousposttoplaywithherladyship——andtookthecardsturnabout。Mr。Holtwouldsitwithheratpiquetduringhourstogether，atwhichtimeshebehavedherselfproperly;andasforDr。Tusher，Ibelievehewouldhaveleftaparishioner\'sdyingbed，ifsummonedtoplayarubberwithhispatronessatCastlewood。
Sometimes，whentheywereprettycomfortabletogether，mylordtookahand。BesidesthesemyladyhadherfaithfulpoorTusher，andone，two，threegentlewomenwhomHarryEsmondcouldrecollectinhistime。Theycouldnotbearthatgenteelserviceverylong;oneafteranothertriedandfailedatit。Theseandthehousekeeper，andlittleHarryEsmond，hadatableoftheirown。Poorladiestheirlifewasfarharderthanthepage\'s。Hewassoundasleep，tuckedupinhislittlebed，whilsttheyweresittingbyherladyshipreadinghertosleep，withthe\"NewsLetter\"orthe\"GrandCyrus。\"MyladyusedtohaveboxesofnewplaysfromLondon，andHarrywasforbidden，underthepainofawhipping，tolookintothem。Iamafraidhedeservedthepenaltyprettyoften，andgotitsometimes。FatherHoltappliedittwiceorthrice，whenhecaughttheyoungscapegracewithadelightfulwickedcomedyofMr。
Shadwell\'sorMr。Wycherley\'sunderhispillow。
These，whenhetookany，weremylord\'sfavoritereading。Buthewasaversetomuchstudy，and，ashislittlepagefancied，tomuchoccupationofanysort。
ItalwaysseemedtoyoungHarryEsmondthatmylordtreatedhimwithmorekindnesswhenhisladywasnotpresent，andLordCastlewoodwouldtaketheladsometimesonhislittlejourneysa—
huntingora—birding;helovedtoplayatcardsandtric—tracwithhim，whichgamestheboylearnedtopleasurehislord:andwasgrowingtolikehimbetterdaily，showingaspecialpleasureifFatherHoltgaveagoodreportofhim，pattinghimonthehead，andpromisingthathewouldprovidefortheboy。However，inmylady\'spresence，mylordshowednosuchmarksofkindness，andaffectedtotreattheladroughly，andrebukedhimsharplyforlittlefaults，forwhichheinamanneraskedpardonofyoungEsmondwhentheywereprivate，sayingifhedidnotspeakroughly，shewould，andhistonguewasnotsuchabadoneashislady\'s——apointwhereoftheboy，youngashewas，wasverywellassured。
Greatpubliceventswerehappeningallthiswhile，ofwhichthesimpleyoungpagetooklittlecount。Butoneday，ridingintotheneighboringtownonthestepofmylady\'scoach，hislordshipandsheandFatherHoltbeinginside，agreatmobofpeoplecamehootingandjeeringroundthecoach，bawlingout\"TheBishopsforever！\"\"DownwiththePope！\"\"NoPopery！noPopery！Jezebel，Jezebel！\"sothatmylordbegantolaugh，mylady\'seyestorollwithanger，forshewasasboldasalioness，andfearednobody;
whilstMr。Holt，asEsmondsawfromhisplaceonthestep，sankbackwithratheranalarmedface，cryingouttoherladyship，\"ForGod\'ssake，madam，donotspeakorlookoutofwindow;sitstill。\"
ButshedidnotobeythisprudentinjunctionoftheFather;shethrustherheadoutofthecoachwindow，andscreamedouttothecoachman，\"Flogyourwaythroughthem，thebrutes，James，anduseyourwhip！\"
Themobansweredwitharoaringjeeroflaughter，andfreshcriesof\"Jezebel！Jezebel！\"Mylordonlylaughedthemore:hewasalanguidgentleman:nothingseemedtoexcitehimcommonly，thoughI
haveseenhimcheerandhalloothehoundsverybriskly，andhisface（whichwasgenerallyveryyellowandcalm）growquiteredandcheerfulduringaburstovertheDownsafterahare，andlaugh，andswear，andhuzzahatacockfight，ofwhichsporthewasveryfond。
