PoorMr。Esmondfeltratherfrightened，andtoldatruth，whichwasneverthelessanentirefalsehood。\"Uponmyhonor，\"sayshe，\"I
havenotevenreadtheSpectatorofthismorning。\"Norhadhe，forthatwasnottheSpectator，butashamnewspaperputinitsplace。
Shewentonreading:herfaceratherflushedassheread。\"No，\"
shesays，\"Ithinkyoucouldn\'thavewrittenit。IthinkitmusthavebeenMr。Steelewhenhewasdrunk——andafraidofhishorridvulgarwife。WheneverIseeanenormouscomplimenttoawoman，andsomeoutrageouspanegyricaboutfemalevirtue，IalwaysfeelsurethattheCaptainandhisbetterhalfhavefallenoutover—night，andthathehasbeenbroughthometipsy，orhasbeenfoundoutin——\"
\"Beatrix！\"criestheLadyCastlewood。
\"Well，mamma！Donotcryoutbeforeyouarehurt。Iamnotgoingtosayanythingwrong。Iwon\'tgiveyoumoreannoyancethanyoucanhelp，youprettykindmamma。Yes，andyourlittleTrixisanaughtylittleTrix，andsheleavesundonethosethingswhichsheoughttohavedone，anddoesthosethingswhichsheoughtnottohavedone，andthere\'s——wellnow——Iwon\'tgoon。Yes，Iwill，unlessyoukissme。\"Andwiththistheyoungladylaysasideherpaper，andrunsuptohermotherandperformsavarietyofembraceswithherladyship，sayingasplainaseyescouldspeaktoMr。
Esmond——\"There，sir:wouldnotYOUliketoplaytheverysamepleasantgame？\"
\"Indeed，madam，Iwould，\"sayshe。
\"Wouldwhat？\"askedMissBeatrix。
\"Whatyoumeantwhenyoulookedatmeinthatprovokingway，\"
answersEsmond。
\"Whataconfessor！\"criesBeatrix，withalaugh。
\"WhatisitHenrywouldlike，mydear？\"askshermother，thekindsoul，whowasalwaysthinkingwhatwewouldlike，andhowshecouldpleaseus。
Thegirlrunsuptoher——\"Oh，yousillykindmamma，\"shesays，kissingheragain，\"that\'swhatHarrywouldlike;\"andshebrokeoutintoagreatjoyfullaugh;andLadyCastlewoodblushedasbashfulasamaidofsixteen。
\"Lookather，Harry，\"whispersBeatrix，runningup，andspeakinginhersweetlowtones。\"Doesn\'ttheblushbecomeher？Isn\'tshepretty？ShelooksyoungerthanIam，andIamsuresheisahundredmillionthousandtimesbetter。\"
Esmond\'skindmistresslefttheroom，carryingherblushesawaywithher。
\"IfwegirlsatCourtcouldgrowsuchrosesasthat，\"continuesBeatrix，withherlaugh，\"whatwouldn\'twedotopreserve\'em？
We\'dcliptheirstalksandput\'eminsaltandwater。Butthoseflowersdon\'tbloomatHamptonCourtandWindsor，Henry。\"Shepausedforaminute，andthesmilefadingawayfromherAprilface，gaveplacetoamenacingshoweroftears;\"Oh，howgoodsheis，Harry，\"Beatrixwentontosay。\"Oh，whatasaintsheis！Hergoodnessfrightensme。I\'mnotfittolivewithher。IshouldbebetterIthinkifshewerenotsoperfect。Shehashadagreatsorrowinherlife，andagreatsecret;andrepentedofit。Itcouldnothavebeenmyfather\'sdeath。Shetalksfreelyaboutthat;norcouldshehavelovedhimverymuch——thoughwhoknowswhatwewomendolove，andwhy？\"
\"What，andwhy，indeed，\"saysMr。Esmond。
\"Nooneknows，\"Beatrixwenton，withoutnoticingthisinterruptionexceptbyalook，\"whatmymother\'slifeis。Shehathbeenatearlyprayerthismorning;shepasseshoursinhercloset;ifyouweretofollowherthither，youwouldfindheratprayersnow。Shetendsthepooroftheplace——thehorriddirtypoor！Shesitsthroughthecurate\'ssermons——oh，thosedrearysermons！Andyouseeonabeaudire;butgoodastheyare，peoplelikeherarenotfittocommunewithusoftheworld。Thereisalways，asitwere，athirdpersonpresent，evenwhenIandmymotherarealone。Shecan\'tbefrankwithmequite;whoisalwaysthinkingofthenextworld，andofherguardianangel，perhapsthat\'sincompany。Oh，Harry，I\'mjealousofthatguardianangel！\"herebrokeoutMistressBeatrix。\"It\'shorrid，Iknow;butmymother\'slifeisallforheaven，andmine——allforearth。Wecanneverbefriendsquite;
