restore these to Mr. Esmond?"

"Beatrix Esmond may receive a present from our kinsman and benefactor, my
lord duke," says Lady Castlewood, with an air of great dignity. "She is my
daughter yet: and if her mother sanctions the gift--no one else hath the
right to question it."

"Kinsman and benefactor!" says the duke. "I know of no kinsman: and I do
not choose that my wife should have for benefactor a----"

"My lord," says Colonel Esmond.

"I am not here 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 honourable 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 colour 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
honour because he loved us so nobly. His father was Viscount of Castlewood
and Marquis of Esmond before him; a