d; with his selfishness and
faithlessness her foolish fiction of love and reverence was rent away.
Love!--who is to love what is base and unlovely? Respect!--who is to
respect what is gross and sensual? Not all the marriage oaths sworn
before all the parsons, cardinals, ministers, muftis, and rabbins in
the world, can bind to that monstrous allegiance. This couple was living
apart then; the woman happy to be allowed to love and tend her children
(who were never of her own good-will away from her), and thankful to
have saved such treasures as these out of the wreck in which the better
part of her heart went down.

These young ones had had no instructors save their mother, and Doctor
Tusher for their theology occasionally, and had made more progress than
might have been expected under a tutor so indulgent and fond as Lady
Castlewood. Beatrix could sing and dance like a nymph. Her voice was
her father's delight after dinner. She ruled over the house with little
imperial ways, which her parents coaxed and laughed at. She had long
learned the value of her bright eyes, and tried experiments in coquetry,
in corpore vili, upon rustics and country squires, until she should
prepare to conquer the world and the fashion. She put on a new ribbon to
welcome Harry Esmond, made eyes at him, and directed her young smiles at
him, not a little to the amusement of the young man, and the joy of her
father, who laughed his great laugh, and encouraged her in her thousand
antics. Lady Castlewood watched the child gravely and sadly: the
little one was pert in her replies to her mother, yet eager in her
protestations of love and promises of amendment; and as ready to cry
(after a little quarrel brought on by her own giddiness) until she
had won back her mamma's favor, as she was to risk the kind lady's
displeasure by fresh outbreaks of restless vanity. From her mother's sad
looks she fled to her father's chair and boozy laughter. She already
set the one against the other: and the little rogue delighted in the
mischief which she knew how to make so early.

The young heir of Castlewood was spoiled by father and mother both. He
took their caresses as men do, and as if they were his right. He had
his hawks and his spaniel dog, his little horse and his beagles. He had
learned to ride, and to drink, and to shoot flying: and he had a
small court, the sons of the huntsman and woodman, as became the
heir-apparent, taking after the example of my lord his