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Virginians, The
CHAPTER LXXXII. Miles's Moidore
William Makepeace Thackeray
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       _ Little Miles made his appearance in this world within a few days of the gracious Prince who commands his regiment. Illuminations and cannonading saluted the Royal George's birth, multitudes were admitted to see him as he lay behind a gilt railing at the Palace with noble nurses watching over him. Few nurses guarded the cradle of our little Prince; no courtiers, no faithful retainers saluted it, except our trusty Gumbo and kind Molly, who to be sure loved and admired the little heir of my poverty as loyally as our hearts could desire. Why was our boy not named George like the other paragon just mentioned, and like his father? I gave him the name of a little scapegrace of my family, a name which many generations of Warringtons had borne likewise; but my poor little Miles's love and kindness touched me at a time when kindness and love were rare from those of my own blood, and Theo and I agreed that our child should be called after that single little friend of my paternal race.
       We wrote to acquaint our royal parents with the auspicious event, and bravely inserted the child's birth in the Daily Advertiser, and the place, Church Street, Lambeth, where he was born. "My dear," says Aunt Bernstein, writing to me in reply to my announcement, "how could you point out to all the world that you live in such a trou as that in which you have buried yourself? I kiss the little mamma, and send a remembrance for the child." This remembrance was a fine silk coverlid, with a lace edging fit for a prince. It was not very useful: the price of the lace would have served us much better, but Theo and Molly were delighted with the present, and my eldest son's cradle had a cover as fine as any nobleman's.
       Good Dr. Heberden came over several times to visit my wife, and see that all things went well. He knew and recommended to us a surgeon in the vicinage, who took charge of her; luckily, my dear patient needed little care, beyond that which our landlady and her own trusty attendant could readily afford her. Again our humble precinct was adorned with the gilded apparition of Lady Castlewood's chariot wheels; she brought a pot of jelly, which she thought Theo might like, and which, no doubt, had been served at one of her ladyship's banquets on a previous day. And she told us of all the ceremonies at court, and of the splendour and festivities attending the birth of the august heir to the crown; Our good Mr. Johnson happened to pay me a visit on one of those days when my lady countess's carriage flamed up to our little gate. He was not a little struck by her magnificence, and made her some bows, which were more respectful than graceful. She called me cousin very affably, and helped to transfer the present of jelly from her silver dish into our crockery pan with much benignity. The Doctor tasted the sweetmeat, and pronounced it to be excellent. "The great, sir," says he, "are fortunate in every way. They can engage the most skilful practitioners of the culinary art, as they can assemble the most amiable wits round their table. If, as you think, sir, and, from the appearance of the dish, your suggestion at least is plausible, this sweetmeat may have appeared already at his lordship's table, it has been there in good company. It has quivered under the eyes of celebrated beauties, it has been tasted by ruby lips, it has divided the attention of the distinguished company, with fruits, tarts, and creams, which I make no doubt were like itself delicious." And so saying, the good Doctor absorbed a considerable portion of Lady Castlewood's benefaction; though as regards the epithet delicious I am bound to say, that my poor wife, after tasting the jelly, put it away from her as not to her liking; and Molly, flinging up her head, declared it was mouldy.
       My boy enjoyed at least the privilege of having an earl's daughter for his godmother; for this office was performed by his cousin, our poor Lady Maria, whose kindness and attention to the mother and the infant were beyond all praise; and who, having lost her own solitary chance for maternal happiness, yearned over our child in a manner not a little touching to behold. Captain Miles is a mighty fine gentleman, and his uniforms of the Prince's Hussars as splendid as any that ever bedizened a soldier of fashion; but he hath too good a heart, and is too true a gentleman, let us trust, not to be thankful when he remembers that his own infant limbs were dressed in some of the little garments which had been prepared for the poor player's child. Sampson christened him in that very chapel in Southwark, where our marriage ceremony had been performed. Never were the words of the Prayer-book more beautifully and impressively read than by the celebrant of the service; except at its end, when his voice failed him, and he and the rest of the little congregation were fain to wipe their eyes. "Mr. Garrick himself, sir," says Hagan, "could not have read those words so nobly. I am sure little innocent never entered the world accompanied by wishes and benedictions more tender and sincere."
       And now I have not told how it chanced that the Captain came by his name of Miles. A couple of days before his christening, when as yet I believe it was intended that our firstborn should bear his father's name, a little patter of horse's hoofs comes galloping up to our gate; and who should pull at the bell but young Miles, our cousin? I fear he had disobeyed his parents when he galloped away on that undutiful journey.
       "You know," says he, "cousin Harry gave me my little horse; and I can't help liking you, because you are so like Harry, and because they're always saying things of you at home, and it's a shame; and I have brought my whistle and coral that my godmamma Lady Suckling gave me, for your little boy; and if you're so poor, cousin George, here's my gold moidore, and it's worth ever so much, and it's no use to me, because I mayn't spend it, you know."
       We took the boy up to Theo in her room (he mounted the stair in his little tramping boots, of which he was very proud); and Theo kissed him, and thanked him; and his moidore has been in her purse from that day.
