painting, music, poetry, and perfect at COOKERY
AND PUDDENS. I borded with the Count, that's how I came to know her.
There are four Counts her brothers. One an Abbey--three with the
Prince's army. They have a lawsuit for AN IMMENCE FORTUNE: but are now
in a PORE WAY. Break this to mother, who'll take anything from YOU.
And write, and bid Finch write AMEDIATELY. Hostel de l'Aigle Noire,
Bruxelles, Flanders."

So Frank had married a Roman Catholic lady, and an heir was expected,
and Mr. Esmond was to carry this intelligence to his mistress at London.
'Twas a difficult embassy; and the Colonel felt not a little tremor as
he neared the capital.

He reached his inn late, and sent a messenger to Kensington to announce
his arrival and visit the next morning. The messenger brought back news
that the Court was at Windsor, and the fair Beatrix absent and engaged
in her duties there. Only Esmond's mistress remained in her house at
Kensington. She appeared in court but once in the year; Beatrix was
quite the mistress and ruler of the little mansion, inviting the company
thither, and engaging in every conceivable frolic of town pleasure.
Whilst her mother, acting as the young lady's protectress and elder
sister, pursued her own path, which was quite modest and secluded.

As soon as ever Esmond was dressed (and he had been awake long before
the town), he took a coach for Kensington, and reached it so early that
he met his dear mistress coming home from morning prayers. She carried
her prayer-book, never allowing a footman to bear it, as everybody else
did: and it was by this simple sign Esmond knew what her occupation had
been. He called to the coachman to stop, and jumped out as she looked
towards him. She wore her hood as usual, and she turned quite pale when
she saw him. To feel that kind little hand near to his heart seemed
to give him strength. They were soon at the door of her ladyship's
house--and within it.

With a sweet sad smile she took his hand and kissed it.

"How ill you have been: how weak you look, my dear Henry," she said.

'Tis certain the Colonel did look like a ghost, except that ghosts do
not look very happy, 'tis said. Esmond always felt so on returning to
her after absence, indeed whenever he looked in her sweet kind face.

"I am come back to be nursed by my family," says he. "If Frank had
not taken care of me after my wound, very likely I should have gone
altogether."

"Poor Frank, good Frank!" says h