“Your heart was never in the Church, Harry,” the widow said, in her sweet low tone, as they walked away together. (Now, it seemed they never had been parted, and again, as if they had been ages asunder.) “I always thought you had no vocation that way; and that ’twas a pity to shut you out from the world.  You would but have pined and chafed at Castlewood:  and ’tis better you should make a name for yourself.  I often said so to my dear lord.  How he loved you!  ’Twas my lord that made you stay with us.”

“I asked no better than to stay near you always,” said Mr. Esmond.

“But to go was best, Harry.  When the world cannot give peace, you will know where to find it; but one of your strong imagination and eager desires must try the world first before he tires of it.  ’Twas not to be thought of, or if it once was, it was only by my selfishness, that you should remain as chaplain to a country gentleman and tutor to a little boy.  You are of the blood of the Esmonds, kinsman; and that was always wild in youth.  Look at Francis.  He is but fifteen, and I scarce can keep him in my nest.  His talk is all of war and pleasure, and he longs to serve in the next campaign.  Perhaps he and the young Lord Churchill shall go the next.  Lord Marlborough has been good to us.  You know how kind they were in my misfortune.  And so was your—­your father’s widow.  No one knows how good the world is, till grief comes to try us.  ’Tis through my Lady Marlborough’s goodness that Beatrix hath her place at Court; and Frank is under my Lord Chamberlain.  And the dowager lady, your father’s widow, has promised to provide for you—­has she not?”

Esmond said, “Yes.  As far as present favor went, Lady Castlewood was very good to him.  And should her mind change,” he added gayly, “as ladies’ minds will, I am strong enough to bear my own burden, and make my way somehow.  Not by the sword very likely.  Thousands have a better genius for that than I, but there are many ways in which a young man of good parts and education can get on in the world; and I am pretty sure, one way or other, of promotion!” Indeed, he had found patrons already in the army, and amongst persons very able to serve him, too; and told his mistress of the flattering aspect of fortune.  They walked as though they had never been parted, slowly, with the gray twilight closing round them.

“And now we are drawing near to home,” she continued, “I knew you would come, Harry, if—­if it was but to forgive me for having spoken unjustly to you after that horrid—­horrid misfortune.  I was half frantic with grief then when I saw you.  And I know now—­they have told me.  That wretch, whose name I can never mention, even has said it:  how you tried to avert the quarrel, and would have taken it on yourself, my poor child:  but it was God’s will that I should be punished, and that my dear lord should fall.”

“He gave me his blessing on his death-bed,” Esmond said.  “Thank God for that legacy!”