Esmond had thought of that too.  He would have given one of his eyes so that he might see his dear friends again once more; but believing that his mistress had forbidden him her house, he had obeyed her, and remained at a distance.

“You had but to ask, and you know I would be here,” he said.

She gave him her hand, her little fair hand; there was only her marriage ring on it.  The quarrel was all over.  The year of grief and estrangement was passed.  They never had been separated.  His mistress had never been out of his mind all that time.  No, not once.  No, not in the prison; nor in the camp; nor on shore before the enemy; nor at sea under the stars of solemn midnight; nor as he watched the glorious rising of the dawn:  not even at the table, where he sat carousing with friends, or at the theatre yonder, where he tried to fancy that other eyes were brighter than hers.  Brighter eyes there might be, and faces more beautiful, but none so dear—­no voice so sweet as that of his beloved mistress, who had been sister, mother, goddess to him during his youth—­goddess now no more, for he knew of her weaknesses; and by thought, by suffering, and that experience it brings, was older now than she; but more fondly cherished as woman perhaps than ever she had been adored as divinity.  What is it?  Where lies it? the secret which makes one little hand the dearest of all?  Whoever can unriddle that mystery?  Here she was, her son by his side, his dear boy.  Here she was, weeping and happy.  She took his hand in both hers; he felt her tears.  It was a rapture of reconciliation.

“Here comes Squaretoes,” says Frank.  “Here’s Tusher.”

Tusher, indeed, now appeared, creaking on his great heels.  Mr. Tom had divested himself of his alb or surplice, and came forward habited in his cassock and great black periwig.  How had Esmond ever been for a moment jealous of this fellow?

“Give us thy hand, Tom Tusher,” he said.  The chaplain made him a very low and stately bow.  “I am charmed to see Captain Esmond,” says he.  “My lord and I have read the Reddas incolumem precor, and applied it, I am sure, to you.  You come back with Gaditanian laurels; when I heard you were bound thither, I wished, I am sure, I was another Septimius.  My Lord Viscount, your lordship remembers Septimi, Gades aditure mecum?”

“There’s an angle of earth that I love better than Gades, Tusher,” says Mr. Esmond. “’Tis that one where your reverence hath a parsonage, and where our youth was brought up.”

“A house that has so many sacred recollections to me,” says Mr. Tusher (and Harry remembered how Tom’s father used to flog him there)—­“a house near to that of my respected patron, my most honored patroness, must ever be a dear abode to me.  But, madam, the verger waits to close the gates on your ladyship.”

“And Harry’s coming home to supper.  Huzzay! huzzay!” cries my lord.  “Mother, I shall run home and bid Beatrix put her ribbons on.  Beatrix is a maid of honor, Harry.  Such a fine set-up minx!”