ay de vous: pourtant elle ne fay qu'en parlay milfoy par
jour. Quand vous seray hor prison venay me voyre. J'auray soing de vous.
Si cette petite Prude veut se defaire de song pety Monste (Helas je
craing quil ne soy trotar!) je m'on chargeray. J'ay encor quelqu interay
et quelques escus de costay.

"La Veuve se raccommode avec Miladi Marlboro qui est tout puicante
avecque la Reine Anne. Cet dam senteraysent pour la petite prude; qui
pourctant a un fi du mesme asge que vous savay.

"En sortant de prisong venez icy. Je ne puy vous recevoir chaymoy a
cause des mechansetes du monde, may pre du moy vous aurez logement.

"ISABELLE VICOMTESSE D'ESMOND"

Marchioness of Esmond this lady sometimes called herself, in virtue
of that patent which had been given by the late King James to Harry
Esmond's father; and in this state she had her train carried by a
knight's wife, a cup and cover of assay to drink from, and fringed
cloth.

He who was of the same age as little Francis, whom we shall henceforth
call Viscount Castlewood here, was H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, born
in the same year and month with Frank, and just proclaimed at Saint
Germains, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.

CHAPTER III.

I TAKE THE QUEEN'S PAY IN QUIN'S REGIMENT.

The fellow in the orange-tawny livery with blue lace and facings was
in waiting when Esmond came out of prison, and, taking the young
gentleman's slender baggage, led the way out of that odious Newgate, and
by Fleet Conduit, down to the Thames, where a pair of oars was called,
and they went up the river to Chelsey. Esmond thought the sun had never
shone so bright; nor the air felt so fresh and exhilarating. Temple
Garden, as they rowed by, looked like the garden of Eden to him, and
the aspect of the quays, wharves, and buildings by the river, Somerset
House, and Westminster (where the splendid new bridge was just
beginning), Lambeth tower and palace, and that busy shining scene of the
Thames swarming with boats and barges, filled his heart with pleasure
and cheerfulness--as well such a beautiful scene might to one who had
been a prisoner so long, and with so many dark thoughts deepening the
gloom of his captivity. They rowed up at length to the pretty village
of Chelsey, where the nobility have many handsome country-houses; and
so came to my Lady Viscountess's house, a cheerful new house in the
row facing the river, with a handsome garden behind it, and a pleasant
look-