Mrs。Tusher，theparson'swife，waswithmylady。Shehadbeenwaiting—womantoherladyshipinthelatelord'stime，and，havinghersoulinthatbusiness，tooknaturallytoitwhentheViscountessofCastlewoodreturnedtoinhabitherfather'shouse。
"Ipresenttoyourladyshipyourkinsmanandlittlepageofhonor，MasterHenryEsmond，"Mr。Holtsaid，bowinglowly，withasortofcomicalhumility。"Makeaprettybowtomylady，Monsieur;andthenanotherlittlebow，notsolow，toMadameTusher——thefairpriestessofCastlewood。"
"WhereIhavelivedandhopetodie，sir，"saysMadameTusher，givingahardglanceatthebrat，andthenatmylady。
Uponhertheboy'swholeattentionwasforatimedirected。Hecouldnotkeephisgreateyesofffromher。SincetheEmpressofEaling，hehadseennothingsoawful。
"Doesmyappearancepleaseyou，littlepage？"askedthelady。
"Hewouldbeveryhardtopleaseifitdidn't，"criedMadameTusher。
"Havedone，yousillyMaria，"saidLadyCastlewood。
"WhereI'mattached，I'mattached，Madame——andI'ddieratherthannotsayso。"
"Jemeursoujem'attache，"Mr。Holtsaidwithapolitegrin。"Theivysayssointhepicture，andclingstotheoaklikeafondparasiteasitis。"
"Parricide，sir！"criesMrs。Tusher。
"Hush，Tusher——youarealwaysbickeringwithFatherHolt，"criedmylady。"Comeandkissmyhand，child;"andtheoakheldoutaBRANCHtolittleHarryEsmond，whotookanddutifullykissedtheleanoldhand，uponthegnarledknucklesofwhichthereglitteredahundredrings。
"Tokissthathandwouldmakemanyaprettyfellowhappy！"criedMrs。Tusher:onwhichmyladycryingout，"Go，youfoolishTusher！"
andtappingherwithhergreatfan，Tusherranforwardtoseizeherhandandkissit。FuryaroseandbarkedfuriouslyatTusher;andFatherHoltlookedonatthisqueerscene，witharch，graveglances。
Theaweexhibitedbythelittleboyperhapspleasedtheladytowhomthisartlessflatterywasbestowed:forhavinggonedownonhisknee（asFatherHolthaddirectedhim，andthemodethenwas）
andperformedhisobeisance，shesaid，"PageEsmond，mygroomofthechamberwillinformyouwhatyourdutiesare，whenyouwaituponmylordandme;andgoodFatherHoltwillinstructyouasbecomesagentlemanofourname。Youwillpayhimobedienceineverything，andIprayyoumaygrowtobeaslearnedandasgoodasyourtutor。"
TheladyseemedtohavethegreatestreverenceforMr。Holt，andtobemoreafraidofhimthanofanythingelseintheworld。Ifshewaseversoangry，awordorlookfromFatherHoltmadehercalm:
indeedhehadavastpowerofsubjectingthosewhocamenearhim;
and，amongtherest，hisnewpupilgavehimselfupwithanentireconfidenceandattachmenttothegoodFather，andbecamehiswillingslavealmostfromthefirstmomenthesawhim。
HeputhissmallhandintotheFather'sashewalkedawayfromhisfirstpresentationtohismistress，andaskedmanyquestionsinhisartlesschildishway。"Whoisthatotherwoman？"heasked。"Sheisfatandround;sheismoreprettythanmyLadyCastlewood。"
"SheisMadameTusher，theparson'swifeofCastlewood。Shehasasonofyourage，butbiggerthanyou。"
"Whydoesshelikesotokissmylady'shand。Itisnotgoodtokiss。"
"Tastesaredifferent，littleman。MadameTusherisattachedtomylady，havingbeenherwaiting—womanbeforeshewasmarried，intheoldlord'stime。ShemarriedDoctorTusherthechaplain。TheEnglishhouseholddivinesoftenmarrythewaiting—women。"
"YouwillnotmarrytheFrenchwoman，willyou？IsawherlaughingwithBlaiseinthebuttery。"
"IbelongtoachurchthatisolderandbetterthantheEnglishchurch，"Mr。Holtsaid（makingasignwhereofEsmonddidnotthenunderstandthemeaning，acrosshisbreastandforehead）;"inourchurchtheclergydonotmarry。Youwillunderstandthesethingsbettersoon。"