andthen，shecaresmoreforFrank\'slittlefingerthanshedoesforme——Iknowshedoes:andshelovesyou，sir，agreatdealtoomuch;andIhateyouforit。Iwouldhavehadheralltomyself;
butshewouldn\'t。Inmychildhood，itwasmyfathersheloved——
（oh，howcouldshe？Irememberhimkindandhandsome，butsostupid，andnotbeingabletospeakafterdrinkingwine）。AndthenitwasFrank;andnow，itisheavenandtheclergyman。HowIwouldhavelovedher！FromachildIusedtobeinaragethatshelovedanybodybutme;butshelovedyouallbetter——all，Iknowshedid。
Andnow，shetalksoftheblessedconsolationofreligion。Dearsoul！shethinkssheishappierforbelieving，asshemust，thatweareallofuswickedandmiserablesinners;andthisworldisonlyapied—a—terreforthegood，wheretheystayforanight，aswedo，comingfromWalcote，atthatgreat，dreary，uncomfortableHounslowInn，inthosehorridbeds——oh，doyourememberthosehorridbeds？——
andthechariotcomesandfetchesthemtoheaventhenextmorning。\"
\"Hush，Beatrix，\"saysMr。Esmond。
\"Hush，indeed。Youareahypocrite，too，Henry，withyourgraveairsandyourglumface。Weareallhypocrites。Odearme！Weareallalone，alone，alone，\"sayspoorBeatrix，herfairbreastheavingwithasigh。
\"ItwasIthatwriteverylineofthatpaper，mydear，\"saysMr。
Esmond。\"Youarenotsoworldlyasyouthinkyourself，Beatrix，andbetterthanwebelieveyou。Thegoodwehaveinuswedoubtof;andthehappinessthat\'stoourhandwethrowaway。Youbendyourambitiononagreatmarriageandestablishment——andwhy？
You\'lltireofthemwhenyouwinthem;andbenohappierwithacoronetonyourcoach——\"
\"ThanridingpillionwithLubintomarket，\"saysBeatrix。\"Thankyou，Lubin！\"
\"I\'madismalshepherd，tobesure，\"answersEsmond，withablush;
\"andrequireanymphthatcantuckmybed—clothesup，andmakemewater—gruel。Well，TomLockwoodcandothat。Hetookmeoutofthefireuponhisshoulders，andnursedmethroughmyillnessaslovewillscarceeverdo。Onlygoodwages，andahopeofmyclothes，andthecontentsofmyportmanteau。HowlongwasitthatJacobservedanapprenticeshipforRachel？\"
\"Formamma？\"saysBeatrix。\"Itismammayourhonorwants，andthatIshouldhavethehappinessofcallingyoupapa？\"
Esmondblushedagain。\"IspokeofaRachelthatashepherdcourtedfivethousandyearsago;whenshepherdswerelongerlivedthannow。
Andmymeaningwas，thatsinceIsawyoufirstafterourseparation——achildyouwerethen……\"
\"AndIputonmybeststockingstocaptivateyou，Iremember，sir……\"
\"Youhavehadmyhearteversincethen，suchasitwas;andsuchasyouwere，Icaredfornootherwoman。WhatlittlereputationI
havewon，itwasthatyoumightbepleasedwithit:andindeed，itisnotmuch;andIthinkahundredfoolsinthearmyhavegotanddeservedquiteasmuch。WastheresomethingintheairofthatdismaloldCastlewoodthatmadeusallgloomy，anddissatisfied，andlonelyunderitsruinedoldroof？Wewereallso，evenwhentogetherandunited，asitseemed，followingourseparateschemes，eachaswesatroundthetable。\"
