st colonel to give him joy," says Mr.
Esmond. "What is the cause of this supreme felicity?"

"Haven't you heard?" says he. "Don't you know? I thought the family told
you everything: the adorable Beatrix hath promised to be mine."

"What!" cries out Mr. Esmond, who had spent happy hours with Beatrix that
very morning--had writ verses for her, that she had sung at the
harpsichord.

"Yes," says he; "I waited on her to-day. I saw you walking towards
Knightsbridge as I passed in my coach; and she looked so lovely, and spoke
so kind, that I couldn't help going down on my knees, and--and--sure I'm the
happiest of men in all the world; and I'm very young; but she says I shall
get older: and you know I shall be of age in four months; and there's very
little difference between us; and I'm so happy. I should like to treat the
company to something. Let us have a bottle--a dozen bottles--and drink the
health of the finest woman in England."

-------------------------------------

Esmond left the young lord tossing off bumper after bumper, and strolled
away to Kensington to ask whether the news was true. 'Twas only too sure:
his mistress's sad, compassionate face told him the story; and then she
related what particulars of it she knew, and how my young lord had made
his offer, half an hour after Esmond went away that morning, and in the
very room where the song lay yet on the harpsichord, which Esmond had
writ, and they had sung together.

Book III. Containing The End Of Mr. Esmond's Adventures In England

Chapter I. I Come To An End Of My Battles And Bruises

That feverish desire to gain a little reputation which Esmond had had,
left him now perhaps that he had attained some portion of his wish, and
the great motive of his ambition was over. His desire for military honour
was that it might raise him in Beatrix's eyes. 'Twas next to nobility and
wealth the only kind of rank she valued. It was the stake quickest won or
lost too; for law is a very long game that requires a life to practise;
and to be distinguished in letters or the Church would not have forwarded
the poor gentleman's plans in the least. So he had no suit to play but the
red one, and he played it; and this, in truth, was the reason of his
speedy promotion; for he exposed himself more than most gentlemen do, and
risked more to win more. Is he the only man that hath set his life against
a stake which may be not worth the winning? Anoth