"WasnotSaintPetertheheadofyourchurch？——Dr。RabbitsofEalingtoldusso。"
TheFathersaid，"Yes，hewas。"
"ButSaintPeterwasmarried，forweheardonlylastSundaythathiswife'smotherlaysickofafever。"OnwhichtheFatheragainlaughed，andsaidhewouldunderstandthistoobettersoon，andtalkedofotherthings，andtookawayHarryEsmond，andshowedhimthegreatoldhousewhichhehadcometoinhabit。
Itstoodonarisinggreenhill，withwoodsbehindit，inwhichwererooks'nests，wherethebirdsatmorningandreturninghomeateveningmadeagreatcawing。Atthefootofthehillwasariver，withasteepancientbridgecrossingit;andbeyondthatalargepleasantgreenflat，wherethevillageofCastlewoodstood，andstands，withthechurchinthemidst，theparsonagehardbyit，theinnwiththeblacksmith'sforgebesideit，andthesignofthe"ThreeCastles"ontheelm。TheLondonroadstretchedawaytowardstherisingsun，andtothewestwereswellinghillsandpeaks，behindwhichmanyatimeHarryEsmondsawthesamesunsetting，thathenowlooksonthousandsofmilesawayacrossthegreatocean——inanewCastlewood，byanotherstream，thatbears，likethenewcountryofwanderingAEneas，thefondnamesofthelandofhisyouth。
TheHallofCastlewoodwasbuiltwithtwocourts，whereofoneonly，thefountain—court，wasnowinhabited，theotherhavingbeenbattereddownintheCromwellianwars。Inthefountain—court，stillingoodrepair，wasthegreathall，neartothekitchenandbutteries。Adozenofliving—roomslookingtothenorth，andcommunicatingwiththelittlechapelthatfacedeastwardsandthebuildingsstretchingfromthattothemaingate，andwiththehall（whichlookedtothewest）intothecourtnowdismantled。Thiscourthadbeenthemostmagnificentofthetwo，untiltheProtector'scannontoredownonesideofitbeforetheplacewastakenandstormed。Thebesiegersenteredattheterraceundertheclock—tower，slayingeverymanofthegarrison，andattheirheadmylord'sbrother，FrancisEsmond。
TheRestorationdidnotbringenoughmoneytotheLordCastlewoodtorestorethisruinedpartofhishouse;wherewerethemorningparlors，abovethemthelongmusic—gallery，andbeforewhichstretchedthegarden—terrace，where，however，theflowersgrewagainwhichthebootsoftheRoundheadshadtroddenintheirassault，andwhichwasrestoredwithoutmuchcost，andonlyalittlecare，bybothladieswhosucceededthesecondviscountinthegovernmentofthismansion。Roundtheterrace—gardenwasalowwallwithawicketleadingtothewoodedheightbeyond，thatiscalledCromwell'sBatterytothisday。
YoungHarryEsmondlearnedthedomesticpartofhisduty，whichwaseasyenough，fromthegroomofherladyship'schamber:servingtheCountess，asthecustomcommonlywasinhisboyhood，aspage，waitingatherchair，bringingherscentedwaterandthesilverbasinafterdinner——sittingonhercarriage—steponstateoccasions，oronpublicdaysintroducinghercompanytoher。ThiswaschieflyoftheCatholicgentry，ofwhomtherewereaprettymanyinthecountryandneighboringcity;andwhorodenotseldomtoCastlewoodtopartakeofthehospitalitiesthere。Inthesecondyearoftheirresidence，thecompanyseemedespeciallytoincrease。
Mylordandmyladywereseldomwithoutvisitors，inwhosesocietyitwascurioustocontrastthedifferenceofbehaviorbetweenFatherHolt，thedirectorofthefamily，andDoctorTusher，therectoroftheparish——Mr。Holtmovingamongsttheveryhighestasquitetheirequal，andascommandingthemall;whilepoorDoctorTusher，whosepositionwasindeedadifficultone，havingbeenchaplainoncetotheHall，andstilltotheProtestantservantsthere，seemedmorelikeanusherthananequal，andalwaysrosetogoawayafterthefirstcourse。
