little army caused a mighty
excitement all through the provinces, and nowhere greater than at
Castlewood. Harry was off forthwith to see the troops under canvas at
Alexandria. The sight of their lines delighted him, and the inspiring
music of their fifes and drums. He speedily made acquaintance with the
officers of both regiments; he longed to join in the expedition upon
which they were bound, and was a welcome guest at their mess.

Madam Esmond was pleased that her sons should have an opportunity of
enjoying the society of gentlemen of good fashion from England. She had
no doubt their company was improving, that the English gentlemen were
very different from the horse-racing, cock-fighting Virginian
squires, with whom Master Harry would associate, and the lawyers, and
pettifoggers, and toad-eaters at the lieutenant-governor's table. Madam
Esmond had a very keen eye for detecting flatterers in other folks'
houses. Against the little knot of official people at Williamsburg she
was especially satirical, and had no patience with their etiquettes and
squabbles for precedence.

As for the company of the king's officers, Mr. Harry and his elder
brother both smiled at their mamma's compliments to the elegance and
propriety of the gentlemen of the camp. If the good lady had but known
all, if she could but have heard their jokes and the songs which they
sang over their wine and punch, if she could have seen the condition
of many of them as they were carried away to their lodgings, she would
scarce have been so ready to recommend their company to her sons. Men
and officers swaggered the country round, and frightened the peaceful
farm and village folk with their riot: the General raved and stormed
against his troops for their disorder; against the provincials for their
traitorous niggardliness; the soldiers took possession almost as of a
conquered country, they scorned the provincials, they insulted the wives
even of their Indian allies, who had come to join the English warriors,
upon their arrival in America, and to march with them against the
French. The General was compelled to forbid the Indian women his
camp. Amazed and outraged their husbands retired, and but a few months
afterwards their services were lost to him, when their aid would have
been most precious.

Some stories against the gentlemen of the camp, Madam Esmond might have
heard, but she would have none of them. Soldiers would be soldiers, that
everybody knew; t