“'Are you come from HIM?' asked the lady (so Mr. Steele went on) rising up with a great severity and stateliness. 'I thought you had come from the Princess. I saw Mr. Esmond in his prison, and bade him farewell. He brought misery into my house. He never should have entered it.' “'Madam, madam, he is not to blame,' I interposed,” continued Mr. Steele. “'Do I blame him to you, sir?' asked the widow. 'If 'tis he who sent you, say that I have taken counsel, where'--she spoke with a very pallid cheek now, and a break in her voice--'where all who ask may have it;--and that it bids me to part from him, and to see him no more. We met in the prison for the last time--at least for years to come. It may be, in years hence, when--when our knees and our tears and our contrition have changed our sinful hearts, sir, and wrought our pardon, we may meet again--but not now. After what has passed, I could not bear to see him. I wish him well, sir; but I wish him farewell, too; and if he has that--that regard towards us which he speaks of, I beseech him to prove it by obeying me in this.' “'I shall break the young man's heart, madam, by this hard sentence,'” Mr. Steele said. “The lady shook her head,” continued my kind scholar. “'The hearts of young men, Mr. Steele, are not so made,' she said. 'Mr. Esmond will find other--other friends. The mistress of this house has relented very much towards the late lord's son,' she added, with a blush, 'and has promised me, that is, has promised that she will care for his fortune. Whilst I live in it, after the horrid horrid deed which has passed, Castlewood must never be a home to him--never. Nor would I have him write to me--except--no--I would have him never write to me, nor see him more. Give him, if you will, my parting--Hush! not a word of this before my daughter.' “Here the fair Beatrix entered from the river, with her cheeks flushing with health, and looking only the more lovely and fresh for the mourning habiliments which she wore. And my Lady Viscountess said-- “'Beatrix, this is Mr. Steele, gentleman-usher to the Prince's Highness. When does your new comedy appear, Mr. Steele?' I hope thou wilt be out of prison for the first night, Harry.” The sentimental Captain concluded his sad tale, saying, “Faith, the beauty of Filia pulcrior drove pulcram matrem out of my head; and yet as I came down the river, and thought about the pair, the pallid dignity and exquisite grace of the matron had the uppermost, and I thought her even more noble than the virgin!”