AlsotherecameinthesetimestoFatherHoltmanyprivatevisitors，whom，afteralittle，HenryEsmondhadlittledifficultyinrecognizingasecclesiasticsoftheFather'spersuasion，whatevertheirdresses（andtheyadoptedall）mightbe。ThesewereclosetedwiththeFatherconstantly，andoftencameandrodeawaywithoutpayingtheirdevoirstomylordandlady——totheladyandlordrather——hislordshipbeinglittlemorethanacipherinthehouse，andentirelyunderhisdomineeringpartner。Alittlefowling，alittlehunting，agreatdealofsleep，andalongdineatcardsandtable，carriedthroughonedayafteranotherwithhislordship。Whenmeetingstookplaceinthissecondyear，whichoftenwouldhappenwithcloseddoors，thepagefoundmylord'ssheetofpaperscribbledoverwithdogsandhorses，and'twassaidhehadmuchadotokeephimselfawakeatthesecouncils:theCountessrulingoverthem，andheactingaslittlemorethanhersecretary。
FatherHoltbeganspeedilytobesomuchoccupiedwiththesemeetingsasrathertoneglecttheeducationofthelittleladwhosogladlyputhimselfunderthekindpriest'sorders。Atfirsttheyreadmuchandregularly，bothinLatinandFrench;theFathernotneglectinginanythingtoimpresshisfaithuponhispupil，butnotforcinghimviolently，andtreatinghimwithadelicacyandkindnesswhichsurprisedandattachedthechild，alwaysmoreeasilywonbythesemethodsthanbyanysevereexerciseofauthority。AndhisdelightintheirwalkswastotellHarryofthegloriesofhisorder，ofitsmartyrsandheroes，ofitsBrethrenconvertingtheheathenbymyriads，traversingthedesert，facingthestake，rulingthecourtsandcouncils，orbravingthetorturesofkings;sothatHarryEsmondthoughtthattobelongtotheJesuitswasthegreatestprizeoflifeandbravestendofambition;thegreatestcareerhere，andinheaventhesurestreward;andbegantolongfortheday，notonlywhenheshouldenterintotheonechurchandreceivehisfirstcommunion，butwhenhemightjointhatwonderfulbrotherhood，whichwaspresentthroughoutalltheworld，andwhichnumberedthewisest，thebravest，thehighestborn，themosteloquentofmenamongitsmembers。FatherHoltbadehimkeephisviewssecret，andtohidethemasagreattreasurewhichwouldescapehimifitwasrevealed;and，proudofthisconfidenceandsecretvestedinhim，theladbecamefondlyattachedtothemasterwhoinitiatedhimintoamysterysowonderfulandawful。AndwhenlittleTomTusher，hisneighbor，camefromschoolforhisholiday，andsaidhowhe，too，wastobebredupforanEnglishpriest，andwouldgetwhathecalledanexhibitionfromhisschool，andthenacollegescholarshipandfellowship，andthenagoodliving——ittaskedyoungHarryEsmond'spowersofreticencenottosaytohisyoungcompanion，"Church！priesthood！fatliving！MydearTommy，doyoucallyoursachurchandapriesthood？Whatisafatlivingcomparedtoconvertingahundredthousandheathensbyasinglesermon？WhatisascholarshipatTrinitybythesideofacrownofmartyrdom，withangelsawaitingyouasyourheadistakenoff？
CouldyourmasteratschoolsailovertheThamesonhisgown？Haveyoustatuesinyourchurchthatcanbleed，speak，walk，andcry？
MygoodTommy，indearFatherHolt'schurchthesethingstakeplaceeveryday。YouknowSaintPhilipoftheWillowsappearedtoLordCastlewood，andcausedhimtoturntotheonetruechurch。Nosaintsevercometoyou。"AndHarryEsmond，becauseofhispromisetoFatherHolt，hidingawaythesetreasuresoffaithfromT。
Tusher，deliveredhimselfofthemneverthelesssimplytoFatherHolt;whostrokedhishead，smiledathimwithhisinscrutablelook，andtoldhimthathedidwelltomeditateonthesegreatthings，andnottotalkofthemexceptunderdirection。
CHAPTERIV。
IAMPLACEDUNDERAPOPISHPRIESTANDBREDTOTHATRELIGION。——