\"Dear，drearyoldplace！\"criesBeatrix。\"Mammahathneverhadthehearttogobackthithersinceweleftit，when——nevermindhowmanyyearsago。\"Andsheflungbackhercurls，andlookedoverherfairshoulderatthemirrorsuperbly，asifshesaid，\"Time，Idefyyou。\"
\"Yes，\"saysEsmond，whohadtheart，assheowned，ofdiviningmanyofherthoughts。\"Youcanaffordtolookintheglassstill;andonlybepleasedbythetruthittellsyou。Asforme，doyouknowwhatmyschemeis？IthinkofaskingFranktogivemetheVirginianestateKingCharlesgaveourgrandfather。（Shegaveasuperbcurtsy，asmuchastosay，\'Ourgrandfather，indeed！Thankyou，Mr。Bastard。\'）Yes，Iknowyouarethinkingofmybar—
sinister，andsoamI。Amancannotgetoveritinthiscountry;
unless，indeed，hewearsitacrossaking\'sarms，when\'tisahighlyhonorablecoat;andIamthinkingofretiringintotheplantations，andbuildingmyselfawigwaminthewoods，andperhaps，ifIwantcompany，suitingmyselfwithasquaw。Wewillsendyourladyshipfursoverforthewinter;and，whenyouareold，we\'llprovideyouwithtobacco。Iamnotquitecleverenough，ornotrogueenough——Iknownotwhich——fortheOldWorld。ImaymakeaplaceformyselfintheNew，whichisnotsofull;andfoundafamilythere。Whenyouareamotheryourself，andagreatlady，perhapsIshallsendyouoverfromtheplantationsomedayalittlebarbarianthatishalfEsmondhalfMohock，andyouwillbekindtohimforhisfather\'ssake，whowas，afterall，yourkinsman;andwhomyoulovedalittle。\"
\"Whatfollyyouaretalking，Harry，\"saysMissBeatrix，lookingwithhergreateyes。
\"\'Tissoberearnest，\"saysEsmond。And，indeed，theschemehadbeendwellingagooddealinhismindforsometimepast，andespeciallysincehisreturnhome，whenhefoundhowhopeless，andevendegradingtohimself，hispassionwas。\"No，\"sayshe，then:
\"Ihavetriedhalfadozentimesnow。Icanbearbeingawayfromyouwellenough;butbeingwithyouisintolerable\"（anotherlowcurtsyonMistressBeatrix\'spart），\"andIwillgo。Ihaveenoughtobuyaxesandgunsformymen，andbeadsandblanketsforthesavages;andI\'llgoandliveamongstthem。\"
\"Monami，\"shesaysquitekindly，andtakingEsmond\'shand，withanairofgreatcompassion，\"youcan\'tthinkthatinourpositionanythingmorethanourpresentfriendshipispossible。Youareourelderbrother——assuchweviewyou，pityingyourmisfortune，notrebukingyouwithit。Why，youareoldenoughandgraveenoughtobeourfather。Ialwaysthoughtyouahundredyearsold，Harry，withyoursolemnfaceandgraveair。Ifeelasasistertoyou，andcannomore。Isn\'tthatenough，sir？\"Andsheputherfacequiteclosetohis——whoknowswithwhatintention？
\"It\'stoomuch，\"saysEsmond，turningaway。\"Ican\'tbearthislife，andshallleaveit。Ishallstay，Ithink，toseeyoumarried，andthenfreightaship，andcallitthe\'Beatrix，\'andbidyouall……\"
Heretheservant，flingingthedooropen，announcedhisGracetheDukeofHamilton，andEsmondstartedbackwithsomethinglikeanimprecationonhislips，asthenoblemanentered，lookingsplendidinhisstarandgreenribbon。HegaveMr。Esmondjustthatgraciousbowwhichhewouldhavegiventoalackeywhofetchedhimachairortookhishat，andseatedhimselfbyMissBeatrix，asthepoorColonelwentoutoftheroomwithahang—doglook。
Esmond\'smistresswasinthelowerroomashepasseddownstairs。
SheoftenmethimashewascomingawayfromBeatrix;andshebeckonedhimintotheapartment。
