entered
the keep by a low and frowning doorway: the lower floor consisted of a
large dungeon-like room, with a vaulted roof; on the left hand was a
winding staircase in the thickness of the wall; it looked anything but
inviting; yet I stole softly up, my heart beating. On the top of the
first flight of stairs was an arched doorway, to the left was a dark
passage, to the right, stairs leading still higher. I stepped under the
arch and found myself in an apartment somewhat similar to the one below,
but higher. There was an object at the farther end.

An old woman, at least eighty, was seated on a stone, cowering over a few
sticks burning feebly on what had once been a right noble and cheerful
hearth; her side-glance was towards the doorway as I entered, for she had
heard my foot-steps. I stood suddenly still, and her haggard glance
rested on my face.

'Is this your house, mother?' I at length demanded, in the language which
I thought she would best understand.

'Yes, my house, my own house; the house of the broken-hearted.'

'Any other person's house?' I demanded.

'My own house, the beggar's house--the accursed house of Cromwell!'

CHAPTER XII

A visit--Figure of a man--The dog of peace--The raw wound--The
guardroom--Boy soldier--Person in authority--Never solitary--Clergyman
and family--Still-hunting--Fairy man--Near sunset--Bagg--Left-handed
hitter--Irish and supernatural--At Swanton Morley.

One morning I set out, designing to pay a visit to my brother at the
place where he was detached; the distance was rather considerable, yet I
hoped to be back by evening fall, for I was now a shrewd walker, thanks
to constant practice. I set out early, and, directing my course towards
the north, I had in less than two hours accomplished considerably more
than half of the journey. The weather had at first been propitious: a
slight frost had rendered the ground firm to the tread, and the skies
were clear; but now a change came over the scene, the skies darkened, and
a heavy snowstorm came on; the road then lay straight through a bog, and
was bounded by a deep trench on both sides; I was making the best of my
way, keeping as nearly as I could in the middle of the road, lest,
blinded by the snow which was frequently borne into my eyes by the wind,
I might fall into the dyke, when all at once I heard a shout to windward,
and turning my eyes I saw the figure of a man, and what appeared to be an
animal of some kin