intimated that； saving for the sake of the horses； which required
both rest and food； he would advise his worshipful Master
Tressilian to push on a stage farther； rather than pay a
reckoning to such a mean…spirited； crow…trodden； henpecked
coxcomb； as Gaffer Crane。
The arrival of a large dish of good cow…heel and bacon something
soothed the asperity of the artist； which wholly vanished before
a choice capon； so delicately roasted that the lard frothed on
it； said Wayland； like May…dew on a lily； and both Gaffer Crane
and his good dame became； in his eyes； very painstaking；
accommodating； obliging persons。
According to the manners of the times； the master and his
attendant sat at the same table； and the latter observed； with
regret； how little attention Tressilian paid to his meal。 He
recollected； indeed； the pain he had given by mentioning the
maiden in whose company he had first seen him； but； fearful of
touching upon a topic too tender to be tampered with； he chose to
ascribe his abstinence to another cause。
〃This fare is perhaps too coarse for your worship；〃 said Wayland；
as the limbs of the capon disappeared before his own exertions；
〃but had you dwelt as long as I have done in yonder dungeon；
which Flibbertigibbet has translated to the upper element； a
place where I dared hardly broil my food； lest the smoke should
be seen without； you would think a fair capon a more welcome
dainty。〃
〃If you are pleased； friend；〃 said Tressilian； 〃it is well。
Nevertheless； hasten thy meal if thou canst； For this place is
unfriendly to thy safety； and my concerns crave travelling。〃
Allowing； therefore； their horses no more rest than was
absolutely necessary for them； they pursued their journey by a
forced march as far as Bradford； where they reposed themselves
for the night。
The next morning found them early travellers。 And； not to
fatigue the reader with unnecessary particulars； they traversed
without adventure the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset； and
about noon of the third day after Tressilian's leaving Cumnor；
arrived at Sir Hugh Robsart's seat； called Lidcote Hall； on the
frontiers of Devonshire。
CHAPTER XII。
Ah me！ the flower and blossom of your house；
The wind hath blown away to other towers。
JOANNA BAILLIE'S FAMILY LEGEND。
The ancient seat of Lidcote Hall was situated near the village of
the same name； and adjoined the wild and extensive forest of
Exmoor； plentifully stocked with game； in which some ancient
rights belonging to the Robsart family entitled Sir Hugh to
pursue his favourite amusement of the chase。 The old mansion was
a low； venerable building； occupying a considerable space of
ground； which was surrounded by a deep moat。 The approach and
drawbridge were defended by an octagonal tower； of ancient
brickwork； but so clothed with ivy and other creepers that it was
difficult to discover of what materials it was constructed。 The
angles of this tower were each decorated with a turret；
whimsically various in form and in size； and； therefore； very
unlike the monotonous stone pepperboxes which； in modern Gothic
architecture； are employed for the same purpose。 One of these
turrets was square； and occupied as a clock…house。 But the clock
was now standing still； a circumstance peculiarly striking to
Tressilian； because the good old knight； among other harmless
peculiarities； had a fidgety anxiety about the exact measurement
of time； very common to those who have a great deal of that
commodity to dispose of； and find it lie heavy upon their hands
just as we see shopkeepers amuse themselves with taking an exact
account of their stock at the time there is least demand for it。
The entrance to the courtyard of the old mansion lay through an
archway； surmounted by the foresaid tower； but the drawbridge was
down； and one leaf of the iron…studded folding…doors stood
carelessly open。 Tressilian hastily rode over the drawbridge；
entered the court； and began to call loudly on the domestics by
their names。 For some time he was only answered by the echoes
and the howling of the hounds； whose kennel lay at no great
distance from the mansion； and was surrounded by the same moat。
At length Will Badger； the old and favourite attendant of the
knight； who acted alike as squire of his body and superintendent
of his sports； made his appearance。 The stout； weather…beaten
forester showed great signs of joy when he recognized Tressilian。
〃Lord love you；〃 he said； 〃Master Edmund； be it thou in flesh and
fell？ Then thou mayest do some good on Sir Hugh； for it passes
