has been erected, as in the olden time, an ox is roasted
whole upon the lawn, tables are spread out under the
shade of the great elms and sturdy oaks, foaming barrels
of mighty ale, such as Guy of Warwick drank, ere he
encountered the dun cow, are seen with taps ready in
them,—the children are dancing round the
May-Pole in wild glee,—and now a scout posted
on a rising ground comes tearing towards them as though
life and death defended on his speed,—the
carriage is coming,—a cheer arises,—it
has passed the gates, and is coming up the avenue.
Johnson is full of nervous excitement, the maidens
cease giggling and pinching and all those endearing
little amusements, the young men try to look solemn
and only succeed in causing a burst of laughter from
the sly girls, some of whom draw down their faces
in imitation. They are nervous, too—what
if the great man should see their dresses in disorder,
and he a young man, too; the elder matrons and the
farmers stand nearest the house, all is expectation,
he has come, the carriage has stopped at the very extremity
of the line, a cheer, thrice repeated, peals through
the air, as he descends from the carriage, and it
is a heartfelt one, for this they know has been among
themselves, and shared their hopes and fears.
He is followed by Captain Williams, in the full uniform
of an American Naval Officer; he is whiter headed
than when we saw him last, but he looks able to wrestle
any man upon the ground, a cheer bursts forth for him
also, though none recognize in him aught but the brave
sailor who had shown such sympathy at the grave of
Mary Waters. They are received by the Curate,
Mr. Johnson, the Lawyer and the Clerk. The young
Earl waves his hand, and every door and window, in
the spacious edifice is thrown open. With a kind
word for every one, a merry joke with one fair maiden,
and a laughing glance at another, a cheerful nod to
the young men, and a hearty shake of the hand to the
old, and as he decorously salutes each old matron
on the cheek, he fairly rushes into the arms of his
quondam aunt, who nearly goes into hysterics with
joy, (which would have been awkward, as she is stout,
and has laced some,) so she thinks better of it, and
cries over him, which does just as well. Such
a shout arises as makes the very welkin ring.
He stops upon the top-most step, Capt. Williams
and the others by his side. Every sound is hushed
as he speaks. ’It is not outside, my friends,
whom I hope I may never give reason to regret this
day. It is not outside of my halls that I can
give you thanks for my reception. There is no
room in my house in which you are not freely welcome,
this night, and to him who will not accept the call
of the Earl de Montford, I will send poor Edward Barnett.
Ten years from this day, if such of you as are spared,
and I am one, will meet me here again, I will render
to you an account of my stewardship, and then if you
can raise again the cheers with which you have this
day greeted me, poor Edward Barnett will be more than