almost immediately after this, following his
general home; and, indeed, being advised to travel in the fine weather
and attempt to take no further part in the campaign. But he heard from
the army, that of the many who crowded to see the Chevalier de St.
George, Frank Castlewood had made himself most conspicuous: my Lord
Viscount riding across the little stream bareheaded to where the Prince
was, and dismounting and kneeling before him to do him homage. Some
said that the Prince had actually knighted him, but my lord denied
that statement, though he acknowledged the rest of the story, and
said:--"From having been out of favor with Corporal John," as he called
the Duke, "before his Grace warned him not to commit those follies, and
smiled on him cordially ever after."

"And he was so kind to me," Frank writ, "that I thought I would put in a
good word for Master Harry, but when I mentioned your name he looked as
black as thunder, and said he had never heard of you."

CHAPTER II.

I GO HOME, AND HARP ON THE OLD STRING.

After quitting Mons and the army, and as he was waiting for a packet
at Ostend, Esmond had a letter from his young kinsman Castlewood at
Bruxelles, conveying intelligence whereof Frank besought him to be the
bearer to London, and which caused Colonel Esmond no small anxiety.

The young scapegrace, being one-and-twenty years old, and being anxious
to sow his "wild otes," as he wrote, had married Mademoiselle de
Wertheim, daughter of Count de Wertheim, Chamberlain to the Emperor,
and having a post in the Household of the Governor of the Netherlands.
"P.S.," the young gentleman wrote: "Clotilda is OLDER THAN ME, which
perhaps may be objected to her: but I am so OLD A RAIK that the age
makes no difference, and I am DETERMINED to reform. We were married at
St. Gudule, by Father Holt. She is heart and soul for the GOOD CAUSE.
And here the cry is Vif-le-Roy, which my mother will JOIN IN, and Trix
TOO. Break this news to 'em gently: and tell Mr. Finch, my agent, to
press the people for their rents, and send me the RYNO anyhow. Clotilda
sings, and plays on the Spinet BEAUTIFULLY. She is a fair beauty. And
if it's a son, you shall stand GODFATHER. I'm going to leave the army,
having had ENUF OF SOLDERING; and my Lord Duke RECOMMENDS me. I shall
pass the winter here: and stop at least until Clo's lying in. I call
her OLD CLO, but nobody else shall. She is the cleverest woman in all
Bruxelles: understanding