Andnow，whenthemobbegantohoothislady，helaughedwithsomethingofamischievouslook，asthoughheexpectedsport，andthoughtthatsheandtheywereamatch。
Jamesthecoachmanwasmoreafraidofhismistressthanthemob，probably，forhewhippedonhishorsesashewasbidden，andthepost—boythatrodewiththefirstpair（myladyalwaysrodewithhercoach—and—six，）gaveacutofhisthongovertheshouldersofonefellowwhoputhishandouttowardstheleadinghorse\'srein。
Itwasamarket—day，andthecountry—peoplewereallassembledwiththeirbasketsofpoultry，eggs，andsuchthings;thepostilionhadnosoonerlashedthemanwhowouldhavetakenholdofhishorse，butagreatcabbagecamewhirlinglikeabombshellintothecarriage，atwhichmylordlaughedmore，foritknockedmylady\'sfanoutofherhand，andplumpedintoFatherHolt\'sstomach。Thencameashowerofcarrotsandpotatoes。
\"ForHeaven\'ssakebestill！\"saysMr。Holt;\"wearenottenpacesfromthe\'Bell\'archway，wheretheycanshutthegatesonus，andkeepoutthiscanaille。\"
Thelittlepagewasoutsidethecoachonthestep，andafellowinthecrowdaimedapotatoathim，andhithimintheeye，atwhichthepoorlittlewretchsetupashout;themanlaughed，agreatbigsaddler\'sapprenticeofthetown。\"Ah！youd———littleyellingPopishbastard，\"hesaid，andstoopedtopickupanother;thecrowdhadgatheredquitebetweenthehorsesandtheinndoorbythistime，andthecoachwasbroughttoadeadstand—still。Mylordjumpedasbrisklyasaboyoutofthedooronhissideofthecoach，squeezinglittleHarrybehindit;hadholdofthepotato—
thrower\'scollarinaninstant，andthenextmomentthebrute\'sheelswereintheair，andhefellonthestoneswithathump。
\"Youhulkingcoward！\"sayshe;\"youpackofscreamingblackguards！
howdareyouattackchildren，andinsultwomen？Flinganothershotatthatcarriage，yousneakingpigskincobbler，andbytheLordI\'llsendmyrapierthroughyou！\"
Someofthemobcried，\"Huzzah，mylord！\"fortheyknewhim，andthesaddler\'smanwasaknownbruiser，neartwiceasbigasmylordViscount。
\"Makewaythere，\"sayshe（hespokeinahighshrillvoice，butwithagreatairofauthority）。\"Makeway，andletherladyship\'scarriagepass。\"Thementhatwerebetweenthecoachandthegateofthe\"Bell\"actuallydidmakeway，andthehorseswentin，mylordwalkingafterthemwithhishatonhishead。
Ashewasgoinginatthegate，throughwhichthecoachhadjustrolled，anothercrybegins，of\"NoPopery——noPapists！\"Mylordturnsroundandfacesthemoncemore。
\"GodsavetheKing！\"saysheatthehighestpitchofhisvoice。
\"WhodaresabusetheKing\'sreligion？You，youd——dpsalm—singingcobbler，assureasI\'mamagistrateofthiscountyI\'llcommityou！\"Thefellowshrankback，andmylordretreatedwithallthehonorsoftheday。Butwhenthelittleflurrycausedbythescenewasover，andtheflushpassedoffhisface，herelapsedintohisusuallanguor，trifledwithhislittledog，andyawnedwhenmyladyspoketohim。
Thismobwasoneofmanythousandsthatweregoingaboutthecountryatthattime，huzzahingfortheacquittalofthesevenbishopswhohadbeentriedjustthen，andaboutwhomlittleHarryEsmondatthattimeknewscarceanything。ItwasAssizesatHexton，andtherewasagreatmeetingofthegentryatthe\"Bell;\"