VISCOUNTESSCASTLEWOOD。
Hadtimeenoughbeengiven，andhischildishinclinationsbeenproperlynurtured，HarryEsmondhadbeenaJesuitpriesterehewasadozenyearsolder，andmighthavefinishedhisdaysamartyrinChinaoravictimonTowerHill:for，inthefewmonthstheyspenttogetheratCastlewood，Mr。Holtobtainedanentiremasteryovertheboy'sintellectandaffections;andhadbroughthimtothink，asindeedFatherHoltthoughtwithallhishearttoo，thatnolifewassonoble，nodeathsodesirable，asthatwhichmanybrethrenofhisfamousorderwerereadytoundergo。Bylove，byabrightnessofwitandgood—humorthatcharmedall，byanauthoritywhichheknewhowtoassume，byamysteryandsilenceabouthimwhichincreasedthechild'sreverenceforhim，hewonHarry'sabsolutefealty，andwouldhavekeptit，doubtless，ifschemesgreaterandmoreimportantthanapoorlittleboy'sadmissionintoordershadnotcalledhimaway。
Afterbeingathomeforafewmonthsintranquillity（iftheirsmightbecalledtranquillity，whichwas，intruth，aconstantbickering），mylordandladyleftthecountryforLondon，takingtheirdirectorwiththem:andhislittlepupilscarceevershedmorebittertearsinhislifethanhedidfornightsafterthefirstpartingwithhisdearfriend，ashelayinthelonelychambernexttothatwhichtheFatherusedtooccupy。Heandafewdomesticswereleftastheonlytenantsofthegreathouse:and，thoughHarrysedulouslydidallthetaskswhichtheFathersethim，hehadmanyhoursunoccupied，andreadinthelibrary，andbewilderedhislittlebrainswiththegreatbookshefoundthere。
Afterawhile，thelittleladgrewaccustomedtothelonelinessoftheplace;andinafterdaysrememberedthispartofhislifeasaperiodnotunhappy。WhenthefamilywasatLondonthewholeoftheestablishmenttravelledthitherwiththeexceptionoftheporter——
whowas，moreover，brewer，gardener，andwoodman——andhiswifeandchildren。Thesehadtheirlodginginthegate—househardby，withadoorintothecourt;andawindowlookingoutonthegreenwastheChaplain'sroom;andnexttothisasmallchamberwhereFatherHolthadhisbooks，andHarryEsmondhissleepingcloset。ThesideofthehousefacingtheeasthadescapedthegunsoftheCromwellians，whosebatterywasontheheightfacingthewesterncourt;sothatthiseasternendborefewmarksofdemolition，saveinthechapel，wherethepaintedwindowssurvivingEdwardtheSixthhadbeenbrokebytheCommonwealthmen。InFatherHolt'stimelittleHarryEsmondactedashisfamiliarandfaithfullittleservitor;beatinghisclothes，foldinghisvestments，fetchinghiswaterfromthewelllongbeforedaylight，readytorunanywherefortheserviceofhisbelovedpriest。WhentheFatherwasaway，helockedhisprivatechamber;buttheroomwherethebookswerewaslefttolittleHarry，who，butforthesocietyofthisgentleman，waslittlelesssolitarywhenLordCastlewoodwasathome。
TheFrenchwitsaiththataheroisnonetohisvalet—de—chambre，anditrequiredlessquickeyesthanmylady'slittlepagewasnaturallyendowedwith，toseethatshehadmanyqualitiesbynomeansheroic，howevermuchMrs。Tushermightflatterandcoaxher。
WhenFatherHoltwasnotby，whoexercisedanentireauthorityoverthepair，mylordandmyladyquarrelledandabusedeachothersoastomaketheservantslaugh，andtofrightenthelittlepageonduty。Thepoorboytrembledbeforehismistress，whocalledhimbyahundreduglynames，whomadenothingofboxinghisears，andtiltingthesilverbasininhisfacewhichitwashisbusinesstopresenttoherafterdinner。Shehathrepaired，bysubsequentkindnesstohim，theseseverities，whichitmustbeownedmadehischildhoodveryunhappy。Shewasbutunhappyherselfatthistime，poorsoul！andIsupposemadeherdependantsleadherownsadlife。
