by the effect which these reports
had upon the behaviour of the Castlewood family towards their young
kinsman.

"Hang him! Is he so rich, Molly?" said my lord to his elder sister.
"Then good-bye to our chances with your aunt. The Baroness will be sure
to leave him all her money to spite us, and because he doesn't want
it. Nevertheless, the lad is a good lad enough, and it is not his fault
being rich, you know."

"He is very simple and modest in his habits for one so wealthy," remarks
Maria.

"Rich people often are so," says my lord. "If I were rich, I often think
I would be the greatest miser, and live in rags and on a crust. Depend
on it there is no pleasure so enduring as money-getting. It grows on
you, and increases with old age. But because I am as poor as Lazarus, I
dress in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day."

Maria went to the book-room and got the History of Virginia, by R. B.
Gent--and read therein what an admirable climate it was, and how all
kinds of fruit and corn grew in that province, and what noble rivers
were those of Potomac and Rappahannoc, abounding in all sorts of fish.
And she wondered whether the climate would agree with her, and whether
her aunt would like her? And Harry was sure his mother would adore
her, so would Mountain. And when he was asked about the number of his
mother's servants, he said, they certainly had more servants than are
seen in England--he did not know how many. But the negroes did not do
near as much work as English servants did hence the necessity of keeping
so great a number. As for some others of Gumbo's details which were
brought to him, he laughed and said the boy was wonderful as a romancer,
and in telling such stories he supposed was trying to speak out for the
honour of the family.

So Harry was modest as well as rich! His denials only served to confirm
his relatives' opinion regarding his splendid expectations. More and
more the Countess and the ladies were friendly and affectionate with
him. More and more Mr. Will betted with him, and wanted to sell him
bargains. Harry's simple dress and equipage only served to confirm his
friends' idea of his wealth. To see a young man of his rank and means
with but one servant, and without horses or a carriage of his own--what
modesty! When he went to London he would cut a better figure? Of course
he would. Castlewood would introduce him to the best society in the
capital, and he would appear as he ought