it； and I feel it followed by a dry morning。 I will pledge you
willingly in a cup of bastard。How； my pretty coz Cicely！ why；
I left you but a child in the cradle； and there thou stand'st in
thy velvet waistcoat； as tight a girl as England's sun shines on。
Know thy friends and kindred； Cicely； and come hither； child；
that I may kiss thee； and give thee my blessing。〃
〃Concern not yourself about Cicely； kinsman；〃 said Giles Gosling；
〃but e'en let her go her way； a' God's name； for although your
mother were her father's sister； yet that shall not make you and
her cater…cousins。〃
〃Why； uncle；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃think'st thou I am an infidel；
and would harm those of mine own house？〃
〃It is for no harm that I speak； Mike；〃 answered his uncle； 〃but
a simple humour of precaution which I have。 True； thou art as
well gilded as a snake when he casts his old slough in the spring
time； but for all that； thou creepest not into my Eden。 I will
look after mine Eve； Mike； and so content thee。But how brave
thou be'st； lad！ To look on thee now； and compare thee with
Master Tressilian here； in his sad…coloured riding…suit； who
would not say that thou wert the real gentleman and he the
tapster's boy？〃
〃Troth； uncle；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃no one would say so but one
of your country…breeding； that knows no better。 I will say； and
I care not who hears me； there is something about the real gentry
that few men come up to that are not born and bred to the
mystery。 I wot not where the trick lies； but although I can
enter an ordinary with as much audacity； rebuke the waiters and
drawers as loudly； drink as deep a health； swear as round an
oath； and fling my gold as freely about as any of the jingling
spurs and white feathers that are around me； yet； hang me if I
can ever catch the true grace of it； though I have practised an
hundred times。 The man of the house sets me lowest at the board；
and carves to me the last； and the drawer says； 'Coming； friend；'
without any more reverence or regardful addition。 But； hang it；
let it pass； care killed a cat。 I have gentry enough to pass the
trick on Tony Fire…the…Faggot； and that will do for the matter in
hand。〃
〃You hold your purpose； then； of visiting your old acquaintance？〃
said Tressilian to the adventurer。
〃Ay； sir；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃when stakes are made； the game
must be played； that is gamester's law； all over the world。 You；
sir； unless my memory fails me （for I did steep it somewhat too
deeply in the sack…butt）； took some share in my hazard？〃
〃I propose to accompany you in your adventure；〃 said Tressilian；
〃if you will do me so much grace as to permit me； and I have
staked my share of the forfeit in the hands of our worthy host。〃
〃That he hath；〃 answered Giles Gosling； 〃in as fair Harry…nobles
as ever were melted into sack by a good fellow。 So； luck to your
enterprise； since you will needs venture on Tony Foster； but； by
my credit； you had better take another draught before you depart；
for your welcome at the Hall yonder will be somewhat of the
driest。 And if you do get into peril； beware of taking to cold
steel； but send for me； Giles Gosling； the head…borough； and I
may be able to make something out of Tony yet； for as proud as he
is。〃
The nephew dutifully obeyed his uncle's hint； by taking a second
powerful pull at the tankard； observing that his wit never served
him so well as when he had washed his temples with a deep
morning's draught； and they set forth together for the habitation
of Anthony Foster。
The village of Cumnor is pleasantly built on a hill； and in a
wooded park closely adjacent was situated the ancient mansion
occupied at this time by Anthony Foster； of which the ruins may
be still extant。 The park was then full of large trees； and in
particular of ancient and mighty oaks； which stretched their
giant arms over the high wall surrounding the demesne； thus
giving it a melancholy； secluded； and monastic appearance。 The
entrance to the park lay through an old…fashioned gateway in the
outer wall； the door of which was formed of two huge oaken leaves
thickly studded with nails； like the gate of an old town。
〃We shall be finely helped up here；〃 said Michael Lambourne；
looking at the gateway and gate； 〃if this fellow's suspicious
humour should refuse us admission altogether； as it is like he
may； in case this linsey…wolsey fellow of a mercer's visit to his
premises has disquieted him。 But； no；〃 he added； pushing the
huge gate； which gave way； 〃the door stands invitingly open； and