andmylord\'speoplehadtheirnewliverieson，andHarryalittlesuitofblueandsilver，whichheworeuponoccasionsofstate;andthegentlefolkscameroundandtalkedtomylord:andajudgeinaredgown，whoseemedaverygreatpersonage，especiallycomplimentedhimandmylady，whowasmightygrand。Harryremembershertrainborneupbyhergentlewoman。Therewasanassemblyandballatthegreatroomatthe\"Bell，\"andotheryounggentlemenofthecountyfamilieslookedonashedid。Oneofthemjeeredhimforhisblackeye，whichwasswelledbythepotato，andanothercalledhimabastard，onwhichheandHarryfelltofisticuffs。Mylord\'scousin，ColonelEsmondofWalcote，wasthere，andseparatedthetwolads——agreattallgentleman，withahandsomegood—naturedface。Theboydidnotknowhownearlyinafter—lifeheshouldbealliedtoColonelEsmond，andhowmuchkindnessheshouldhavetoowehim。
Therewaslittlelovebetweenthetwofamilies。MyladyusednottospareColonelEsmondintalkingofhim，forreasonswhichhavebeenhintedalready;butaboutwhich，athistenderage，HenryEsmondcouldbeexpectedtoknownothing。
Verysoonafterwards，mylordandladywenttoLondonwithMr。
Holt，leaving，however，thepagebehindthem。ThelittlemanhadthegreathouseofCastlewoodtohimself;orbetweenhimandthehousekeeper，Mrs。Worksop，anoldladywhowasakinswomanofthefamilyinsomedistantway，andaProtestant，butastaunchToryandking\'s—man，asalltheEsmondswere。HeusedtogotoschooltoDr。Tusherwhenhewasathome，thoughtheDoctorwasmuchoccupiedtoo。Therewasagreatstirandcommotioneverywhere，eveninthelittlequietvillageofCastlewood，whitherapartyofpeoplecamefromthetown，whowouldhavebrokenCastlewoodChapelwindows，butthevillagepeopleturnedout，andevenoldSieveright，therepublicanblacksmith，alongwiththem:formylady，thoughshewasaPapist，andhadmanyoddways，waskindtothetenantry，andtherewasalwaysaplentyofbeef，andblankets，andmedicineforthepooratCastlewoodHall。
Akingdomwaschanginghandswhilstmylordandladywereaway。
KingJameswasflying，theDutchmenwerecoming;awfulstoriesaboutthemandthePrinceofOrangeusedoldMrs。Worksoptotelltotheidlelittlepage。
Helikedthesolitudeofthegreathouseverywell;hehadalltheplay—bookstoread，andnoFatherHolttowhiphim，andahundredchildishpursuitsandpastimes，withoutdoorsandwithin，whichmadethistimeverypleasant。
CHAPTERV。
MYSUPERIORSAREENGAGEDINPLOTSFORTHERESTORATIONOFKINGJAMESII。
Nothavingbeenabletosleep，forthinkingofsomelinesforeelswhichhehadplacedthenightbefore，theladwaslyinginhislittlebed，waitingforthehourwhenthegatewouldbeopen，andheandhiscomrade，JohnLockwood，theporter\'sson，mightgotothepondandseewhatfortunehadbroughtthem。AtdaybreakJohnwastoawakenhim，buthisowneagernessforthesporthadservedasareveillezlongsince——solong，thatitseemedtohimasifthedayneverwouldcome。
Itmighthavebeenfouro\'clockwhenheheardthedooroftheoppositechamber，theChaplain\'sroom，open，andthevoiceofamancoughinginthepassage。Harryjumpedup，thinkingforcertainitwasarobber，orhopingperhapsforaghost，and，flingingopenhisowndoor，sawbeforehimtheChaplain\'sdooropen，andalightinside，andafigurestandinginthedoorway，inthemidstofagreatsmokewhichissuedfromtheroom。
\"Who\'sthere？\"criedouttheboy，whowasofagoodspirit。
