e to bandy words," says his Grace: "frankly I tell you
that your visits to this house are too frequent, and that I choose no
presents for the Duchess of Hamilton from gentlemen that bear a name
they have no right to."

"My lord!" breaks out Lady Castlewood, "Mr. Esmond hath the best right
to that name of any man in the world: and 'tis as old and as honorable
as your Grace's."

My Lord Duke smiled, and looked as if Lady Castlewood was mad, that was
so talking to him.

"If I called him benefactor," said my mistress, "it is because he has
been so to us--yes, the noblest, the truest, the bravest, the dearest of
benefactors. He would have saved my husband's life from Mohun's sword.
He did save my boy's, and defended him from that villain. Are those no
benefits?"

"I ask Colonel Esmond's pardon," says his Grace, if possible more
haughty than before. "I would say not a word that should give him
offence, and thank him for his kindness to your ladyship's family. My
Lord Mohun and I are connected, you know, by marriage--though neither
by blood nor friendship; but I must repeat what I said, that my wife can
receive no presents from Colonel Esmond."

"My daughter may receive presents from the Head of our House: my
daughter may thankfully take kindness from her father's, her mother's,
her brother's dearest friend; and be grateful for one more benefit
besides the thousand we owe him," cries Lady Esmond. "What is a string
of diamond stones compared to that affection he hath given us--our
dearest preserver and benefactor? We owe him not only Frank's life, but
our all--yes, our all," says my mistress, with a heightened color and a
trembling voice. "The title we bear is his, if he would claim it. 'Tis
we who have no right to our name: not he that's too great for it. He
sacrificed his name at my dying lord's bedside--sacrificed it to my
orphan children; gave up rank and honor because he loved us so nobly.
His father was Viscount of Castlewood and Marquis of Esmond before
him; and he is his father's lawful son and true heir, and we are the
recipients of his bounty, and he the chief of a house that's as old as
your own. And if he is content to forego his name that my child may
bear it, we love him and honor him and bless him under whatever name he
bears"--and here the fond and affectionate creature would have knelt to
Esmond again, but that he prevented her; and Beatrix, running up to her
with a pale face and a cry of alarm, embraced