says Mr.
Esmond. "What is the cause of this supreme felicity?"

"Haven't you heard?" says he. "Don't you know? I thought the family told
you everything: the adorable Beatrix hath promised to be mine."

"What!" cries out Mr. Esmond, who had spent happy hours with Beatrix
that very morning--had writ verses for her, that she had sung at the
harpsichord.

"Yes," says he; "I waited on her to-day. I saw you walking towards
Knightsbridge as I passed in my coach; and she looked so lovely,
and spoke so kind, that I couldn't help going down on my knees,
and--and--sure I am the happiest of men in all the world; and I'm very
young; but she says I shall get older: and you know I shall be of age in
four months; and there's very little difference between us; and I'm so
happy. I should like to treat the company to something. Let us have a
bottle--a dozen bottles--and drink the health of the finest woman in
England."

Esmond left the young lord tossing off bumper after bumper, and strolled
away to Kensington to ask whether the news was true. 'Twas only too
sure: his mistress's sad, compassionate face told him the story; and
then she related what particulars of it she knew, and how my young lord
had made his offer, half an hour after Esmond went away that morning,
and in the very room where the song lay yet on the harpsichord, which
Esmond had writ, and they had sung together.

BOOK III.

CONTAINING THE END OF MR. ESMOND'S ADVENTURES IN ENGLAND.

CHAPTER I.

I COME TO AN END OF MY BATTLES AND BRUISES.

That feverish desire to gain a little reputation which Esmond had had,
left him now perhaps that he had attained some portion of his wish, and
the great motive of his ambition was over. His desire for military honor
was that it might raise him in Beatrix's eyes. 'Twas next to nobility
and wealth, the only kind of rank she valued. It was the stake quickest
won or lost too; for law is a very long game that requires a life to
practise; and to be distinguished in letters or the Church would not
have forwarded the poor gentleman's plans in the least. So he had no
suit to play but the red one, and he played it; and this, in truth, was
the reason of his speedy promotion; for he exposed himself more than
most gentlemen do, and risked more to win more. Is he the only man that
hath set his life against a stake which may be not worth the winning?
Another risks his life (and his honor, too, sometimes,) against a bundle
of ba