\"Hasshetoldyou，Harry？\"LadyCastlewoodsaid。
\"Shehasbeenveryfrank——very，\"saysEsmond。
\"But——butaboutwhatisgoingtohappen？\"
\"Whatisgoingtohappen？\"sayshe，hisheartbeating。
\"HisGracetheDukeofHamiltonhasproposedtoher，\"saysmylady。
\"Hemadehisofferyesterday。Theywillmarryassoonashismourningisover;andyouhaveheardhisGraceisappointedAmbassadortoParis;andtheAmbassadressgoeswithhim。\"
CHAPTERIV。
BEATRIX\'SNEWSUITOR。
ThegentlemanwhomBeatrixhadselectedwas，tobesure，twentyyearsolderthantheColonel，withwhomshequarrelledforbeingtooold;butthisonewasbutanamelessadventurer，andtheotherthegreatestdukeinScotland，withpretensionseventoastillhighertitle。MyLordDukeofHamiltonhad，indeed，everymeritbelongingtoagentleman，andhehadhadthetimetomaturehisaccomplishmentsfully，beingupwardsoffiftyyearsoldwhenMadamBeatrixselectedhimforabridegroom。DukeHamilton，thenEarlofArran，hadbeeneducatedatthefamousScottishuniversityofGlasgow，and，comingtoLondon，becameagreatfavoriteofCharlestheSecond，whomadehimalordofhisbedchamber，andafterwardsappointedhimambassadortotheFrenchking，underwhomtheEarlservedtwocampaignsashisMajesty\'saide—de—camp;andhewasabsentonthisservicewhenKingCharlesdied。
KingJamescontinuedmylord\'spromotion——madehimMasteroftheWardrobeandColoneloftheRoyalRegimentofHorse;andhislordshipadheredfirmlytoKingJames，beingofthesmallcompanythatneverquittedthatunfortunatemonarchtillhisdepartureoutofEngland;andthenitwas，in1688namely，thathemadethefriendshipwithColonelFrancisEsmond，thathadalwaysbeen，moreorless，maintainedinthetwofamilies。
TheEarlprofessedagreatadmirationforKingWilliamalways，butnevercouldgivehimhisallegiance;andwasengagedinmorethanoneoftheplotsinthelategreatKing\'sreignwhichalwaysendedintheplotters\'discomfiture，andgenerallyintheirpardon，bythemagnanimityoftheKing。LordArranwastwiceprisonerintheTowerduringthisreign，undauntedlysaying，whenofferedhisrelease，uponparolenottoengageagainstKingWilliam，thathewouldnotgivehisword，because\"hewassurehecouldnotkeepit;\"but，nevertheless，hewasbothtimesdischargedwithoutanytrial;andtheKingborethisnobleenemysolittlemalice，thatwhenhismother，theDuchessofHamilton，ofherownright，resignedherclaimonherhusband\'sdeath，theEarlwas，bypatentsignedatLoo，1690，createdDukeofHamilton，MarquisofClydesdale，andEarlofArran，withprecedencyfromtheoriginalcreation。HisGracetooktheoathsandhisseatintheScottishparliamentin1700:wasfamousthereforhispatriotismandeloquence，especiallyinthedebatesabouttheUnionBill，whichDukeHamiltonopposedwithallhisstrength，thoughhewouldnotgothelengthoftheScottishgentry，whowereforresistingitbyforceofarms。\'Twassaidhewithdrewhisoppositionallofasudden，andinconsequenceoflettersfromtheKingatSt。
Germains，whoentreatedhimonhisallegiancenottothwarttheQueenhissisterinthismeasure;andtheDuke，beingalwaysbentuponeffectingtheKing\'sreturntohiskingdomthroughareconciliationbetweenhisMajestyandQueenAnne，andquiteaversetohislandingwitharmsandFrenchtroops，heldaloof，andkeptoutofScotlandduringthetimewhentheChevalierdeSt。George\'sdescentfromDunkirkwasprojected，passinghistimeinEnglandinhisgreatestateinStaffordshire。
