and was discovered by Mrs. Newcome, whose keen spectacles nothing could
escape. It chanced that she drove to Blackheath to Tom's tutor's. Tom was
absent taking his French and drawing lesson of M. de Blois. Thither Tom's
stepmother followed him, and found the young man sure enough with his
instructor over his books and plans of fortification. Mademoiselle and
her card-screens were in the room, but behind those screens she could not
hide her blushes and confusion from Mrs. Newcome's sharp glances. In one
moment the banker's wife saw the whole affair--the whole mystery which
had been passing for months under poor M. de Blois' nose, without his
having the least notion of the truth.

Mrs. Newcome said she wanted her son to return home with her upon private
affairs; and before they had reached the Hermitage a fine battle had
ensued between them. His mother had charged him with being a wretch and a
monster, and he had replied fiercely, denying the accusation with scorn,
and announcing his wish instantly to marry the most virtuous, the most
beautiful of her sex. To marry a Papist! This was all that was wanted to
make poor Tom's cup of bitterness run over. Mr. Newcome was called in,
and the two elders passed a great part of the night in an assault upon
the lad. He was grown too tall for the cane; but Mrs. Newcome thonged him
with the lash of her indignation for many an hour that evening.

He was forbidden to enter, M. de Blois' house, a prohibition at which the
spirited young fellow snapped his fingers, and laughed in scorn. Nothing,
he swore, but death should part him from the young lady. On the next day
his father came to him alone and plied him with entreaties, but he was as
obdurate as before. He would have her; nothing should prevent him. He
cocked his hat and walked out of the lodge-gate, as his father, quite
beaten by the young man's obstinacy, with haggard face and tearful eyes,
went his own way into town. He was not very angry himself: in the course