Beside the old warrior he looked a mere stripling.  The Baron’s arm was bare, his sleeve rolled up; and as he pointed to the tree above, the muscles, as the limb moved, displayed 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 ribs.  The heaviest blow that he could have struck upon that broad chest would have produced no more effect than a hollow sound; it would not even have shaken that powerful frame.

He felt the steel blue eye, bright as the sky of midsummer, glance into his very mind.  The high forehead bare, for the Baron had 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 who had sent him.  The beard, though streaked with white, spoke little of age; it rather indicated an abundant, a luxuriant vitality.

Lord John was not at ease.  He shifted from foot to foot, and occasionally puffed a large cigar of Devon tobacco.  His errand was simple enough.  Some of the ladies at the Court had a fancy for fruit, especially strawberries, 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 gracious message and request for a basket of strawberries.  Sir Constans was much pleased; but he regretted that the hot, dry weather had not permitted the fruit to come to any size or perfection.  Still there were some.

The courtier accompanied him to the gardens, and saw the water-wheel which, turned by a horse, forced water from the stream into a small pond or elevated reservoir, from which it irrigated 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 send to the palace.  There was no other fruit; the cherries, though set, were not ripe; but there was some asparagus, which had not yet been served, said Lord John, at the Prince’s table.

Sir Constans set men to hastily collect all that was ready, and while this was done took the courtier over the gardens.  Lord John felt no interest whatever in such matters, but he could not choose but admire the extraordinary fertility of the enclosure, 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 flowers nearer the house.  Sir Constans had sent a man to the flower-garden, who now returned with two fine bouquets, which were presented to Lord John:  the one for the Princess, the Prince’s sister; the other for any lady to whom he might choose to present it.

The fruit had already been handed to the retainer who had charge of the horses.  Though interested, in spite of himself, Lord John, acknowledging the flowers, turned to go with a sense of relief.  This simplicity of manners seemed discordant to him.  He felt out of place, and in some way lowered in his own esteem, and yet he despised the rural retirement and beauty about him.