as they entered； first followed Master Mumblazen slowly to a
large oaken desk； on which a ponderous volume lay open； and then
rested； as if in uncertainty； on the stranger who had entered
along with him。 The curate； a grey…headed clergyman； who had
been a confessor in the days of Queen Mary； sat with a book in
his hand in another recess in the apartment。 He； too； signed a
mournful greeting to Tressilian； and laid his book aside； to
watch the effect his appearance should produce on the afflicted
old man。
As Tressilian； his own eyes filling fast with tears； approached
more and more nearly to the father of his betrothed bride； Sir
Hugh's intelligence seemed to revive。 He sighed heavily； as one
who awakens from a state of stupor； a slight convulsion passed
over his features； he opened his arms without speaking a word；
and； as Tressilian threw himself into them； he folded him to his
bosom。
〃There is something left to live for yet；〃 were the first words
he uttered； and while he spoke； he gave vent to his feelings in a
paroxysm of weeping； the tears chasing each other down his
sunburnt cheeks and long white beard。
〃I ne'er thought to have thanked God to see my master weep；〃 said
Will Badger； 〃but now I do； though I am like to weep for
company。〃
〃I will ask thee no questions；〃 said the old knight； 〃no
questionsnone； Edmund。 Thou hast not found heror so found
her； that she were better lost。〃
Tressilian was unable to reply otherwise than by putting his
hands before his face。
〃It is enoughit is enough。 But do not thou weep for her；
Edmund。 I have cause to weep； for she was my daughter； thou hast
cause to rejoice； that she did not become thy wife。Great God！
thou knowest best what is good for us。 It was my nightly prayer
that I should see Amy and Edmund wedded；had it been granted； it
had now been gall added to bitterness。〃
〃Be comforted； my friend；〃 said the curate； addressing Sir Hugh；
〃it cannot be that the daughter of all our hopes and affections
is the vile creature you would bespeak her。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 replied Sir Hugh impatiently； 〃I were wrong to name
broadly the base thing she is becomethere is some new court
name for it； I warrant me。 It is honour enough for the daughter
of an old Devonshire clown to be the leman of a gay courtierof
Varney tooof Varney； whose grandsire was relieved by my father；
when his fortune was broken； at the battle ofthe battle of
where Richard was slainout on my memory！and I warrant none
of you will help me〃
〃The battle of Bosworth；〃 said Master Mumblazen〃stricken
between Richard Crookback and Henry Tudor； grandsire of the Queen
that now is； PRIMO HENRICI SEPTIMI； and in the year one thousand
four hundred and eighty…five； POST CHRISTUM NATUM。〃
〃Ay； even so；〃 said the old knight； 〃every child knows it。 But
my poor head forgets all it should remember； and remembers only
what it would most willingly forget。 My brain has been at fault；
Tressilian； almost ever since thou hast been away； and even yet
it hunts counter。〃
〃Your worship；〃 said the good clergyman； 〃had better retire to
your apartment； and try to sleep for a little space。 The
physician left a composing draught； and our Great Physician has
commanded us to use earthly means； that we may be strengthened to
sustain the trials He sends us。〃
〃True； true； old friend；〃 said Sir Hugh； 〃and we will bear our
trials manfullywe have lost but a woman。See； Tressilian；〃he
drew from his bosom a long ringlet of glossy hair；〃see this
lock！ I tell thee； Edmund； the very night she disappeared； when
she bid me good even； as she was wont； she hung about my neck；
and fondled me more than usual； and I； like an old fool； held her
by this lock； until she took her scissors； severed it； and left
it in my handas all I was ever to see more of her！〃
Tressilian was unable to reply； well judging what a complication
of feelings must have crossed the bosom of the unhappy fugitive
at that cruel moment。 The clergyman was about to speak； but Sir
Hugh interrupted him。
〃I know what you would say； Master Curate；After all； it is but
a lock of woman's tresses； and by woman； shame； and sin； and
death came into an innocent world。And learned Master Mumblazen；
too； can say scholarly things of their inferiority。〃
〃C'EST L'HOMME；〃 said Master Mumblazen； 〃QUI SE BAST； ET QUI
CONSEILLE。〃
〃True；〃 said Sir Hugh； 〃and we will bear us； therefore； like men
who have both mettle and wisdom in us。Tressilian； thou art as
welcome as if thou hadst brought better news。 But we have spoken
too long dry…lipped。Amy； fill a cup of wine to Edmund； and