\"Silentium！\"whisperedtheother;\"\'tisI，myboy！\"and，holdinghishandout，Harryhadnodifficultyinrecognizinghismasterandfriend，FatherHolt。AcurtainwasoverthewindowoftheChaplain\'sroomthatlookedtothecourt，andHarrysawthatthesmokecamefromagreatflameofpaperswhichwereburninginabrazierwhenheenteredtheChaplain\'sroom。Aftergivingahastygreetingandblessingtothelad，whowascharmedtoseehistutor，theFathercontinuedtheburningofhispapers，drawingthemfromacupboardoverthemantel—piecewall，whichHarryhadneverseenbefore。
FatherHoltlaughed，seeingthelad\'sattentionfixedatonceonthishole。\"Thatisright，Harry，\"hesaid;\"faithfullittlefamuli，seeallandsaynothing。Youarefaithful，Iknow。\"
\"IknowIwouldgotothestakeforyou，\"saidHarry。
\"Idon\'twantyourhead，\"saidtheFather，pattingitkindly;allyouhavetodoistoholdyourtongue。Letusburnthesepapers，andsaynothingtoanybody。Shouldyouliketoreadthem？\"
HarryEsmondblushed，andhelddownhishead;heHADlookedasthefactwas，andwithoutthinking，atthepaperbeforehim;andthoughhehadseenit，couldnotunderstandawordofit，thelettersbeingquiteclearenough，butquitewithoutmeaning。Theyburnedthepapers，beatingdowntheashesinabrazier，sothatscarceanytracesofthemremained。
HarryhadbeenaccustomedtoseeFatherHoltinmoredressesthanone;itnotbeingsafe，orworththedanger，forPopishecclesiasticstoweartheirproperdress;andhewas，inconsequence，innowiseastonishedthatthepriestshouldnowappearbeforehiminariding—dress，withlargebuffleatherboots，andafeathertohishat，plain，butsuchasgentlemenwore。
\"Youknowthesecretofthecupboard，\"saidhe，laughing，\"andmustbepreparedforothermysteries;\"andheopened——butnotasecretcupboardthistime——onlyawardrobe，whichheusuallykeptlocked，andfromwhichhenowtookouttwoorthreedressesandperruquesofdifferentcolors，andacoupleofswordsofaprettymake（FatherHoltwasanexpertpractitionerwiththesmall—sword，andeveryday，whilsthewasathome，heandhispupilpractisedthisexercise，inwhichtheladbecameaverygreatproficient），amilitarycoatandcloak，andafarmer\'ssmock，andplacedtheminthelargeholeoverthemantel—piecefromwhichthepapershadbeentaken。
\"Iftheymissthecupboard，\"hesaid，\"theywillnotfindthese;iftheyfindthem，they\'lltellnotales，exceptthatFatherHoltworemoresuitsofclothesthanone。AllJesuitsdo。Youknowwhatdeceiversweare，Harry。\"
Harrywasalarmedatthenotionthathisfriendwasabouttoleavehim;but\"No，\"thepriestsaid，\"Imayverylikelycomebackwithmylordinafewdays。Wearetobetolerated;wearenottobepersecuted。ButtheymaytakeafancytopayavisitatCastlewoodereourreturn;and，asgentlemenofmyclotharesuspected，theymightchoosetoexaminemypapers，whichconcernnobody——atleastnotthem。\"Andtothisday，whetherthepapersincipherrelatedtopolitics，ortotheaffairsofthatmysterioussocietywhereofFatherHoltwasamember，hispupil，HarryEsmond，remainsinentireignorance。
Therestofhisgoods，hissmallwardrobe，&c。Holtleftuntouchedonhisshelvesandinhiscupboard，takingdown——withalaugh，however——andflingingintothebrazier，whereheonlyhalfburnedthem，sometheologicaltreatiseswhichhehadbeenwritingagainsttheEnglishdivines。\"Andnow，\"saidhe，\"Henry，myson，youmaytestify，withasafeconscience，thatyousawmeburningLatinsermonsthelasttimeIwasherebeforeIwentawaytoLondon;anditwillbedaybreakdirectly，andImustbeawaybeforeLockwoodisstirring。\"
\"WillnotLockwoodletyouout，sir？\"Esmondasked。Holtlaughed;
hewasnevermoregayorgood—humoredthanwheninthemidstofactionordanger。