Neither dress nor feed her till I see both done myself.
Just walk her for ten minutes, and if you have a glass of ale in the
place, let her sip it."

"Your bidding shall be done," chirped the human insect, as he fluttered
away with his charges.

A motley assemblage of tawny-skinned varlets, dark-eyed women and
children, whose dusky limbs betrayed their lineage, in strange costume,
and of wild deportment, checked the path, muttering welcome upon welcome
into the ear of Luke as he passed. As it was evident he was in no mood
for converse, Sybil, who seemed to exercise considerable authority over
the crew, with a word dispersed them, and they herded back to their
respective habitations.

A low door admitted Luke and his companions into what had once been the
garden, in which some old moss-encrusted apple and walnut-trees were
still standing, bearing a look of antiquity almost as venerable as that
of the adjoining fabric.

Another open door gave them entrance to a spacious chamber, formerly the
eating-room or refectory of the holy brotherhood, and a goodly room it
had been, though now its slender lanceolated windows were stuffed with
hay to keep out the air. Large holes told where huge oaken rafters had
once crossed the roof, and a yawning aperture marked the place where a
cheering fire had formerly blazed. As regarded this latter spot, the
good old custom was not, even now, totally abrogated. An iron plate,
covered with crackling wood, sustained a ponderous black caldron, the
rich steam from which gratefully affected the olfactory organs of the
highwayman.

"That augurs well," said he, rubbing his hands.

"Still hungering after the fleshpots of Egypt," said the sexton, with a
ghastly smile.

"We will see what that kettle contains," said Luke.

"Handassah--Grace!" exclaimed Sybil, calling.

Her summons was answered by two maidens, habited not unbecomingly, in
gipsy gear.

"Bring the best our larder can furnish," said Sybil, "and use despatch.
You have appetites to provide for, sharpened by a long ride in the open
air."

"And by a night's fasting," said Luke, "and solitary confinement to
boot."

"And a night of business," added Turpin--"and plaguy perplexing business
into the bargain."

"And the night of a funeral too," doled Peter; "and that funeral a
father's. Let us have breakfast speedily, by all means. We have rare
appetites."

An old oaken table--it might have been the self-same upon which the holy