The Virginians | Page 7

the house, though the family are from home?" Molly dared to
say Mrs. Barker would let his honour see the house, and Harry
Warrington made his way across the court, seeming to know the place
as well as if he had been born there, Miss Molly thought, who followed,
accompanied by Mr. Gumbo making her a profusion of polite bows and
speeches.

CHAPTER II
In which Harry has to pay for his Supper
Colonel Esmond's grandson rang for a while at his ancestors' house of
Castlewood, before any one within seemed inclined to notice his
summons. The servant, who at length issued from the door, seemed to
be very little affected by the announcement that the visitor was a
relation of the family. The family was away, and in their absence John
cared very little for their relatives, but was eager to get back to his
game at cards with Thomas in the window-seat. The housekeeper was
busy getting ready for my lord and my lady, who were expected that
evening. Only by strong entreaties could Harry gain leave to see my
lady's sitting-room and the picture-room, where, sure enough, was a
portrait of his grandfather in periwig and breastplate, the counterpart of
their picture in Virginia, and a likeness of his grandmother, as Lady
Castlewood, in a yet earlier habit of Charles II.'s time; her neck bare,
her fair golden hair waving over her shoulders in ringlets which he
remembered to have seen snowy white. From the contemplation of
these sights the sulky housekeeper drove him. Her family was about to
arrive. There was my lady the Countess, and my lord and his brother,
and the young ladies, and the Baroness, who was to have the state
bedroom. Who was the Baroness? The Baroness Bernstein, the young
ladies' aunt. Harry wrote down his name on a paper from his own
pocket-book, and laid it on a table in the hall. "Henry Esmond
Warrington, of Castlewood, in Virginia, arrived in England yesterday--
staying at the Three Castles in the village." The lackeys rose up from
their cards to open the door to him, in order to get their "wails," and
Gumbo quitted the bench at the gate, where he had been talking with
old Lockwood, the porter, who took Harry's guinea, hardly knowing the
meaning of the gift. During the visit to the home of his fathers, Harry
had only seen little Polly's countenance that was the least unselfish or
kindly: he walked away, not caring to own how disappointed he was,
and what a damp had been struck upon him by the aspect of the place.
They ought to have known him. Had any of them ridden up to his

house in Virginia, whether the master were present or absent, the guests
would have been made welcome, and, in sight of his ancestors' hall, he
had to go and ask for a dish of bacon and eggs at a country alehouse!
After his dinner, he went to the bridge and sate on it, looking towards
the old house, behind which the sun was descending as the rooks came
cawing home to their nests in the elms. His young fancy pictured to
itself many of the ancestors of whom his mother and grandsire had told
him. He fancied knights and huntsmen crossing the ford;--cavaliers of
King Charles's days; my Lord Castlewood, his grandmother's first
husband, riding out with hawk and hound. The recollection of his
dearest lost brother came back to him as he indulged in these reveries,
and smote him with a pang of exceeding tenderness and longing,
insomuch that the young man hung his head and felt his sorrow
renewed for the dear friend and companion with whom, until of late, all
his pleasures and griefs had been shared. As he sate plunged in his own
thoughts, which were mingled up with the mechanical clinking of the
blacksmith's forge hard by, the noises of the evening, the talk of the
rooks, and the calling of the birds round about--a couple of young men
on horseback dashed over the bridge. One of them, with an oath, called
him a fool, and told him to keep out of the way--the other, who fancied
he might have jostled the foot-passenger, and possibly might have sent
him over the parapet, pushed on more quickly when he reached the
other side of the water, calling likewise to Tom to come on; and the
pair of young gentlemen were up the hill on their way to the house
before Harry had recovered himself from his surprise at their
appearance, and wrath at their behaviour. In a minute or two, this
advanced guard was followed by two livery servants on horseback, who
scowled at the young traveller on the bridge a true British welcome of
Curse you,