elphia repeated the widow's name, took quite
a different view of her character from that Mr. Dinwiddie had given,
seemed to know a good deal about her, her father, and her estate; as,
indeed, he did about every man or subject which came under discussion;
explained to the General that Madam Esmond had beeves, and horses, and
stores in plenty, which might be very useful at the present juncture,
and recommended him to conciliate her by all means. The General
had already made up his mind that Mr. Franklin was a very shrewd,
intelligent person, and graciously ordered an aide-de-camp to invite the
two young men to the next day's dinner. When they appeared he was very
pleasant and good-natured; the gentlemen of the General's family made
much of them. They behaved, as became persons of their name, with
modesty and good-breeding; they returned home delighted with their
entertainment, nor was their mother less pleased at the civilities which
his Excellency had shown to her boys. In reply to Braddock's message,
Madam Esmond penned a billet in her best style, acknowledging his
politeness, and begging his Excellency to fix the time when she might
have the honour to receive him at Castlewood.

We may be sure that the arrival of the army and the approaching campaign
formed the subject of continued conversation in the Castlewood family.
To make the campaign was the dearest wish of Harry's life. He
dreamed only of war and battle; he was for ever with the officers at
Williamsburg; he scoured and cleaned and polished all the guns and
swords in the house; he renewed the amusements of his childhood, and had
the negroes under arms. His mother, who had a gallant spirit, knew that
the time was come when one of her boys must leave her and serve the
king. She scarce dared to think on whom the lot should fall. She admired
and respected the elder, but she felt that she loved the younger boy
with all the passion of her heart.

Eager as Harry was to be a soldier, and with all his thoughts bent on
that glorious scheme, he too scarcely dared to touch on the subject
nearest his heart. Once or twice when he ventured on it with George, the
latter's countenance wore an ominous look. Harry had a feudal attachment
for his elder brother, worshipped him with an extravagant regard, and in
all things gave way to him as the chief. So Harry saw, to his infinite
terror, how George, too, in his grave way, was occupied with military
matters. George had the wars of