too--for our tobacco comes back to us in the shape of
goods, clothes, leather, groceries, ironmongery, nay, wine and beer for
our people and ourselves. Harry may come back and share all these:
there is a nag in the stable for him, a piece of venison on the table,
a little ready money to keep his pocket warm, and a coat or two every
year. This will go on whilst my mother lives, unless, which is far from
improbable, he gets into some quarrel with Madam Esmond. Then, whilst I
live he will have the run of the house and all it contains: then, if I
die leaving children, he will be less and less welcome. His future,
my lord, is a dismal one, unless some strange piece of luck turn up on
which we were fools to speculate. Henceforth he is doomed to dependence,
and I know no worse lot than to be dependent on a self-willed woman like
our mother. The means he had to make himself respected at home he
hath squandered away here. He has flung his patrimony to the dogs,
and poverty and subserviency are now his only portion." Mr. Warrington
delivered this speech with considerable spirit and volubility, and his
cousin heard him respectfully.

"You speak well, Mr. Warrington. Have you ever thought of public life?"
said my lord.

"Of course I have thought of public life like every man of my
station--every man, that is, who cares for something beyond a dice-box
or a stable," replies George. "I hope, my lord, to be able to take my
own place, and my unlucky brother must content himself with his. This I
say advisedly, having heard from him of certain engagements which he has
formed, and which it would be misery to all parties were he to attempt
to execute now."

"Your logic is very strong," said my lord. "Shall we go up and see the
ladies? There is a picture above-stairs which your grandfather is said
to have executed. Before you go, my dear cousin, you will please to fix
a day when our family may have the honour of receiving you. Castlewood,
you know, is always your home when we are there. It is something like
your Virginian Castlewood, cousin, from your account. We have beef,
and mutton, and ale, and wood, in plenty; but money is woefully scarce
amongst us."

They ascended to the drawing-room, where, however, they found only one
of the ladies of the family. This was my Lady Maria, who came out of the
embrasure of a window, where she and Harry Warrington had been engaged
in talk.

George made his best bow, Maria her lowest curtsey. "You a