hey came _to the other
house_; for it was one of the pleasures of that house, that it would
explain all the mysteries of this, and any little obscurities in the
master's conduct would be then made quite plain.

Parley was the first who promised to keep clear of the _hedge_, and
yet was often seen looking as near as he durst. One day he ventured
close up to the hedge, put two or three stones one on another, and
tried to peep over. He saw one of the robbers strolling as near as
he could be on the forbidden side. This man's name was Mr.
Flatterwell, a smooth, civil man, "whose words were softer than
butter, having war in his heart." He made several low bows to
Parley.

Now, Parley knew so little of the world, that he actually concluded
all robbers must have an ugly look which should frighten you at
once, and coarse brutal manners which would at first sight show they
were enemies. He thought, like a poor ignorant fellow as he was,
that this mild, specious person could never be one of the band.
Flatterwell accosted Parley with the utmost civility, which put him
quite off his guard; for Parley had no notion that he could be an
enemy who was so soft and civil. For an open foe he would have been
prepared. Parley, however, after a little discourse drew this
conclusion, that either Mr. Flatterwell could not be one of the
gang, or that if he was, the robbers themselves could not be such
monsters as his master had described, and therefore it was a folly
to be afraid of them.

Flatterwell began, like a true adept in his art, by lulling all
Parley's suspicions asleep; and instead of openly abusing his
master, which would have opened Parley's eyes at once, he pretended
rather to commend him in a general way, as a person who meant well
himself, but was too apt to suspect others. To this Parley assented.
The other then ventured to hint by degrees, that though the nobleman
might be a good master in the main, yet he must say he was a little
strict, and a little stingy, and not a little censorious. That he
was blamed by the _gentlemen of the wilderness_ for shutting his
house against good company, and his servants were laughed at by
people of spirit for submitting to the gloomy life of the castle,
and the insipid pleasures of the garden, instead of ranging in the
wilderness at large.

"It is true enough," said Parley, who was generally of the opinion
of the person he was talking with, "my master is rather harsh and
close. But to own