er within. They looked at the stables where my
Lord Mohun praised the horses, though there was but a poor show there:
they walked over the old house and gardens, and fought the siege of
Oliver's time over again: they played a game of rackets in the old
court, where my Lord Castlewood beat my Lord Mohun, who said he loved
ball of all things, and would quickly come back to Castlewood for his
revenge. After dinner they played bowls and drank punch in the green
alley; and when they parted they were sworn friends, my Lord Castlewood
kissing the other lord before he mounted on horseback, and pronouncing
him the best companion he had met for many a long day. All night long,
over his tobacco-pipe, Castlewood did not cease to talk to Harry Esmond
in praise of his new friend, and in fact did not leave off speaking of
him until his lordship was so tipsy that he could not speak plainly any
more.

At breakfast next day it was the same talk renewed; and when my lady
said there was something free in the Lord Mohun's looks and manner of
speech which caused her to mistrust him, her lord burst out with one of
his laughs and oaths; said that he never liked man, woman, or beast,
but what she was sure to be jealous of it; that Mohun was the prettiest
fellow in England; that he hoped to see more of him whilst in the
country; and that he would let Mohun know what my Lady Prude said of
him.

"Indeed," Lady Castlewood said, "I liked his conversation well enough.
'Tis more amusing than that of most people I know. I thought it, I own,
too free; not from what he said, as rather from what he implied."

"Psha! your ladyship does not know the world," said her husband; "and
you have always been as squeamish as when you were a miss of fifteen."

"You found no fault when I was a miss at fifteen."

"Begad, madam, you are grown too old for a pinafore now; and I hold
that 'tis for me to judge what company my wife shall see," said my lord,
slapping the table.

"Indeed, Francis, I never thought otherwise," answered my lady, rising
and dropping him a curtsy, in which stately action, if there was
obedience, there was defiance too; and in which a bystander, deeply
interested in the happiness of that pair as Harry Esmond was, might see
how hopelessly separated they were; what a great gulf of difference and
discord had run between them.

"By G-d! Mohun is the best fellow in England; and I'll invite him here,
just to plague that woman. Did you ever see suc