een too fond and
pressing with the maternal authority; for her son and her daughter both
revolted early; nor after their first flight from the nest could they
ever be brought back quite to the fond mother's bosom. Lady Castlewood,
and perhaps it was as well, knew little of her daughter's life and real
thoughts. How was she to apprehend what passes in Queen's ante-chambers
and at Court tables? Mrs. Beatrix asserted her own authority so
resolutely that her mother quickly gave in. The maid of honor had her
own equipage; went from home and came back at her own will: her mother
was alike powerless to resist her or to lead her, or to command or to
persuade her.

She had been engaged once, twice, thrice, to be married, Esmond
believed. When he quitted home, it hath been said, she was promised to
my Lord Ashburnham, and now, on his return, behold his lordship was just
married to Lady Mary Butler, the Duke of Ormonde's daughter, and his
fine houses, and twelve thousand a year of fortune, for which Miss
Beatrix had rather coveted him, was out of her power. To her Esmond
could say nothing in regard to the breaking of this match; and, asking
his mistress about it, all Lady Castlewood answered was: "do not speak
to me about it, Harry. I cannot tell you how or why they parted, and I
fear to inquire. I have told you before, that with all her kindness, and
wit, and generosity, and that sort of splendor of nature she has, I can
say but little good of poor Beatrix, and look with dread at the marriage
she will form. Her mind is fixed on ambition only, and making a
great figure; and, this achieved, she will tire of it as she does
of everything. Heaven help her husband, whoever he shall be! My Lord
Ashburnham was a most excellent young man, gentle and yet manly, of very
good parts, so they told me, and as my little conversation would enable
me to judge: and a kind temper--kind and enduring I'm sure he must have
been, from all that he had to endure. But he quitted her at last,
from some crowning piece of caprice or tyranny of hers; and now he has
married a young woman that will make him a thousand times happier than
my poor girl ever could."

The rupture, whatever its cause was, (I heard the scandal, but indeed
shall not take pains to repeat at length in this diary the trumpery
coffee-house story,) caused a good deal of low talk; and Mr. Esmond was
present at my lord's appearance at the Birthday with his bride, over
whom the revenge that B