My lady goes nigh crazed with his ill humours. I warrant
thee, Sir William's ghost gaily snuffs up the sport. I have watched him
up and down the old stairs, and once i' the chapel; and he told
me"--whispering close to the pilgrim's ear--"a great secret, nuncle!"
"Ay--what was that, Motley?"
"Why, said he, if so be Sir William comes home again, he'll find his
wife has got a cuckoo in her nest." Here he burst from the stranger with
a malicious shout, and descending a by-path, was soon lost amidst the
intricacies of a deep wood, skirting the verge of an extensive forest.
The traveller's brow gathered a heavier gloom. With unconscious haste he
soon gained a gentle ascent, which led by a narrow and deep path to the
mansion. Nigh to the bridge over the moat stood a blacksmith's hovel,
conveniently situated for all job-work emanating from the armoury and
the kitchen, which at that time afforded full exercise for the musical
propensities of Darby Grimshaw's great anvil. This hut was a general
resort to all the idlers in the vicinity; Grim, as he was generally
styled for the sake of abbreviation, discharging the office of "preses,"
or chief moderator, in all debates held therein.
Pages:
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127