the wit of manthat is； of mine own； and the curate's； and
Master Mumblazen'sto do aught wi'un。〃
〃Is Sir Hugh then worse since I went away； Will？〃 demanded
Tressilian。
〃For worse in bodyno； he is much better；〃 replied the domestic；
〃but he is clean mazed as it wereeats and drinks as he was
wontbut sleeps not； or rather wakes not； for he is ever in a
sort of twilight； that is neither sleeping nor waking。 Dame
Swineford thought it was like the dead palsy。 But no； no； dame；
said I； it is the heart； it is the heart。〃
〃Can ye not stir his mind to any pastimes？〃 said Tressilian。
〃He is clean and quite off his sports；〃 said Will Badger； 〃hath
neither touched backgammon or shovel…board； nor looked on the big
book of harrowtry wi' Master Mumblazen。 I let the clock run
down； thinking the missing the bell might somewhat move himfor
you know； Master Edmund； he was particular in counting timebut
he never said a word on't； so I may e'en set the old chime a…
towling again。 I made bold to tread on Bungay's tail too； and
you know what a round rating that would ha' cost me once a…day；
but he minded the poor tyke's whine no more than a madge howlet
whooping down the chimneyso the case is beyond me。〃
〃Thou shalt tell me the rest within doors； Will。 Meanwhile； let
this person be ta'en to the buttery； and used with respect。 He
is a man of art。〃
〃White art or black art； I would；〃 said Will Badger； 〃that he had
any art which could help us。Here； Tom Butler； look to the man
of art；and see that he steals none of thy spoons； lad；〃 he
added in a whisper to the butler； who showed himself at a low
window； 〃I have known as honest a faced fellow have art enough to
do that。〃
He then ushered Tressilian into a low parlour； and went； at his
desire； to see in what state his master was； lest the sudden
return of his darling pupil and proposed son…in…law should affect
him too strongly。 He returned immediately； and said that Sir
Hugh was dozing in his elbow…chair； but that Master Mumblazen
would acquaint Master Tressilian the instant he awaked。
〃But it is chance if he knows you；〃 said the huntsman； 〃for he
has forgotten the name of every hound in the pack。 I thought；
about a week since； he had gotten a favourable turn。 'Saddle me
old Sorrel；' said he suddenly； after he had taken his usual
night…draught out of the great silver grace…cup； 'and take the
hounds to Mount Hazelhurst to…morrow。' Glad men were we all； and
out we had him in the morning； and he rode to cover as usual；
with never a word spoken but that the wind was south； and the
scent would lie。 But ere we had uncoupled'the hounds； he began
to stare round him； like a man that wakes suddenly out of a
dreamturns bridle； and walks back to Hall again； and leaves us
to hunt at leisure by ourselves； if we listed。〃
〃You tell a heavy tale； Will；〃 replied Tressilian； 〃but God must
help usthere is no aid in man。〃
〃Then you bring us no news of young Mistress Amy？ But what need
I askyour brow tells the story。 Ever I hoped that if any man
could or would track her； it must be you。 All's over and lost
now。 But if ever I have that Varney within reach of a flight…
shot； I will bestow a forked shaft on him； and that I swear by
salt and bread。〃
As he spoke； the door opened； and Master Mumblazen appeareda
withered； thin； elderly gentleman； with a cheek like a winter
apple； and his grey hair partly concealed by a small； high hat；
shaped like a cone； or rather like such a strawberry…basket as
London fruiterers exhibit at their windows。 He was too
sententious a person to waste words on mere salutation； so；
having welcomed Tressilian with a nod and a shake of the hand； he
beckoned him to follow to Sir Hugh's great chamber； which the
good knight usually inhabited。 Will Badger followed； unasked；
anxious to see whether his master would be relieved from his
state of apathy by the arrival of Tressilian。
In a long； low parlour； amply furnished with implements of the
chase； and with silvan trophies； by a massive stone chimney； over
which hung a sword and suit of armour somewhat obscured by
neglect； sat Sir Hugh Robsart of Lidcote； a man of large size；
which had been only kept within moderate compass by the constant
use of violent exercise； It seemed to Tressilian that the
lethargy； under which his old friend appeared to labour； had；
even during his few weeks' absence； added bulk to his personat
least it had obviously diminished the vivacity of his eye； which；
as they entered； first followed Master Mumblazen slowly to a
large oaken desk； on which a ponderous vo