WhentheWhigswentoutofofficein1710，theQueenbegantoshowhisGracetheverygreatestmarksofherfavor。HewascreatedDukeofBrandonandBaronofDuttoninEngland;havingtheThistlealreadyoriginallybestowedonhimbyKingJamestheSecond，hisGracewasnowpromotedtothehonoroftheGarter——adistinctionsogreatandillustrious，thatnosubjecthatheverbornethemhithertotogether。WhenthisobjectionwasmadetoherMajesty，shewaspleasedtosay，\"SuchasubjectastheDukeofHamiltonhasapre—eminentclaimtoeverymarkofdistinctionwhichacrownedheadcanconfer。Iwillhenceforthwearbothordersmyself。\"
AttheChapterheldatWindsorinOctober，1712，theDukeandotherknights，includingLord—Treasurer，thenew—createdEarlofOxfordandMortimer，wereinstalled;andafewdaysafterwardshisGracewasappointedAmbassador—ExtraordinarytoFrance，andhisequipages，plate，andliveriescommanded，ofthemostsumptuouskind，notonlyforhisExcellencytheAmbassador，butforherExcellencytheAmbassadress，whowastoaccompanyhim。Herarmswerealreadyquarteredonthecoachpanels，andherbrotherwastohastenoverontheappointeddaytogiveheraway。
Hislordshipwasawidower，havingmarried，in1698，Elizabeth，daughterofDigbyLordGerard，bywhichmarriagegreatestatescameintotheHamiltonfamily;andoutoftheseestatescame，inpart，thattragicquarrelwhichendedtheDuke\'scareer。
Fromthelossofatoothtothatofamistressthere\'snopangthatisnotbearable。Theapprehensionismuchmorecruelthanthecertainty;andwemakeupourmindtothemisfortunewhen\'tisirremediable，partwiththetormentor，andmumbleourcrustont\'othersideofthejaws。IthinkColonelEsmondwasrelievedwhenaducalcoachandsixcameandwhiskedhischarmerawayoutofhisreach，andplacedherinahighersphere。Asyouhaveseenthenymphintheopera—machinegouptothecloudsattheendofthepiecewhereMars，Bacchus，Apollo，andallthedivinecompanyofOlympiansareseated，andquaveroutherlastsongasagoddess:sowhenthisportentouselevationwasaccomplishedintheEsmondfamily，IamnotsurethateveryoneofusdidnottreatthedivineBeatrixwithspecialhonors;atleastthesaucylittlebeautycarriedherheadwithatossofsupremeauthority，andassumedatouch—me—notair，whichallherfriendsverygood—humoredlybowedto。
AnoldarmyacquaintanceofColonelEsmond\'s，honestTomTrett，whohadsoldhiscompany，marriedawife，andturnedmerchantinthecity，wasdreadfullygloomyforalongtime，thoughlivinginafinehouseontheriver，andcarryingonagreattradetoallappearance。AtlengthEsmondsawhisfriend\'snameintheGazetteasabankrupt;andaweekafterthiscircumstancemybankruptwalksintoMr。Esmond\'slodgingwithafaceperfectlyradiantwithgood—
humor，andasjollyandcarelessaswhentheyhadsailedfromSouthamptontenyearsbeforeforVigo。\"Thisbankruptcy，\"saysTom，\"hasbeenhangingovermyheadthesethreeyears;thethoughthathpreventedmysleeping，andIhavelookedatpoorPolly\'sheadont\'otherpillow，andthentowardsmyrazoronthetable，andthoughttoputanendtomyself，andsogivemywoestheslip。Butnowwearebankrupts:TomTrettpaysasmanyshillingsinthepoundashecan;hiswifehasalittlecottageatFulham，andherfortunesecuredtoherself。Iamafraidneitherofbailiffnorofcreditor:andforthelastsixnightshaveslepteasy。\"SoitwasthatwhenFortuneshookherwingsandlefthim，honestTomcuddledhimselfupinhisraggedvirtue，andfellasleep。
