ts in life. "Our little legacy will keep you for four
years like a gentleman. Heaven's Providence, your own genius, industry,
honour, must do the rest for you. Castlewood will always be a home for
you; and these children, whom you have taught and loved, will not forget
to love you. And Harry," said she (and this was the only time when she
spoke with a tear in her eye, or a tremor in her voice), "it may happen in
the course of nature that I shall be called away from them: and their
father--and--and they will need true friends and protectors. Promise me that
you will be true to them--as--as I think I have been to you--and a mother's
fond prayer and blessing go with you."

"So help me God, madam, I will," said Harry Esmond, falling on his knees,
and kissing the hand of his dearest mistress. "If you will have me stay
now, I will. What matters whether or no I make my way in life, or whether
a poor bastard dies as unknown as he is now? 'Tis enough that I have your
love and kindness surely; and to make you happy is duty enough for me."

"Happy!" says she; "but indeed I ought to be, with my children, and----"

"Not happy!" cried Esmond (for he knew what her life was, though he and
his mistress never spoke a word concerning it). "If not happiness, it may
be ease. Let me stay and work for you--let me stay and be your servant."

"Indeed, you are best away," said my lady, laughing, as she put her hand
on the boy's head for a moment. "You shall stay in no such dull place. You
shall go to college and distinguish yourself as becomes your name. That is
how you shall please me best; and--and if my children want you, or I want
you, you shall come to us; and I know we may count on you."

"May Heaven forsake me if you may not," Harry said, getting up from his
knee.

"And my knight longs for a dragon this instant that he may fight," said my
lady, laughing; which speech made Harry Esmond start, and turn red; for
indeed the very thought was in his mind, that he would like that some
chance should immediately happen whereby he might show his devotion. And
it pleased him to think that his lady had called him "her knight", and
often and often he recalled this to his mind, and prayed that he might be
her true knight, too.

My lady's bedchamber window looked out over the country, and you could see
from it the purple hills beyond Castlewood village, the green common
betwixt that and the Hall, and the old bridge which crossed over the
river. Wh