to a bad end,
will that young lord; and no end is bad enough for him," says honest
Mr. Westbury: whose prophecy was fulfilled twelve years after, upon that
fatal day when Mohun fell, dragging down one of the bravest and greatest
gentlemen in England in his fall.

From Mr. Steele, then, who brought the public rumor, as well as his own
private intelligence, Esmond learned the movements of his unfortunate
mistress. Steele's heart was of very inflammable composition; and the
gentleman usher spoke in terms of boundless admiration both of the widow
(that most beautiful woman, as he said) and of her daughter, who, in
the Captain's eyes, was a still greater paragon. If the pale widow, whom
Captain Richard, in his poetic rapture compared to a Niobe in tears--to
a Sigismunda--to a weeping Belvidera, was an object the most lovely
and pathetic which his eyes had ever beheld, or for which his heart had
melted, even her ripened perfections and beauty were as nothing compared
to the promise of that extreme loveliness which the good Captain saw
in her daughter. It was matre pulcra filia pulcrior. Steele composed
sonnets whilst he was on duty in his Prince's ante-chamber, to the
maternal and filial charms. He would speak for hours about them to Harry
Esmond; and, indeed, he could have chosen few subjects more likely to
interest the unhappy young man, whose heart was now as always devoted
to these ladies; and who was thankful to all who loved them, or praised
them, or wished them well.

Not that his fidelity was recompensed by any answering kindness, or
show of relenting even, on the part of a mistress obdurate now after ten
years of love and benefactions. The poor young man getting no answer,
save Tusher's, to that letter which he had written, and being too proud
to write more, opened a part of his heart to Steele, than whom no man,
when unhappy, could find a kinder hearer, or more friendly emissary;
described (in words which were no doubt pathetic, for they came imo
pectore, and caused honest Dick to weep plentifully) his youth, his
constancy, his fond devotion to that household which had reared him; his
affection, how earned, and how tenderly requited until but yesterday,
and (as far as he might) the circumstances and causes for which that
sad quarrel had made of Esmond a prisoner under sentence, a widow and
orphans of those whom in life he held dearest. In terms that might well
move a harder-hearted man than young Esmond's confidan