Harry Warrington had often heard of Francis, Lord Castlewood. It was for
Frank's sake, and for his great love towards the boy, that Colonel Esmond
determined to forgo his claim to the English estates and rank of his
family, and retired to Virginia. The young man had led a wild youth; he
had fought with distinction under Marlborough; he had married a foreign
lady, and most lamentably adopted her religion. At one time he had been a
Jacobite (for loyalty to the sovereign was ever hereditary in the Esmond
family), but had received some slight or injury from the Prince, which
had caused him to rally to King George's side. He had, on his second
marriage, renounced the errors of Popery which he had temporarily
embraced, and returned to the Established Church again. He had, from his
constant support of the King and the Minister of the time being, been
rewarded by his Majesty George II., and died an English peer. An earl's
coronet now figured on the hatchment which hung over Castlewood gate--and
there was an end of the jolly gentleman. Between Colonel Esmond, who had
become his stepfather, and his lordship there had ever been a brief but
affectionate correspondence--on the Colonel's part especially, who loved
his stepson, and had a hundred stories to tell about him to his
grandchildren. Madam Esmond, however, said she could see nothing in her
half-brother. He was dull, except when he drank too much wine, and that,
to be sure, was every day at dinner. Then he was boisterous, and his
conversation not pleasant. He was good-looking--yes--a fine tall stout
animal; she had rather her boys should follow a different model. In spite
of the grandfather's encomium of the late lord, the boys had no very
great respect for their kinsman's memory. The lads and their mother were
staunch Jacobites, though having every respect for his present Majesty;
but right was right, and nothing could make their hearts swerve from
their allegiance to the descendants of the martyr Charles.

With a beating heart Harry Warrington walked from the inn towards the