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in their hearts。 Pooh！ sir； they know the world。〃 And
here； haply； a great man coming up； Tom Eaves's hat
would drop off his head； and he would rush forward with
a bow and a grin； which showed that he knew the world
tooin the Tomeavesian way； that is。 And having laid
out every shilling of his fortune on an annuity； Tom
could afford to bear no malice to his nephews and nieces；
and to have no other feeling with regard to his betters
but a constant and generous desire to dine with them。
Between the Marchioness and the natural and tender
regard of mother for children； there was that cruel
barrier placed of difference of faith。 The very love which she
might feel for her sons only served to render the timid
and pious lady more fearful and unhappy。 The gulf which
separated them was fatal and impassable。 She could not
stretch her weak arms across it； or draw her children
over to that side away from which her belief told her
there was no safety。 During the youth of his sons； Lord
Steyne； who was a good scholar and amateur casuist；
had no better sport in the evening after dinner in the
country than in setting the boys' tutor； the Reverend
Mr。 Trail （now my Lord Bishop of Ealing） on her
ladyship's director； Father Mole； over their wine； and in
pitting Oxford against St。 Acheul。 He cried 〃Bravo；
Latimer！ Well said； Loyola！〃 alternately； he promised
Mole a bishopric if he would come over； and vowed he
would use all his influence to get Trail a cardinal's hat
if he would secede。 Neither divine allowed himself to be
conquered； and though the fond mother hoped that her
youngest and favourite son would be reconciled to her
churchhis mother churcha sad and awful disappointment
awaited the devout ladya disappointment which
seemed to be a judgement upon her for the sin of her
marriage。
My Lord Gaunt married； as every person who frequents
the Peerage knows； the Lady Blanche Thistlewood；
a daughter of the noble house of Bareacres； before
mentioned in this veracious history。 A wing of
Gaunt House was assigned to this couple； for the head
of the family chose to govern it； and while he reigned to
reign supreme； his son and heir； however； living little at
home； disagreeing with his wife； and borrowing upon
post…obits such moneys as he required beyond the very
moderate sums which his father was disposed to allow
him。 The Marquis knew every shilling of his son's debts。
At his lamented demise； he was found himself to be
possessor of many of his heir's bonds； purchased for their
benefit； and devised by his Lordship to the children of
his younger son。
As； to my Lord Gaunt's dismay； and the chuckling
delight of his natural enemy and father； the Lady Gaunt
had no childrenthe Lord George Gaunt was desired to
return from Vienna； where he was engaged in waltzing
and diplomacy； and to contract a matrimonial alliance
with the Honourable Joan； only daughter of John Johnes；
First Baron Helvellyn； and head of the firm of Jones；
Brown； and Robinson； of Threadneedle Street； Bankers；
from which union sprang several sons and daughters；
whose doings do not appertain to this story。
The marriage at first was a happy and prosperous one。
My Lord George Gaunt could not only read； but write
pretty correctly。 He spoke French with considerable
fluency； and was one of the finest waltzers in Europe。 With
these talents； and his interest at home； there was little
doubt that his lordship would rise to the highest dignities
in his profession。 The lady； his wife； felt that courts were
her sphere； and her wealth enabled her to receive
splendidly in those continental towns whither her husband's
diplomatic duties led him。 There was talk of appointing
him minister； and bets were laid at the Travellers' that
he would be ambassador ere long； when of a sudden；
rumours arrived of the secretary's extraordinary behaviour。
At a grand diplomatic dinner given by his chief； he
had started up and declared that a pate de foie gras was
poisoned。 He went to a ball at the hotel of the Bavarian
envoy； the Count de Springbock…Hohenlaufen； with his
head shaved and dressed as a Capuchin friar。 It was not
a masked ball； as some folks wanted to persuade you。 It
was something queer； people whispered。 His grandfather
was so。 It was in the family。
His wife and family returned to this country and took
up their abode at Gaunt House。 Lord George gave up
his post on the European continent； and was gazetted to
Brazil。 But people knew better； he never returned from
that Brazil expeditionnever died therenever lived
therenever was there at all。 He was nowhere； he was
gone out altogether。 〃Brazil；〃 said one gossip to another；
with a grin〃Brazil is St。 John's Wood。 Rio de Janeiro
is a cottage surrounded by four walls； and George Gaunt
is accredited to a keeper； who has invested him with the
order of the Strait…Waistcoat。〃 These are the kinds of
epitaphs which men pass over one another in Vanity
Fair。
Twice or thrice in a week； in the earliest morning； the
poor mother went for her sins and saw the poor invalid。
Sometimes he laughed at her （and his laughter was more
pitiful than to hear him cry）； sometimes she found the
brilliant dandy diplomatist of the Congress of Vienna
dragging about a child's toy； or nursing the keeper's
baby's doll。 Sometimes he knew her and Father Mole；
her director and companion； oftener he forgot her； as he
had done wife； children； love； ambition； vanity。 But he
remembered his dinner…hour； and used to cry if his
wine…and…water was not strong enough。
It was the mysterious taint of the blood； the poor
mother had brought it from her own ancient race。 The
evil had broken out once or twice in the father's family；
long before Lady Steyne's sins had begun； or her fasts
and tears and penances had been offered in their
expiation。 The pride of the race was struck down as the
first…born of Pharaoh。 The dark mark of fate and doom was
on the thresholdthe tall old threshold surmounted by
coronets and caned heraldry。
The absent lord's children meanwhile prattled and
grew on quite unconscious that the doom was over them
too。 First they talked of their father and devised plans
against his return。 Then the name of the living dead man
was less frequently in their mouththen not mentioned
at all。 But the stricken old grandmother trembled to think
that these too were the inheritors of their father's shame
as well as of his honours； and watched sickening for the
day when the awful ancestral curse should come down
on them。
This dark presentiment also haunted Lord Steyne。 He
tried to lay the horrid bedside ghost in Red Seas of wine
and jollity； and lost sight of it sometimes in the crowd
and rout of his pleasures。 But it always came back to
him when alone； and seemed to grow more threatening
with years。 〃I have taken your son；〃 it said； 〃why not
you？ I may shut you up in a prison some day like your
son George。 I may tap you on the head to…morrow； and
away go pleasure and honours； feasts and beauty； friends；
flatterers； French cooks； fine horses and housesin
exchange for a prison； a keeper； and a straw mattress like
George Gaunt's。〃 And then my lord would defy