EsmonddidnottellhisfriendhowmuchhisstoryappliedtoEsmondtoo;buthelaughedatit，andusedit;andhavingfairlystruckhisdocketinthislovetransaction，determinedtoputacheerfulfaceonhisbankruptcy。PerhapsBeatrixwasalittleoffendedathisgayety。\"Isthistheway，sir，thatyoureceivetheannouncementofyourmisfortune，\"saysshe，\"anddoyoucomesmilingbeforemeasifyouweregladtoberidofme？\"
Esmondwouldnotbeputofffromhisgood—humor，buttoldherthestoryofTomTrettandhisbankruptcy。\"Ihavebeenhankeringafterthegrapesonthewall，\"sayshe，\"andlostmytemperbecausetheywerebeyondmyreach;wasthereanywonder？They\'regonenow，andanotherhasthem——atallermanthanyourhumbleservanthaswonthem。\"AndtheColonelmadehiscousinalowbow。
\"Atallerman，CousinEsmond！\"saysshe。\"Amanofspiritwouldhavesealedthewall，sir，andseizedthem！Amanofcouragewouldhavefoughtfor\'em，notgapedfor\'em。\"
\"ADukehasbuttogapeandtheydropintohismouth，\"saysEsmond，withanotherlowbow。
\"Yes，sir，\"saysshe，\"aDukeISatallermanthanyou。AndwhyshouldInotbegratefultoonesuchashisGrace，whogivesmehisheartandhisgreatname？Itisagreatgifthehonorsmewith;I
know\'tisabargainbetweenus;andIacceptit，andwilldomyutmosttoperformmypartofit。\'TisnoquestionofsighingandphilanderingbetweenanoblemanofhisGrace\'sageandagirlwhohathlittleofthatsoftnessinhernature。WhyshouldInotownthatIamambitious，HarryEsmond;andifitbenosininamantocovethonor，whyshouldawomantoonotdesireit？ShallIbefrankwithyou，Harry，andsaythatifyouhadnotbeendownonyourknees，andsohumble，youmighthavefaredbetterwithme？A
womanofmyspirit，cousin，istobewonbygallantry，andnotbysighsandruefulfaces。Allthetimeyouareworshippingandsinginghymnstome，IknowverywellIamnogoddess，andgrowwearyoftheincense。Sowouldyouhavebeenwearyofthegoddesstoo——whenshewascalledMrs。Esmond，andgotoutofhumorbecauseshehadnotpin—moneyenough，andwasforcedtogoaboutinanoldgown。Eh！cousin，agoddessinamob—cap，thathastomakeherhusband\'sgruel，ceasestobedivine——Iamsureofit。Ishouldhavebeensulkyandscolded;andofalltheproudwretchesintheworldMr。Esmondistheproudest，letmetellhimthat。Youneverfallintoapassion;butyouneverforgive，Ithink。Hadyoubeenagreatman，youmighthavebeengood—humored;butbeingnobody，sir，youaretoogreatamanforme;andI\'mafraidofyou，cousin——
there！andIwon\'tworshipyou，andyou\'llneverbehappyexceptwithawomanwhowill。Why，afterIbelongedtoyou，andafteroneofmytantrums，youwouldhaveputthepillowovermyheadsomenight，andsmotheredme，astheblackmandoesthewomanintheplaythatyou\'resofondof。What\'sthecreature\'sname？——
Desdemona。Youwould，youlittleblack—dyedOthello！\"
\"IthinkIshould，Beatrix，\"saystheColonel。
\"AndIwantnosuchending。Iintendtolivetobeahundred，andtogototenthousandroutsandballs，andtoplaycardseverynightofmylifetilltheyeareighteenhundred。AndIliketobethefirstofmycompany，sir;andIlikeflatteryandcompliments，andyougivemenone;andIliketobemadetolaugh，sir，andwho\'stolaughatYOURdismalface，Ishouldliketoknow？andI
likeacoach—andsixoracoach—and—eight;andIlikediamonds，andanewgowneveryweek;andpeopletosay——\'That\'stheDuchess——HowwellherGracelooks——MakewayforMadamel\'Ambassadriced\'Angleterre——CallherExcellency\'speople\'——that\'swhatIlike。
