The Virginians | Page 6

of Popery
which he had temporarily embraced, and returned to the Established
Church again. He had, from his constant support of the King and the
Minister of the time being, been rewarded by his Majesty George II.,
and died an English peer. An earl's coronet now figured on the
hatchment which hung over Castlewood gate--and there was an end of
the jolly gentleman. Between Colonel Esmond, who had become his
stepfather, and his lordship there had ever been a brief but affectionate
correspondence--on the Colonel's part especially, who loved his
stepson, and had a hundred stories to tell about him to his
grandchildren. Madam Esmond, however, said she could see nothing in
her half-brother. He was dull, except when he drank too much wine,
and that, to be sure, was every day at dinner. Then he was boisterous,
and his conversation not pleasant. He was good-looking--yes--a fine
tall stout animal; she had rather her boys should follow a different
model. In spite of the grandfather's encomium of the late lord, the boys

had no very great respect for their kinsman's memory. The lads and
their mother were staunch Jacobites, though having every respect for
his present Majesty; but right was right, and nothing could make their
hearts swerve from their allegiance to the descendants of the martyr
Charles.
With a beating heart Harry Warrington walked from the inn towards the
house where his grandsire's youth had been passed. The little
village-green of Castlewood slopes down towards the river, which is
spanned by an old bridge of a single broad arch, and from this the
ground rises gradually towards the house, grey with many gables and
buttresses, and backed by a darkling wood. An old man sate at the
wicket on a stone bench in front of the great arched entrance to the
house, over which the earl's hatchment was hanging. An old dog was
crouched at the man's feet. Immediately above the ancient sentry at the
gate was an open casement with some homely flowers in the window,
from behind which good-humoured girls' faces were peeping. They
were watching the young traveller dressed in black as he walked up
gazing towards the castle, and the ebony attendant who followed the
gentleman's steps also accoutred in mourning. So was he at the gate in
mourning, and the girls when they came out had black ribbons.
To Harry's surprise, the old man accosted him by his name. "You have
had a nice ride to Hexton, Master Harry, and the sorrel carried you
well."
"I think you must be Lockwood," said Harry, with rather a tremulous
voice, holding out his hand to the old man. His grandfather had often
told him of Lockwood, and how he had accompanied the Colonel and
the young Viscount in Marlborough's wars forty years ago. The veteran
seemed puzzled by the mark of affection which Harry extended to him.
The old dog gazed at the new-comer, and then went and put his head
between his knees. "I have heard of you often. How did you know my
name?"
"They say I forget most things," says the old man, with a smile; "but I
ain't so bad as that quite. Only this mornin', when you went out, my
darter says, 'Father, do you know why you have a black coat on?' 'In

course I know why I have a black coat,' says I. 'My lord is dead. They
say 'twas a foul blow, and Master Frank is my lord now, and Master
Harry'--why, what have you done since you've went out this morning?
Why, you have a-grow'd taller and changed your hair--though I
know--I know you."
One of the young women had tripped out by this time from the porter's
lodge, and dropped the stranger a pretty curtsey. "Grandfather
sometimes does not recollect very well," she said, pointing to her head.
"Your honour seems to have heard of Lockwood?"
"And you, have you never heard of Colonel Francis Esmond?"
"He was Captain and Major in Webb's Foot, and I was with him in two
campaigns, sure enough," cries Lockwood. "Wasn't I, Ponto?"
"The Colonel as married Viscountess Rachel, my late lord's mother?
and went to live amongst the Indians? We have heard of him. Sure we
have his picture in our gallery, and hisself painted it."
"Went to live in Virginia, and died there seven years ago, and I am his
grandson."
"Lord, your honour! Why, your honour's skin's as white as mine," cries
Molly. "Grandfather, do you hear this? His honour is Colonel Esmond's
grandson that used to send you tobacco, and his honour have come all
the way from Virginia."
"To see you, Lockwood," says the young man, "and the family. I only
set foot on English ground yesterday, and my first visit is for home. I
may see