Barker would let his honour see the house, and Harry Warrington made his
way across the court, seeming to know the place as well as if he had been
born there, Miss Molly thought, who followed, accompanied by Mr. Gumbo
making her a profusion of polite bows and speeches.




CHAPTER II

In which Harry has to pay for his Supper


Colonel Esmond's grandson rang for a while at his ancestors' house of
Castlewood, before any one within seemed inclined to notice his summons.
The servant, who at length issued from the door, seemed to be very little
affected by the announcement that the visitor was a relation of the
family. The family was away, and in their absence John cared very little
for their relatives, but was eager to get back to his game at cards with
Thomas in the window-seat. The housekeeper was busy getting ready for my
lord and my lady, who were expected that evening. Only by strong
entreaties could Harry gain leave to see my lady's sitting-room and the
picture-room, where, sure enough, was a portrait of his grandfather in
periwig and breastplate, the counterpart of their picture in Virginia,
and a likeness of his grandmother, as Lady Castlewood, in a yet earlier
habit of Charles II.'s time; her neck bare, her fair golden hair waving
over her shoulders in ringlets which he remembered to have seen snowy
white. From the contemplation of these sights the sulky housekeeper drove
him. Her family was about to arrive. There was my lady the Countess, and
my lord and his brother, and the young ladies, and the Baroness, who was