Andasforyou，youwantawomantobringyourslippersandcap，andtositatyourfeet，andcry，\'Ocaro！Obravo！\'whilstyoureadyourShakespearesandMiltonsandstuff。Mammawouldhavebeenthewifeforyou，hadyoubeenalittleolder，thoughyoulooktenyearsolderthanshedoes——youdo，youglum—faced，blue—beardedlittleoldman！Youmighthavesat，likeDarbyandJoan，andflatteredeachother;andbilledandcooedlikeapairofoldpigeonsonaperch。Iwantmywingsandtousethem，sir。\"Andshespreadoutherbeautifularms，asifindeedshecouldflyofflikethepretty\"Gawrie，\"whomthemaninthestorywasenamoredof。
\"AndwhatwillyourPeterWilkinssaytoyourflight？\"saysEsmond，whoneveradmiredthisfaircreaturemorethanwhensherebelledandlaughedathim。
\"Aduchessknowsherplace，\"saysshe，withalaugh。\"Why，Ihaveasonalreadymadeforme，andthirtyyearsold（myLordArran），andfourdaughters。Howtheywillscold，andwhataragetheywillbein，whenIcometotaketheheadofthetable！ButIgivethemonlyamonthtobeangry;attheendofthattimetheyshalllovemeeveryone，andsoshallLordArran，andsoshallallhisGrace\'sScotsvassalsandfollowersintheHighlands。I\'mbentonit;andwhenItakeathinginmyhead，\'tisdone。HisGraceisthegreatestgentlemaninEurope，andI\'lltryandmakehimhappy;and，whentheKingcomesback，youmaycountonmyprotection，CousinEsmond——forcomebacktheKingwillandshall;andI\'llbringhimbackfromVersailles，ifhecomesundermyhoop。\"
\"Ihopetheworldwillmakeyouhappy，Beatrix，\"saysEsmond，withasigh。\"You\'llbeBeatrixtillyouaremyLadyDuchess——willyounot？IshallthenmakeyourGracemyverylowestbow。\"
\"Noneofthesesighsandthissatire，cousin，\"shesays。\"ItakehisGrace\'sgreatbountythankfully——yes，thankfully;andwillwearhishonorsbecomingly。Idonotsayhehathtouchedmyheart;buthehasmygratitude，obedience，admiration——Ihavetoldhimthat，andnomore;andwiththathisnobleheartiscontent。Ihavetoldhimall——eventhestoryofthatpoorcreaturethatIwasengagedto——andthatIcouldnotlove;andIgladlygavehiswordbacktohim，andjumpedforjoytogetbackmyown。Iamtwenty—fiveyearsold。\"
\"Twenty—six，mydear，\"saysEsmond。
\"Twenty—five，sir——Ichoosetobetwenty—five;andineightyearsnomanhathevertouchedmyheart。Yes——youdidonce，foralittle，Harry，whenyoucamebackafterLille，andengagingwiththatmurdererMohun，andsavingFrank\'slife。IthoughtIcouldlikeyou;andmammabeggedmehard，onherknees，andIdid——foraday。Buttheoldchillcameoverme，Henry，andtheoldfearofyouandyourmelancholy;andIwasgladwhenyouwentaway，andengagedwithmyLordAshburnham，thatImighthearnomoreofyou，that\'sthetruth。Youaretoogoodforme，somehow。Icouldnotmakeyouhappy，andshouldbreakmyheartintrying，andnotbeingabletoloveyou。Butifyouhadaskedmewhenwegaveyouthesword，youmighthavehadme，sir，andwebothshouldhavebeenmiserablebythistime。Italkedwiththatsillylordallnightjusttovexyouandmamma，andIsucceeded，didn\'tI？Howfranklywecantalkofthesethings！Itseemsathousandyearsago:and，thoughweareheresittinginthesameroom，thereisagreatwallbetweenus。Mydear，kind，faithful，gloomyoldcousin！Icanlikenow，andadmireyoutoo，sir，andsaythatyouarebrave，andverykind，andverytrue，andafinegentlemanforall——forallyourlittlemishapatyourbirth，\"saysshe，waggingherarchhead。