Ithinkmylordwasasmuchafraidofherasherpagewas，andtheonlypersonofthehouseholdwhomasteredherwasMr。Holt。HarrywasonlytoogladwhentheFatherdinedattable，andtoslinkawayandprattlewithhimafterwards，orreadwithhim，orwalkwithhim。LuckilymyLadyViscountessdidnotrisetillnoon。Heavenhelpthepoorwaiting—womanwhohadchargeofhertoilet！Ihaveoftenseenthepoorwretchcomeoutwithredeyesfromtheclosetwherethoselongandmysteriousritesofherladyship'sdresswereperformed，andthebackgammon—boxlockedupwitharaponMrs。
Tusher'sfingerswhensheplayedill，orthegamewasgoingthewrongway。
Blessedbethekingwhointroducedcards，andthekindinventorsofpiquetandcribbage，fortheyemployedsixhoursatleastofherladyship'sday，duringwhichherfamilywasprettyeasy。Withoutthisoccupationmyladyfrequentlydeclaredsheshoulddie。Herdependantsoneafteranotherrelievedguard——'twasratheradangerousposttoplaywithherladyship——andtookthecardsturnabout。Mr。Holtwouldsitwithheratpiquetduringhourstogether，atwhichtimeshebehavedherselfproperly;andasforDr。Tusher，Ibelievehewouldhaveleftaparishioner'sdyingbed，ifsummonedtoplayarubberwithhispatronessatCastlewood。
Sometimes，whentheywereprettycomfortabletogether，mylordtookahand。BesidesthesemyladyhadherfaithfulpoorTusher，andone，two，threegentlewomenwhomHarryEsmondcouldrecollectinhistime。Theycouldnotbearthatgenteelserviceverylong;oneafteranothertriedandfailedatit。Theseandthehousekeeper，andlittleHarryEsmond，hadatableoftheirown。Poorladiestheirlifewasfarharderthanthepage's。Hewassoundasleep，tuckedupinhislittlebed，whilsttheyweresittingbyherladyshipreadinghertosleep，withthe"NewsLetter"orthe"GrandCyrus。"MyladyusedtohaveboxesofnewplaysfromLondon，andHarrywasforbidden，underthepainofawhipping，tolookintothem。Iamafraidhedeservedthepenaltyprettyoften，andgotitsometimes。FatherHoltappliedittwiceorthrice，whenhecaughttheyoungscapegracewithadelightfulwickedcomedyofMr。
Shadwell'sorMr。Wycherley'sunderhispillow。
These，whenhetookany，weremylord'sfavoritereading。Buthewasaversetomuchstudy，and，ashislittlepagefancied，tomuchoccupationofanysort。
ItalwaysseemedtoyoungHarryEsmondthatmylordtreatedhimwithmorekindnesswhenhisladywasnotpresent，andLordCastlewoodwouldtaketheladsometimesonhislittlejourneysa—
huntingora—birding;helovedtoplayatcardsandtric—tracwithhim，whichgamestheboylearnedtopleasurehislord:andwasgrowingtolikehimbetterdaily，showingaspecialpleasureifFatherHoltgaveagoodreportofhim，pattinghimonthehead，andpromisingthathewouldprovidefortheboy。However，inmylady'spresence，mylordshowednosuchmarksofkindness，andaffectedtotreattheladroughly，andrebukedhimsharplyforlittlefaults，forwhichheinamanneraskedpardonofyoungEsmondwhentheywereprivate，sayingifhedidnotspeakroughly，shewould，andhistonguewasnotsuchabadoneashislady's——apointwhereoftheboy，youngashewas，wasverywellassured。
Greatpubliceventswerehappeningallthiswhile，ofwhichthesimpleyoungpagetooklittlecount。Butoneday，ridingintotheneighboringtownonthestepofmylady'scoach，hislordshipandsheandFatherHoltbeinginside，agreatmobofpeoplecamehootingandjeeringroundthecoach，bawlingout"TheBishopsforever！""DownwiththePope！""NoPopery！noPopery！Jezebel，Jezebel！"sothatmylordbegantolaugh，mylady'seyestorollwithanger，forshewasasboldasalioness，andfearednobody;
