tle we love
to pay the cost. Will you have your ladd make a figar in London? Trebble
his allowance at the very least, and his Aunt Bernstein (with his
honored mamma's permission) will add a little more on to whatever summ
you give him. Otherwise he will be spending the little capital I learn
he has in this country, which, when a ladd once begins to manger, there
is very soon an end to the loaf. Please God, I shall be able to leave
Henry Esmond's grandson something at my death; but my savings are small,
and the pension with which my gracious Sovereign hath endowed me dies
with me. As for feu M. de Bernstein, he left only debt at his decease:
the officers of his Majesty's Electoral Court of Hannover are but
scantily paid.

"A lady who is at present very high in his Majesty's confidence hath
taken a great phancy to your ladd, and will take an early occasion to
bring him to the Sovereign's favorable notice. His Royal Highness the
Duke he hath seen. If live in America he must, why should not Mr. Esmond
Warrington return as Governor of Virginia, and with a title to his name?
That is what I hope for him.

"Meanwhile, I must be candid with you, and tell you I fear he hath
entangled himself here in a very silly engagement. Even to marry an
old woman for money is scarce pardonable--the game ne valant gueres la
chandelle--Mr. Bernstein, when alive, more than once assured me of this
fact, and I believe him, poor gentleman! to engage yourself to an old
woman without money, and to marry her merely because you have promised
her, this seems to me a follie which only very young lads fall into,
and I fear Mr. Warrington is one. How, or for what consideration, I know
not, but my niece Maria Esmond hath escamote a promise from Harry. He
knows nothing of her antecedens, which I do. She hath laid herself out
for twenty husbands these twenty years past. I care not how she hath
got the promise from him. 'Tis a sin and a shame that a woman more than
forty years old should surprize the honour of a child like that, and
hold him to his word. She is not the woman she pretends to be. A horse
jockey (he saith) cannot take him in--but a woman!

"I write this news to you advisedly, displeasant as it must be. Perhaps
'twill bring you to England: but I would be very cautious, above all,
very gentle, for the bitt will instantly make his high spirit restive.
I fear the property is entailed, so that threats of cutting him off from
it will not move Maria.