ss's favor, that my young lord's promotion was secure, and
people crowded round the favorite's favorite, who became vainer and
gayer, and more good-humored than ever.

Meanwhile Madam Beatrix was making her conquests on her own side, and
amongst them was one poor gentleman, who had been shot by her young eyes
two years before, and had never been quite cured of that wound; he knew,
to be sure, how hopeless any passion might be, directed in that quarter,
and had taken that best, though ignoble, remedium amoris, a speedy
retreat from before the charmer, and a long absence from her; and not
being dangerously smitten in the first instance, Esmond pretty soon got
the better of his complaint, and if he had it still, did not know he had
it, and bore it easily. But when he returned after Blenheim, the young
lady of sixteen, who had appeared the most beautiful object his eyes had
ever looked on two years back, was now advanced to a perfect ripeness
and perfection of beauty, such as instantly enthralled the poor devil,
who had already been a fugitive from her charms. Then he had seen her
but for two days, and fled; now he beheld her day after day, and when
she was at Court watched after her; when she was at home, made one of
the family party; when she went abroad, rode after her mother's chariot;
when she appeared in public places, was in the box near her, or in the
pit looking at her; when she went to church was sure to be there, though
he might not listen to the sermon, and be ready to hand her to her chair
if she deigned to accept of his services, and select him from a score of
young men who were always hanging round about her. When she went away,
accompanying her Majesty to Hampton Court, a darkness fell over London.
Gods, what nights has Esmond passed, thinking of her, rhyming about her,
talking about her! His friend Dick Steele was at this time courting
the young lady, Mrs. Scurlock, whom he married; she had a lodging in
Kensington Square, hard by my Lady Castlewood's house there. Dick and
Harry, being on the same errand, used to meet constantly at Kensington.
They were always prowling about that place, or dismally walking thence,
or eagerly running thither. They emptied scores of bottles at the
"King's Arms," each man prating of his love, and allowing the other to
talk on condition that he might have his own turn as a listener. Hence
arose an intimacy between them, though to all the rest of their friends
they must have been