whilstMr。Holt，asEsmondsawfromhisplaceonthestep，sankbackwithratheranalarmedface，cryingouttoherladyship，"ForGod'ssake，madam，donotspeakorlookoutofwindow;sitstill。"
ButshedidnotobeythisprudentinjunctionoftheFather;shethrustherheadoutofthecoachwindow，andscreamedouttothecoachman，"Flogyourwaythroughthem，thebrutes，James，anduseyourwhip！"
Themobansweredwitharoaringjeeroflaughter，andfreshcriesof"Jezebel！Jezebel！"Mylordonlylaughedthemore:hewasalanguidgentleman:nothingseemedtoexcitehimcommonly，thoughI
haveseenhimcheerandhalloothehoundsverybriskly，andhisface（whichwasgenerallyveryyellowandcalm）growquiteredandcheerfulduringaburstovertheDownsafterahare，andlaugh，andswear，andhuzzahatacockfight，ofwhichsporthewasveryfond。
Andnow，whenthemobbegantohoothislady，helaughedwithsomethingofamischievouslook，asthoughheexpectedsport，andthoughtthatsheandtheywereamatch。
Jamesthecoachmanwasmoreafraidofhismistressthanthemob，probably，forhewhippedonhishorsesashewasbidden，andthepost—boythatrodewiththefirstpair（myladyalwaysrodewithhercoach—and—six，）gaveacutofhisthongovertheshouldersofonefellowwhoputhishandouttowardstheleadinghorse'srein。
Itwasamarket—day，andthecountry—peoplewereallassembledwiththeirbasketsofpoultry，eggs，andsuchthings;thepostilionhadnosoonerlashedthemanwhowouldhavetakenholdofhishorse，butagreatcabbagecamewhirlinglikeabombshellintothecarriage，atwhichmylordlaughedmore，foritknockedmylady'sfanoutofherhand，andplumpedintoFatherHolt'sstomach。Thencameashowerofcarrotsandpotatoes。
"ForHeaven'ssakebestill！"saysMr。Holt;"wearenottenpacesfromthe'Bell'archway，wheretheycanshutthegatesonus，andkeepoutthiscanaille。"
Thelittlepagewasoutsidethecoachonthestep，andafellowinthecrowdaimedapotatoathim，andhithimintheeye，atwhichthepoorlittlewretchsetupashout;themanlaughed，agreatbigsaddler'sapprenticeofthetown。"Ah！youd———littleyellingPopishbastard，"hesaid，andstoopedtopickupanother;thecrowdhadgatheredquitebetweenthehorsesandtheinndoorbythistime，andthecoachwasbroughttoadeadstand—still。Mylordjumpedasbrisklyasaboyoutofthedooronhissideofthecoach，squeezinglittleHarrybehindit;hadholdofthepotato—
thrower'scollarinaninstant，andthenextmomentthebrute'sheelswereintheair，andhefellonthestoneswithathump。
"Youhulkingcoward！"sayshe;"youpackofscreamingblackguards！
howdareyouattackchildren，andinsultwomen？Flinganothershotatthatcarriage，yousneakingpigskincobbler，andbytheLordI'llsendmyrapierthroughyou！"
Someofthemobcried，"Huzzah，mylord！"fortheyknewhim，andthesaddler'smanwasaknownbruiser，neartwiceasbigasmylordViscount。
"Makewaythere，"sayshe（hespokeinahighshrillvoice，butwithagreatairofauthority）。"Makeway，andletherladyship'scarriagepass。"Thementhatwerebetweenthecoachandthegateofthe"Bell"actuallydidmakeway，andthehorseswentin，mylordwalkingafterthemwithhishatonhishead。
Ashewasgoinginatthegate，throughwhichthecoachhadjustrolled，anothercrybegins，of"NoPopery——noPapists！"Mylordturnsroundandfacesthemoncemore。
"GodsavetheKing！"saysheatthehighestpitchofhisvoice。
"WhodaresabusetheKing'sreligion？You，youd——dpsalm—singingcobbler，assureasI'mamagistrateofthiscountyI'llcommityou！"Thefellowshrankback，andmylordretreatedwithallthehonorsoftheday。Butwhenthelittleflurrycausedbythescenewasover，andtheflushpassedoffhisface，herelapsedintohisusuallanguor，trifledwithhislittledog，andyawnedwhenmyladyspoketohim。