another to me。〃 Then instantly recollecting that he called upon
her who could not hear； he shook his head； and said to the
clergyman； 〃This grief is to my bewildered mind what the church
of Lidcote is to our park： we may lose ourselves among the briers
and thickets for a little space； but from the end of each avenue
we see the old grey steeple and the grave of my forefathers。 I
would I were to travel that road tomorrow！〃
Tressilian and the curate joined in urging the exhausted old man
to lay himself to rest； and at length prevailed。 Tressilian
remained by his pillow till he saw that slumber at length sunk
down on him； and then returned to consult with the curate what
steps should be adopted in these unhappy circumstances。
They could not exclude from these deliberations Master Michael
Mumblazen； and they admitted him the more readily； that besides
what hopes they entertained from his sagacity； they knew him to
be so great a friend to taciturnity； that there was no doubt of
his keeping counsel。 He was an old bachelor； of good family； but
small fortune； and distantly related to the House of Robsart； in
virtue of which connection； Lidcote Hall had been honoured with
his residence for the last twenty years。 His company was
agreeable to Sir Hugh； chiefly on account of his profound
learning； which； though it only related to heraldry and
genealogy； with such scraps of history as connected themselves
with these subjects； was precisely of a kind to captivate the
good old knight； besides the convenience which he found in having
a friend to appeal to when his own memory； as frequently
happened； proved infirm and played him false concerning names and
dates； which； and all similar deficiencies； Master Michael
Mumblazen supplied with due brevity and discretion。 And； indeed；
in matters concerning the modern world； he often gave； in his
enigmatical and heraldic phrase； advice which was well worth
attending to； or； in Will Badger's language； started the game
while others beat the bush。
〃We have had an unhappy time of it with the good knight； Master
Edmund；〃 said the curate。 〃I have not suffered so much since I
was torn away from my beloved flock； and compelled to abandon
them to the Romish wolves。〃
〃That was in TERTIO MARIAE；〃 said Master Mumblazen。
〃In the name of Heaven；〃 continued the curate； 〃tell us； has your
time been better spent than ours； or have you any news of that
unhappy maiden； who； being for so many years the principal joy of
this broken…down house； is now proved our greatest unhappiness？
Have you not at least discovered her place of residence？〃
〃I have；〃 replied Tressilian。 〃Know you Cumnor Place； near
Oxford？〃
〃Surely；〃 said the clergyman； 〃it was a house of removal for the
monks of Abingdon。〃
〃Whose arms；〃 said Master Michael； 〃I have seen over a stone
chimney in the hall；a cross patonce betwixt four martlets。〃
〃There；〃 said Tressilian； 〃this unhappy maiden resides； in
company with the villain Varney。 But for a strange mishap； my
sword had revenged all our injuries； as well as hers； on his
worthless head。〃
〃Thank God； that kept thine hand from blood…guiltiness； rash
young man！〃 answered the curate。 〃Vengeance is mine； saith the
Lord； and I will repay it。 It were better study to free her from
the villain's nets of infamy。〃
〃They are called； in heraldry； LAQUEI AMORIS； or LACS D'AMOUR；〃
said Mumblazen。
〃It is in that I require your aid； my friends；〃 said Tressilian。
〃I am resolved to accuse this villain； at the very foot of the
throne； of falsehood； seduction； and breach of hospitable laws。
The Queen shall hear me； though the Earl of Leicester； the
villain's patron； stood at her right hand。〃
〃Her Grace；〃 said the curate； 〃hath set a comely example of
continence to her subjects； and will doubtless do justice on this
inhospitable robber。 But wert thou not better apply to the Earl
of Leicester； in the first place； for justice on his servant？ If
he grants it； thou dost save the risk of making thyself a
powerful adversary； which will certainly chance if； in the first
instance； you accuse his master of the horse and prime favourite
before the Queen。〃
〃My mind revolts from your counsel；〃 said Tressilian。 〃I cannot
brook to plead my noble patron's cause the unhappy Amy's cause
before any one save my lawful Sovereign。 Leicester； thou wilt
say； is noble。 Be it so； he is but a subject like ourselves； and
I will not carry my plaint to him； if I can do better。 Still； I
will think on what thou hast said； but I must have your
assistance to persuade the good Si