The Virginians | Page 9

gentleman in bed called out
fiercely to the host, to turn that sot out of the room.
"Sot, you little tobacconist! Sot, you Cherokee!" screams out Mr.
William. "Jump out of bed, and I'll drive my sword through your body.
Why didn't I do it to-day when I took you for a bailiff--a confounded
pettifogging bum-bailiff!" And he went on screeching more oaths and
incoherencies, until the landlord, the drawer, the hostler, and all the
folks of the kitchen were brought to lead him away. After which Harry
Warrington closed his tent round him in sulky wrath, and, no doubt,

finally went fast to sleep.
My landlord was very much more obsequious on the next morning
when he met his young guest, having now fully learned his name and
quality. Other messengers had come from the castle on the previous
night to bring both the young gentlemen home, and poor Mr. William,
it appeared, had returned in a wheelbarrow, being not altogether
unaccustomed to that mode of conveyance. "He never remembers
nothin' about it the next day. He is of a real kind nature, Mr. William,"
the landlord vowed, "and the men get crowns and half-crowns from
him by saying that he beat them overnight when he was in liquor. He's
the devil when he's tipsy, Mr. William, but when he is sober he is the
very kindest of young gentlemen."
As nothing is unknown to writers of biographies of the present kind, it
may be as well to state what had occurred within the walls of
Castlewood House, whilst Harry Warrington was without, awaiting
some token of recognition from his kinsmen. On their arrival at home
the family had found the paper on which the lad's name was inscribed,
and his appearance occasioned a little domestic council. My Lord
Castlewood supposed that must have been the young gentleman whom
they had seen on the bridge, and as they had not drowned him they
must invite him. Let a man go down with the proper messages, let a
servant carry a note. Lady Fanny thought it would be more civil if one
of the brothers would go to their kinsman, especially considering the
original greeting which they had given. Lord Castlewood had not the
slightest objection to his brother William going-- yes, William should
go. Upon this Mr. William said (with a yet stronger expression) that he
would be hanged if he would go. Lady Maria thought the young
gentleman whom they had remarked at the bridge was a pretty fellow
enough. Castlewood is dreadfully dull, I am sure neither of my brothers
do anything to make it amusing. He may be vulgar--no doubt, he is
vulgar--but let us see the American. Such was Lady Maria's opinion.
Lady Castlewood was neither for inviting nor for refusing him, but for
delaying. "Wait till your aunt comes, children; perhaps the Baroness
won't like to see the young man; at least, let us consult her before we
ask him." And so the hospitality to be offered by his nearest kinsfolk to

poor Harry Warrington remained yet in abeyance.
At length the equipage of the Baroness Bernstein made its appearance,
and whatever doubt there might be as to the reception of the Virginian
stranger, there was no lack of enthusiasm in this generous family
regarding their wealthy and powerful kinswoman. The state-chamber
had already been prepared for her. The cook had arrived the previous
day with instructions to get ready a supper for her such as her ladyship
liked. The table sparkled with old plate, and was set in the oak
dining-room with the pictures of the family round the walls. There was
the late Viscount, his father, his mother, his sister--these two lovely
pictures. There was his predecessor by Vandyck, and his Viscountess.
There was Colonel Esmond, their relative in Virginia, about whose
grandson the ladies and gentlemen of the Esmond family showed such
a very moderate degree of sympathy.
The feast set before their aunt, the Baroness, was a very good one, and
her ladyship enjoyed it. The supper occupied an hour or two, during
which the whole Castlewood family were most attentive to their guest.
The Countess pressed all the good dishes upon her, of which she freely
partook: the butler no sooner saw her glass empty than he filled it with
champagne: the young folks and their mother kept up the conversation,
not so much by talking, as by listening appropriately to their friend. She
was full of spirits and humour. She seemed to know everybody in
Europe, and about those everybodies the wickedest stories. The
Countess of Castlewood, ordinarily a very demure, severe woman, and
a stickler for the proprieties, smiled at the very worst of these anecdotes;
the girls looked at one another and laughed at the maternal signal; the