ey could be got to give; and some of his friends
were for measures much bolder, more efficacious, and more open. With
a party of these, some of whom are yet alive, and some whose names Mr.
Esmond has no right to mention, he found himself engaged the year after
that miserable death of Duke Hamilton, which deprived the Prince of
his most courageous ally in this country. Dean Atterbury was one of the
friends whom Esmond may mention, as the brave bishop is now beyond exile
and persecution, and to him, and one or two more, the Colonel opened
himself of a scheme of his own, that, backed by a little resolution on
the Prince's part, could not fail of bringing about the accomplishment
of their dearest wishes.

My young Lord Viscount Castlewood had not come to England to keep his
majority, and had now been absent from the country for several years.
The year when his sister was to be married and Duke Hamilton died, my
lord was kept at Bruxelles by his wife's lying-in. The gentle Clotilda
could not bear her husband out of her sight; perhaps she mistrusted the
young scapegrace should he ever get loose from her leading-strings; and
she kept him by her side to nurse the baby and administer posset to the
gossips. Many a laugh poor Beatrix had had about Frank's uxoriousness:
his mother would have gone to Clotilda when her time was coming, but
that the mother-in-law was already in possession, and the negotiations
for poor Beatrix's marriage were begun. A few months after the horrid
catastrophe in Hyde Park, my mistress and her daughter retired to
Castlewood, where my lord, it was expected, would soon join them. But,
to say truth, their quiet household was little to his taste; he could be
got to come to Walcote but once after his first campaign; and then the
young rogue spent more than half his time in London, not appearing at
Court or in public under his own name and title, but frequenting plays,
bagnios, and the very worst company, under the name of Captain Esmond
(whereby his innocent kinsman got more than once into trouble); and so
under various pretexts, and in pursuit of all sorts of pleasures,
until he plunged into the lawful one of marriage, Frank Castlewood
had remained away from this country, and was unknown, save amongst the
gentlemen of the army, with whom he had served abroad. The fond heart of
his mother was pained by this long absence. 'Twas all that Henry Esmond
could do to soothe her natural mortification, and find excuses