together
admirable; and Theo composes, and sings songs of her own."

"Indeed! I scarcely saw them. I thought they were children. They looked
quite childish. I had no idea they had all these perfections, and were
such wonders of the world."

"That's just the way with you women! At home, if me or George praised a
woman, Mrs. Esmond. and Mountain, too, would be sure to find fault with
her!" cries Harry.

"I am sure I would find fault with no one who is kind to you, Mr.
Warrington," sighed Maria, "though you are not angry with me for envying
them because they had to take care of you when you were wounded and
ill--whilst I--I had to leave you?"

"You dear good Maria!"

"No, Harry! I am not dear and good. There, sir, you needn't be so
pressing in your attentions. Look! There is your black man walking with
a score of other wretches in livery. The horrid creatures are going
to fuddle at the tea-garden, and get tipsy like their masters. That
dreadful Mr. Morris was perfectly tipsy when I came to you, and
frightened you so."

"I had just won great bets from both of them. What shall I buy for
you, my dear cousin?" And Harry narrated the triumphs which he had just
achieved. He was in high spirits: he laughed, he bragged a little. "For
the honour of Virginia I was determined to show them what jumping was,"
he said. "With a little practice I think I could leap two foot farther."

Maria was pleased with the victories of her young champion. "But you
must beware about play, child," she said. "You know it hath been the
ruin of our family. My brother Castlewood, Will, our poor father, our
aunt, Lady Castlewood herself, they have all been victims to it: as for
my Lord March, he is the most dreadful gambler and the most successful
of all the nobility."

"I don't intend to be afraid of him, nor of his friend Mr. Jack Morris
neither," says Harry, again fingering the delightful notes. "What do you
play at Aunt Bernstein's? Cribbage, all-fours, brag, whist, commerce,
piquet, quadrille? I'm ready at any of 'em. What o'clock is that
striking--sure 'tis seven!"

"And you want to begin now," said the plaintive Maria. "You don't care
about walking with your poor cousin. Not long ago you did."

"Hey! Youth is youth, cousin!" cried Mr. Harry, tossing up his head,
"and a young fellow must have his fling!" and he strutted by his
partner's side, confident, happy, and eager for pleasure. Not long ago
he did like to walk with her. Only yester