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The Virginians: Tunbridge

Harry is an ingratiating young fellow and his aunt Bernstein promptly falls in love with him, urging him to go with her to Tunbridge Wells, a fashionable resort whither she is bound. The shrewd old woman is insistent in her demand, for she sees that the unsophisticated lad has already developed a passion for the Right Honorable Maria Esmond, my Lord Castlewood's sister, and a woman more than twice Harry's age.

The boy himself realizes his mistake, but he is an Esmond and a Virginian, and for such there is no drawing back.

Madam Bernstein is not so scrupulous, however.

Harry is young and, as his black servant shamelessly asserts, royally rich. He can do better for himself and the family than throw himself away on a scheming woman who is penniless and who has none too good a reputation. Indeed, there is scarcely one Castlewood whose past would bear inspection. Even the escutcheon of the baroness herself is dingy and tarnished. She is nevertheless kind-hearted and sincerely fond of Harry, and, therefore, with coach and postilions and outriders and trunks and servants, she bears him and his Lady Maria away with her to Tunbridge Wells.

On the journey Harry is thrown from his horse, and, his shoulder being injured, he is carried into the nearest house, which proves to be the home of Colonel Lambert, whose wife was an old school friend of Harry's mother. Of course the Lamberts cannot do enough for the boy. Theo and Hetty, the charming daughters of the family, are never tired waiting on him; and when he rides away to join his aunt four days later he has formed a strong friendship with the Lambert family. Already the memory of the fair Maria is a bit dimmed. Ah, when he reaches Tunbridge Wells what a little world of fashion and corruption it is! Our Virginian has never seen anything of the like before. Nor does he see it now with discerning eye. The little painted dancer whom the Earl of March has in his company must surely be as beautiful as she looks; and the men of rank with their gaming and drinking are gentlemen all, in simple Harry's estimation.