Thismobwasoneofmanythousandsthatweregoingaboutthecountryatthattime，huzzahingfortheacquittalofthesevenbishopswhohadbeentriedjustthen，andaboutwhomlittleHarryEsmondatthattimeknewscarceanything。ItwasAssizesatHexton，andtherewasagreatmeetingofthegentryatthe"Bell;"
andmylord'speoplehadtheirnewliverieson，andHarryalittlesuitofblueandsilver，whichheworeuponoccasionsofstate;andthegentlefolkscameroundandtalkedtomylord:andajudgeinaredgown，whoseemedaverygreatpersonage，especiallycomplimentedhimandmylady，whowasmightygrand。Harryremembershertrainborneupbyhergentlewoman。Therewasanassemblyandballatthegreatroomatthe"Bell，"andotheryounggentlemenofthecountyfamilieslookedonashedid。Oneofthemjeeredhimforhisblackeye，whichwasswelledbythepotato，andanothercalledhimabastard，onwhichheandHarryfelltofisticuffs。Mylord'scousin，ColonelEsmondofWalcote，wasthere，andseparatedthetwolads——agreattallgentleman，withahandsomegood—naturedface。Theboydidnotknowhownearlyinafter—lifeheshouldbealliedtoColonelEsmond，andhowmuchkindnessheshouldhavetoowehim。
Therewaslittlelovebetweenthetwofamilies。MyladyusednottospareColonelEsmondintalkingofhim，forreasonswhichhavebeenhintedalready;butaboutwhich，athistenderage，HenryEsmondcouldbeexpectedtoknownothing。
Verysoonafterwards，mylordandladywenttoLondonwithMr。
Holt，leaving，however，thepagebehindthem。ThelittlemanhadthegreathouseofCastlewoodtohimself;orbetweenhimandthehousekeeper，Mrs。Worksop，anoldladywhowasakinswomanofthefamilyinsomedistantway，andaProtestant，butastaunchToryandking's—man，asalltheEsmondswere。HeusedtogotoschooltoDr。Tusherwhenhewasathome，thoughtheDoctorwasmuchoccupiedtoo。Therewasagreatstirandcommotioneverywhere，eveninthelittlequietvillageofCastlewood，whitherapartyofpeoplecamefromthetown，whowouldhavebrokenCastlewoodChapelwindows，butthevillagepeopleturnedout，andevenoldSieveright，therepublicanblacksmith，alongwiththem:formylady，thoughshewasaPapist，andhadmanyoddways，waskindtothetenantry，andtherewasalwaysaplentyofbeef，andblankets，andmedicineforthepooratCastlewoodHall。
Akingdomwaschanginghandswhilstmylordandladywereaway。
KingJameswasflying，theDutchmenwerecoming;awfulstoriesaboutthemandthePrinceofOrangeusedoldMrs。Worksoptotelltotheidlelittlepage。
Helikedthesolitudeofthegreathouseverywell;hehadalltheplay—bookstoread，andnoFatherHolttowhiphim，andahundredchildishpursuitsandpastimes，withoutdoorsandwithin，whichmadethistimeverypleasant。
CHAPTERV。
MYSUPERIORSAREENGAGEDINPLOTSFORTHERESTORATIONOFKINGJAMESII。
Nothavingbeenabletosleep，forthinkingofsomelinesforeelswhichhehadplacedthenightbefore，theladwaslyinginhislittlebed，waitingforthehourwhenthegatewouldbeopen，andheandhiscomrade，JohnLockwood，theporter'sson，mightgotothepondandseewhatfortunehadbroughtthem。AtdaybreakJohnwastoawakenhim，buthisowneagernessforthesporthadservedasareveillezlongsince——solong，thatitseemedtohimasifthedayneverwouldcome。
Itmighthavebeenfouro'clockwhenheheardthedooroftheoppositechamber，theChaplain'sroom，open，andthevoiceofamancoughinginthepassage。Harryjumpedup，thinkingforcertainitwasarobber，orhopingperhapsforaghost，and，flingingopenhisowndoor，sawbeforehimtheChaplain'sdooropen，andalightinside，andafigurestandinginthedoorway，inthemidstofagreatsmokewhichissuedfromtheroom。
"Who'sthere？"criedouttheboy，whowasofagoodspirit。
