g
back. "Keep off, Harry my boy; there's no good in running into the
wolf's jaws, you know."

My lady looked at him with some surprise, and instantly advancing to
Henry Esmond, took his hand. "I beg your pardon, Henry," she said; "I
spoke very unkindly. I have no right to interfere with you--with your--"

My lord broke out into an oath. "Can't you leave the boy alone, my
lady?" She looked a little red, and faintly pressed the lad's hand as
she dropped it.

"There is no use, my lord," she said; "Frank was on his knee as he was
making pictures, and was running constantly from Henry to me. The evil
is done, if any."

"Not with me, damme," cried my lord. "I've been smoking,"--and he
lighted his pipe again with a coal--"and it keeps off infection; and as
the disease is in the village--plague take it--I would have you leave
it. We'll go to-morrow to Walcote, my lady."

"I have no fear," said my lady; "I may have had it as an infant: it
broke out in our house then; and when four of my sisters had it at home,
two years before our marriage, I escaped it, and two of my dear sisters
died."

"I won't run the risk," said my lord; "I'm as bold as any man, but I'll
not bear that."

"Take Beatrix with you and go," said my lady. "For us the mischief is
done; and Tucker can wait upon us, who has had the disease."

"You take care to choose 'em ugly enough," said my lord, at which her
ladyship hung down her head and looked foolish: and my lord, calling
away Tusher, bade him come to the oak parlor and have a pipe. The Doctor
made a low bow to her ladyship (of which salaams he was profuse), and
walked off on his creaking square-toes after his patron.

When the lady and the young man were alone, there was a silence of some
moments, during which he stood at the fire, looking rather vacantly
at the dying embers, whilst her ladyship busied herself with the
tambour-frame and needles.

"I am sorry," she said, after a pause, in a hard, dry voice,--"I REPEAT
I am sorry that I showed myself so ungrateful for the safety of my son.
It was not at all my wish that you should leave us, I am sure, unless
you found pleasure elsewhere. But you must perceive, Mr. Esmond, that at
your age, and with your tastes, it is impossible that you can continue
to stay upon the intimate footing in which you have been in this family.
You have wished to go to the University, and I think 'tis quite as well
that you should be sent thither. I did not press this ma