your island you grow more wiry and thin like. I am thine
uncle, child. My name is Sir Miles Warrington. My lord knows me well
enough."

My lord looked very frightened and yellow. "Yes, my dear Harry. This is
your paternal uncle, Sir Miles Warrington."

"Might as well have come to see us in Norfolk, as dangle about playing
the fool at Tunbridge Wells, Mr. Warrington, or Mr. Esmond,--which do
you call yourself?" said the Baronet. "The old lady calls herself Madam
Esmond, don't she?"

"My mother is not ashamed of her father's name, nor am I, uncle," said
Mr. Harry, rather proudly.

"Well said, lad! Come home and eat a bit of mutton with Lady Warrington,
at three, in Hill Street,--that is if you can do without your White's
kickshaws. You need not look frightened, my Lord Castlewood! I shall
tell no tales out of school."

"I--I am sure Sir Miles Warrington will act as a gentleman!" says my
lord, in much perturbation.

"Belike, he will," growled the Baronet, turning on his heel. "And thou
wilt come, young man, at three; and mind, good roast mutton waits for
nobody. Thou hast a great look of thy father. Lord bless us, how we used
to beat each other! He was smaller than me, and in course younger; but
many a time he had the best of it. Take it he was henpecked when he
married, and Madam Esmond took the spirit out of him when she got him in
her island. Virginia is an island. Ain't it an island?"

Harry laughed, and said "No!" And the jolly Baronet, going off, said,
"Well, island or not, thou must come and tell all about it to my lady.
She'll know whether 'tis an island or not."

"My dear Mr. Warrington," said my lord, with an appealing look, "I need
not tell you that, in this great city, every man has enemies, and that
there is a great, great deal of detraction and scandal. I never spoke
to you about Sir Miles Warrington, precisely because I did know him,
and because we have had differences together. Should he permit himself
remarks to my disparagement, you will receive them cum grano, and
remember that it is from an enemy they come." And the pair walked out
of the King's apartments and into Saint James's Street. Harry found the
news of his cold reception at court had already preceded him to White's.
The King had turned his back upon him. The King was jealous of Harry's
favour with the favourite. Harry was au mieux with Lady Yarmouth. A
score of gentlemen wished him a compliment upon his conquest. Before
night it was a