woman, "Fainting
fits!--pooh!--epilepsy! inherited from that horrible scrofulous German
mother!" What means have we of knowing the private conversation of the
old lady and her attendant? Suppose Lady Maria orders Mrs. Betty,
her ladyship's maid, to taste every glass of medicinal water, first
declaring that her aunt is capable of poisoning her? Very likely such
conversations take place. These are but precautions--these are the
firelocks which our old soldiers have at their sides, loaded and cocked,
but at present lying quiet on the grass.

Having Harry's bond in her pocket, the veteran Maria did not choose to
press for payment. She knew the world too well for that. He was bound
to her, but she gave him plenty of day-rule, and leave of absence on
parole. It was not her object needlessly to chafe and anger her young
slave. She knew the difference of ages, and that Harry must have his
pleasures and diversions. "Take your ease and amusement, cousin," says
Lady Maria. "Frisk about, pretty little mousekin," says grey Grimalkin,
purring in the corner, and keeping watch with her green eyes. About all
that Harry was to see and do on his first visit to London, his female
relatives had of course talked and joked. Both of the ladies knew
perfectly what were a young gentleman's ordinary amusements in those
days, and spoke of them with the frankness which characterised those
easy times.

Our wily Calypso consoled herself, then, perfectly, in the absence of
her young wanderer, and took any diversion which came to hand. Mr. Jack
Morris, the gentleman whom we have mentioned as rejoicing in the company
of Lord March and Mr. Warrington, was one of these diversions. To live
with titled personages was the delight of Jack Morris's life; and to
lose money at cards to an earl's daughter was almost a pleasure to him.
Now, the Lady Maria Esmond was an earl's daughter who was very glad to
win money. She obtained permission to take Mr. Morris to the Countess
of Yarmouth's assembly, and played cards with him--and so everybody was
pleased.

Thus the first eight-and-forty hours after Mr. Warrington's departure
passed pretty cheerily at Tunbridge Wells, and Friday arrived, when the
sermon was to be delivered which we have seen Mr. Sampson preparing. The
company at the Wells were ready enough to listen to it. Sampson had a
reputation for being a most amusing and eloquent preacher; and if there
were no breakfast, conjurer, dancing bears, concert goin