"Silentium！"whisperedtheother;"'tisI，myboy！"and，holdinghishandout，Harryhadnodifficultyinrecognizinghismasterandfriend，FatherHolt。AcurtainwasoverthewindowoftheChaplain'sroomthatlookedtothecourt，andHarrysawthatthesmokecamefromagreatflameofpaperswhichwereburninginabrazierwhenheenteredtheChaplain'sroom。Aftergivingahastygreetingandblessingtothelad，whowascharmedtoseehistutor，theFathercontinuedtheburningofhispapers，drawingthemfromacupboardoverthemantel—piecewall，whichHarryhadneverseenbefore。
FatherHoltlaughed，seeingthelad'sattentionfixedatonceonthishole。"Thatisright，Harry，"hesaid;"faithfullittlefamuli，seeallandsaynothing。Youarefaithful，Iknow。"
"IknowIwouldgotothestakeforyou，"saidHarry。
"Idon'twantyourhead，"saidtheFather，pattingitkindly;allyouhavetodoistoholdyourtongue。Letusburnthesepapers，andsaynothingtoanybody。Shouldyouliketoreadthem？"
HarryEsmondblushed，andhelddownhishead;heHADlookedasthefactwas，andwithoutthinking，atthepaperbeforehim;andthoughhehadseenit，couldnotunderstandawordofit，thelettersbeingquiteclearenough，butquitewithoutmeaning。Theyburnedthepapers，beatingdowntheashesinabrazier，sothatscarceanytracesofthemremained。
HarryhadbeenaccustomedtoseeFatherHoltinmoredressesthanone;itnotbeingsafe，orworththedanger，forPopishecclesiasticstoweartheirproperdress;andhewas，inconsequence，innowiseastonishedthatthepriestshouldnowappearbeforehiminariding—dress，withlargebuffleatherboots，andafeathertohishat，plain，butsuchasgentlemenwore。
"Youknowthesecretofthecupboard，"saidhe，laughing，"andmustbepreparedforothermysteries;"andheopened——butnotasecretcupboardthistime——onlyawardrobe，whichheusuallykeptlocked，andfromwhichhenowtookouttwoorthreedressesandperruquesofdifferentcolors，andacoupleofswordsofaprettymake（FatherHoltwasanexpertpractitionerwiththesmall—sword，andeveryday，whilsthewasathome，heandhispupilpractisedthisexercise，inwhichtheladbecameaverygreatproficient），amilitarycoatandcloak，andafarmer'ssmock，andplacedtheminthelargeholeoverthemantel—piecefromwhichthepapershadbeentaken。
"Iftheymissthecupboard，"hesaid，"theywillnotfindthese;iftheyfindthem，they'lltellnotales，exceptthatFatherHoltworemoresuitsofclothesthanone。AllJesuitsdo。Youknowwhatdeceiversweare，Harry。"
Harrywasalarmedatthenotionthathisfriendwasabouttoleavehim;but"No，"thepriestsaid，"Imayverylikelycomebackwithmylordinafewdays。Wearetobetolerated;wearenottobepersecuted。ButtheymaytakeafancytopayavisitatCastlewoodereourreturn;and，asgentlemenofmyclotharesuspected，theymightchoosetoexaminemypapers，whichconcernnobody——atleastnotthem。"Andtothisday，whetherthepapersincipherrelatedtopolitics，ortotheaffairsofthatmysterioussocietywhereofFatherHoltwasamember，hispupil，HarryEsmond，remainsinentireignorance。
Therestofhisgoods，hissmallwardrobe，&c。Holtleftuntouchedonhisshelvesandinhiscupboard，takingdown——withalaugh，however——andflingingintothebrazier，whereheonlyhalfburnedthem，sometheologicaltreatiseswhichhehadbeenwritingagainsttheEnglishdivines。"Andnow，"saidhe，"Henry，myson，youmaytestify，withasafeconscience，thatyousawmeburningLatinsermonsthelasttimeIwasherebeforeIwentawaytoLondon;anditwillbedaybreakdirectly，andImustbeawaybeforeLockwoodisstirring。"
"WillnotLockwoodletyouout，sir？"Esmondasked。Holtlaughed;
hewasnevermoregayorgood—humoredthanwheninthemidstofactionordanger。
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