to Co

confines of the estate, indeed, the men would run gladly to do his bidding. Beyond, and on his own account, he was helpless. Manual labour (to plough, to sow, to work on

e could not start as a merchant without money; he could not enclose an estate and build a house or castle fit for the nuptials of a noble's daughter without money, or that personal

time rendered his position hateful in the extreme. The feeling within that he had talent which only required opportunity stung him like

could be sent only by special messenger, and how should he pay a messenger? It was this terrible thought of separation which had so long kept him inactive. In the e

their ways were notoriously coarse. If on foot he could not cross the Lake, nor visit the countries on either shore, nor the islands; therefore he cut do

made. He tried to conceal from himself that he would probably be repulsed and laughed at. Without money, without a

ntries seemed to pass without volition before his mind. He saw the cities along the shores of the great Lake; he saw their internal condition, the weakness of the social fabric, the misery of the bondsmen. The uncertain action of the League, t

east, and west? Where did the great Lake end? Were the stories of the gold and silver mines of Devon

e vessels making slow progress by oars, and some drawn with ropes by gangs of men or horses on the shore, through the narrow straits. North and South there nearly met. There was but a furlong of water between the

is retainers and enclose a new estate there? There was nothing to prevent him. The forest was free to all, provided that they rendered due service to the Prince. Might not a house or c

make further efforts when they already had what they desired? One only, the deep and designing Valentine, gave it serious thought in secret. It seemed to him that something might come of it, another day, when he was himself in power-if that sh

d commence his voyage. He should see Aurora once more only. He should see her, but he should not say farewell; she would not know that he was going till he had ac

creature sprang back into the underwood. A dove was cooing in the forest not far distant, but as he was about to resume work the cooing ceased. Then a wood-pigeon rose from the ashes with a loud clapping of wings. Felix listened. His hunter instinct to

shman," said Felix, replacing his

Oliver; "for I forgot my weapon. It is ne

ust bring

ht sight of the Baron in the adjacent gardens, which were irrigated by his contrivances from the stream, and went towar

ed it to set even earlier than usual. A suit of black velvet, an extremely expensive and almost unprocurable material, brought the courtier's pale features into relief. It was only by the very oldest families th

urs and dissipation, but not the less interesting on that account. But his natural advantages were so over-run with the affectation of the Court that you did not

d themselves in knots, at which the courtier himself could not refrain from glancing. Those mighty arms, had they clasped him about the waist, could have crushed his bending ri

his hat in his hand, mocked at him in its humility. The Baron bared his head in honour of the courtier's office and the Prince wh

rries, but there were none in the market, nor to be obtained from the gardens about the town. It was recollected that Sir Constans was famous for his gardens, and the Prince despatched Lord John to Old House with a g

igated the ground. This supply of water had brought on the fruit, and Sir Constans was able to gather a small basket. He then looked round to see what other early product he could se

and the variety of the products. There was everything; fruit of all kinds, herbs of every species, plots specially devoted to those possessing medicinal virtue. This was only one part of the gardens; the orchards proper were farther down, and the flowe

John, acknowledging the flowers, turned to go with a sense of relief. This simplicity of manners seemed discordant to him. He

que, humbly standing, hat in hand, before this Court messenger, discoursing on cherries, and offering flowers and fruit, filled

e cadets of the house, it being customary for those in any way connected to serve the head of the

The land requires some rain, does it not? Still I trust it will not rain till I am home, for my plume's sake," tossi

o the water-carrier. The best tobacco, indeed the only real tobacco, came from the warm Devon land, but little of it reached so far, on account of the distance, the difficulties of i

than by purchase. Lord John would, indeed, have stared aghast had he seen the rustic to whom he had given so valuable a present cast them into a ditch. He rode

towards home, and walked by his side in s

said he, "will so

fruit and flowers, entirely oblivious of the silent anger of the pair beside him. As they appr