\"Andnow，sir，\"saysshe，withacurtsy，\"wemusthavenomoretalkexceptwhenmammaisby，ashisGraceiswithus;forhedoesnothalflikeyou，cousin，andisjealousastheblackmaninyourfavoriteplay。\"
ThoughtheverykindnessofthewordsstabbedMr。Esmondwiththekeenestpang，hedidnotshowhissenseofthewoundbyanylookofhis（asBeatrix，indeed，afterwardsownedtohim），butsaid，withaperfectcommandofhimselfandaneasysmile，\"Theinterviewmustnotendyet，mydear，untilIhavehadmylastword。Stay，herecomesyourmother\"（indeedshecameinherewithhersweetanxiousface，andEsmondgoingupkissedherhandrespectfully）。\"Mydearladymayhear，too，thelastwords，whicharenosecrets，andareonlyapartingbenedictionaccompanyingapresentforyourmarriagefromanoldgentlemanyourguardian;forIfeelasifIwastheguardianofallthefamily，andanoldoldfellowthatisfittobethegrandfatherofyouall;andinthischaracterletmemakemyLadyDuchessherweddingpresent。Theyarethediamondsmyfather\'swidowleftme。IhadthoughtBeatrixmighthavehadthemayearago;buttheyaregoodenoughforaduchess，thoughnotbrightenoughforthehandsomestwomanintheworld。\"Andhetookthecaseoutofhispocketinwhichthejewelswere，andpresentedthemtohiscousin。
Shegaveacryofdelight，forthestoneswereindeedveryhandsome，andofgreatvalue;andthenextminutethenecklacewaswhereBelinda\'scrossisinMr。Pope\'sadmirablepoem，andglitteringonthewhitestandmostperfectly—shapedneckinallEngland。
Thegirl\'sdelightatreceivingthesetrinketswassogreat，thatafterrushingtothelooking—glassandexaminingtheeffecttheyproduceduponthatfairneckwhichtheysurrounded，Beatrixwasrunningbackwithherarmsextended，andwasperhapsforpayinghercousinwithaprice，thathewouldhavelikednodoubttoreceivefromthosebeautifulrosylipsofhers，butatthismomentthedooropened，andhisGracethebridegroomelectwasannounced。
HelookedveryblackuponMr。Esmond，towhomhemadeaverylowbowindeed，andkissedthehandofeachladyinhismostceremoniousmanner。Hehadcomeinhischairfromthepalacehardby，andworehistwostarsoftheGarterandtheThistle。
\"Look，myLordDuke，\"saysMistressBeatrix，advancingtohim，andshowingthediamondsonherbreast。
\"Diamonds，\"sayshisGrace。\"Hm！theyseempretty。\"
\"Theyareapresentonmymarriage，\"saysBeatrix。
\"FromherMajesty？\"askstheDuke。\"TheQueenisverygood。\"
\"FrommycousinHenry——fromourcousinHenry\"——cryboththeladiesinabreath。
\"Ihavenotthehonorofknowingthegentleman。IthoughtthatmyLordCastlewoodhadnobrother:andthatonyourladyship\'ssidetherewerenonephews。\"
\"Fromourcousin，ColonelHenryEsmond，mylord，\"saysBeatrix，takingtheColonel\'shandverybravely，——\"whowasleftguardiantousbyourfather，andwhohasahundredtimesshownhisloveandfriendshipforourfamily。\"
\"TheDuchessofHamiltonreceivesnodiamondsbutfromherhusband，madam，\"saystheDuke——\"mayIprayyoutorestorethesetoMr。
Esmond？\"
\"BeatrixEsmondmayreceiveapresentfromourkinsmanandbenefactor，myLordDuke，\"saysLadyCastlewood，withanairofgreatdignity。\"Sheismydaughteryet:andifhermothersanctionsthegift——nooneelsehaththerighttoquestionit。\"
\"Kinsmanandbenefactor！\"saystheDuke。\"Iknowofnokinsman:
andIdonotchoosethatmywifeshouldhaveforbenefactora——\"
\"Mylord！\"saysColonelEsmond。