       My mother, writing through her ambassador as usual, informed me of her royal surprise and displeasure on learning that my son had been christened Miles--a name not known, at least in the Esmond family. I did not care to tell the reason at the time; but when, in after years, I told Madam Esmond how my boy came by his name, I saw a tear roll down her wrinkled cheek, and I heard afterwards that she had asked Gumbo many questions about the boy who gave his name to our Miles--our Miles Gloriosus of Pall Mall, Valenciennes, Almack's, Brighton. _
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CHAPTER I. In which one of the Virginians visits home
CHAPTER II. In which Harry has to pay for his Supper
CHAPTER III. The Esmonds in Virginia
CHAPTER IV. In which Harry finds a New Relative
CHAPTER V. Family Jars
CHAPTER VI. The Virginians begin to see the World
CHAPTER VII. Preparations for War
CHAPTER VIII. In which George suffers from a Common Disease
CHAPTER IX. Hospitalities
CHAPTER X. A Hot Afternoon
CHAPTER XI. Wherein the two Georges prepare for Blood
CHAPTER XII. News from the Camp
CHAPTER XIII. Profitless Quest
CHAPTER XIV. Harry in England
CHAPTER XV. A Sunday at Castlewood
CHAPTER XVI. In which Gumbo shows Skill with the Old English Weapon
CHAPTER XVII. On the Scent
CHAPTER XVIII. An Old Story
CHAPTER XIX. Containing both Love and Luck
CHAPTER XX. Facilis Descensus
CHAPTER XXI. Samaritans
CHAPTER XXII. In Hospital
CHAPTER XXIII. Holidays
CHAPTER XXIV. From Oakhurst to Tunbridge
CHAPTER XXV. New Acquaintances
CHAPTER XXVI. In which we are at a very Great Distance from Oakhurst
CHAPTER XXVII. Plenus Opus Aleae
CHAPTER XXVIII. The Way of the World
CHAPTER XXIX. In which Harry continues to enjoy Otium sine Dignitate
CHAPTER XXX. Contains a Letter to Virginia
CHAPTER XXXI. The Bear and the Leader
CHAPTER XXXII. In which a Family Coach is ordered
CHAPTER XXXIII. Contains a Soliloquy by Hester
CHAPTER XXXIV. In which Mr. Warrington treats the Company with Tea and a Ball
CHAPTER XXXV. Entanglements
CHAPTER XXXVI. Which seems to mean Mischief
CHAPTER XXXVII. In which various Matches are fought
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Sampson and the Philistines
CHAPTER XXXIX. Harry to the Rescue
CHAPTER XL. In which Harry pays off an Old Debt, and incurs some New Ones
CHAPTER XLI. Rake's Progress
CHAPTER XLII. Fortunatus Nimium
CHAPTER XLIII. In which Harry flies High
CHAPTER XLIV. Contains what might, perhaps, have been expected
CHAPTER XLV. In which Harry finds two Uncles
CHAPTER XLVI. Chains and Slavery
CHAPTER XLVII. Visitors in Trouble
CHAPTER XLVIII. An Apparition
CHAPTER XLIX. Friends in Need
CHAPTER L. Contains a Great deal of the Finest Morality
CHAPTER LI. Conticuere Omnes
CHAPTER LII. Intentique Ora tenebant
CHAPTER LIII. Where we remain at the Court End of the Town
CHAPTER LIV. During which Harry sits smoking his Pipe at Home
CHAPTER LV. Between Brothers
CHAPTER LVI. Ariadne
CHAPTER LVII. In which Mr. Harry's Nose continues to be put out of joint
CHAPTER LVIII. Where we do what Cats may do
CHAPTER LIX. In which we are treated to a Play
CHAPTER LX. Which treats of Macbeth, a Supper, and a Pretty Kettle of Fish
CHAPTER LXI. In which the Prince marches up the Hill and down again
CHAPTER LXII. Arma Virumque
CHAPTER LXIII. Melpomene
CHAPTER LXIV. In which Harry lives to fight another Day
CHAPTER LXV. Soldier's Return
CHAPTER LXVI. In which we go a-courting
CHAPTER LXVII. In which a Tragedy is acted, and two more are begun
CHAPTER LXVIII. In which Harry goes westward
CHAPTER LXIX. A Little Innocent
CHAPTER LXX. In which Cupid plays a Considerable Part
CHAPTER LXXI. White Favours
CHAPTER LXXII. (From the Warrington MS.) In which My Lady is on the Top of the Ladder
CHAPTER LXXIII. We keep Christmas at Castlewood.
CHAPTER LXXIV. News from Canada
CHAPTER LXXV. The Course of True Love
CHAPTER LXXVI. Informs us how Mr. Warrington jumped into a Landau
CHAPTER LXXVII. And how everybody got out again
CHAPTER LXXVIII. Pyramus and Thisbe
CHAPTER LXXIX. Containing both Comedy and Tragedy
CHAPTER LXXX. Pocahontas
CHAPTER LXXXI. Res Angusta Domi
CHAPTER LXXXII. Miles's Moidore
CHAPTER LXXXIII. Troubles and Consolations
CHAPTER LXXXIV. In which Harry submits to the Common Lot
CHAPTER LXXXV. Inveni Portum
CHAPTER LXXXVI. At Home
CHAPTER LXXXVII. The Last of God Save the King
CHAPTER LXXXVIII. Yankee Doodle comes to Town
CHAPTER LXXXIX. A Colonel without a Regiment
CHAPTER XC. In which we both fight and run away
CHAPTER XCI. Satis Pugnae
CHAPTER XCII. Under Vine and Fig-Tree