here we are within the forbidden ground； without other impediment
than the passive resistance of a heavy oak door moving on rusty
hinges。〃
They stood now in an avenue overshadowed by such old trees as we
have described； and which had been bordered at one time by high
hedges of yew and holly。 But these； having been untrimmed for
many years； had run up into great bushes； or rather dwarf…trees；
and now encroached； with their dark and melancholy boughs； upon
the road which they once had screened。 The avenue itself was
grown up with grass； and； in one or two places； interrupted by
piles of withered brushwood； which had been lopped from the trees
cut down in the neighbouring park； and was here stacked for
drying。 Formal walks and avenues； which； at different points；
crossed this principal approach； were； in like manner； choked up
and interrupted by piles of brushwood and billets； and in other
places by underwood and brambles。 Besides the general effect of
desolation which is so strongly impressed whenever we behold the
contrivances of man wasted and obliterated by neglect； and
witness the marks of social life effaced gradually by the
influence of vegetation； the size of the trees and the
outspreading extent of their boughs diffused a gloom over the
scene； even when the sun was at the highest； and made a
proportional impression on the mind of those who visited it。
This was felt even by Michael Lambourne； however alien his habits
were to receiving any impressions； excepting from things which
addressed themselves immediately to his passions。
〃This wood is as dark as a wolf's mouth；〃 said he to Tressilian；
as they walked together slowly along the solitary and broken
approach； and had just come in sight of the monastic front of the
old mansion； with its shafted windows； brick walls overgrown with
ivy and creeping shrubs； and twisted stalks of chimneys of heavy
stone…work。 〃And yet；〃 continued Lambourne； 〃it is fairly done
on the part of Foster too for since he chooses not visitors； it
is right to keep his place in a fashion that will invite few to
trespass upon his privacy。 But had he been the Anthony I once
knew him； these sturdy oaks had long since become the property of
some honest woodmonger； and the manor…close here had looked
lighter at midnight than it now does at noon； while Foster played
fast and loose with the price； in some cunning corner in the
purlieus of Whitefriars。〃
〃Was he then such an unthrift？〃 asked Tressilian。
〃He was；〃 answered Lambourne； 〃like the rest of us； no saint； and
no saver。 But what I liked worst of Tony was； that he loved to
take his pleasure by himself； and grudged； as men say； every drop
of water that went past his own mill。 I have known him deal with
such measures of wine when he was alone； as I would not have
ventured on with aid of the best toper in Berkshire；that； and
some sway towards superstition； which he had by temperament；
rendered him unworthy the company of a good fellow。 And now he
has earthed himself here； in a den just befitting such a sly fox
as himself。〃
〃May I ask you； Master Lambourne；〃 said Tressilian； 〃since your
old companion's humour jumps so little with your own； wherefore
you are so desirous to renew acquaintance with him？〃
〃And may I ask you； in return； Master Tressilian；〃 answered
Lambourne； 〃wherefore you have shown yourself so desirous to
accompany me on this party？〃
〃I told you my motive；〃 said Tressilian； 〃when I took share in
your wagerit was simple curiosity。〃
〃La you there now！〃 answered Lambourne。 〃See how you civil and
discreet gentlemen think to use us who live by the free exercise
of our wits！ Had I answered your question by saying that it was
simple curiosity which led me to visit my old comrade Anthony
Foster； I warrant you had set it down for an evasion； and a turn
of my trade。 But any answer； I suppose； must serve my turn。〃
〃And wherefore should not bare curiosity；〃 said Tressilian； 〃be a
sufficient reason for my taking this walk with you？〃
〃Oh； content yourself； sir；〃 replied Lambourne； 〃you cannot put
the change on me so easy as you think； for I have lived among the
quick…stirring spirits of the age too long to swallow chaff for
grain。 You are a gentleman of birth and breedingyour bearing
makes it good； of civil habits and fair reputationyour manners
declare it； and my uncle avouches it； and yet you associate
yourself with a sort of scant…of…grace； as men call me； and；
knowing me to be such； you make yourself my companion in a visit
to a man whom you are a stranger toand all out of mere
curiosity； forsooth！ The excuse； if curiously balanced； wo