ington attended it. The
lad was not a little amused and astonished by this prosperity, and bore
his new honours pretty well. He had been bred at home to think too well
of himself, and his present good fortune no doubt tended to confirm his
self-satisfaction. But he was not too much elated. He did not brag about
his victories or give himself any particular airs. In engaging in play
with the gentlemen who challenged him, he had acted up to his queer code
of honour. He felt as if he was bound to meet them when they summoned
him, and that if they invited him to a horse-race, or a drinking-bout,
or a match at cards, for the sake of Old Virginia he must not draw back.
Mr. Harry found his new acquaintances ready to try him at all these
sports and contests. He had a strong head, a skilful hand, a firm seat,
an unflinching nerve. The representative of Old Virginia came off very
well in his friendly rivalry with the mother-country.

Madame de Bernstein, who got her fill of cards every night, and, no
doubt, repaired the ill-fortune of which we heard in the last chapter,
was delighted with her nephew's victories and reputation. He had shot
with Jack Morris and beat him; he had ridden a match with Mr. Scamper
and won it. He played tennis with Captain Batts, and, though the boy had
never tried the game before, in a few days he held his own uncommonly
well. He had engaged in play with those celebrated gamesters, my Lords
of Chesterfield and March; and they both bore testimony to his coolness,
gallantry, and good breeding. At his books Harry was not brilliant
certainly; but he could write as well as a great number of men of
fashion; and the naivete of his ignorance amused the old lady. She had
read books in her time, and could talk very well about them with bookish
people: she had a relish for humour and delighted in Moliere and Mr.
Fielding, but she loved the world far better than the library, and was
never so interested in any novel but that she would leave it for a
game of cards. She superintended with fond pleasure the improvements of
Harry's toilette: rummaged out fine laces for his ruffles and shirt,
and found a pretty diamond-brooch for his frill. He attained the post of
prime favourite of all her nephews and kinsfolk. I fear Lady Maria was
only too well pleased at the lad's successes, and did not grudge him his
superiority over her brothers; but those gentlemen must have quaked with
fear and envy when they heard of Mr. Warringto