e could with two hands at liberty. With a note
from his father on business, and numerous messages from his mother and
sisters, he set out on his expedition. He rode merrily along through
the green wood, often indulging in daydreams, which, had he known more
of the world, he might have suspected that there was little probability
of being realised. The fair Alethea formed a prominent feature in most
of them. Cousin Nat had charged him not to heat his blood by galloping,
lest it might retard his recovery; but when he came to the commencement
of a fine open glade, it was hard to restrain either the horse or his
own feelings, and more than once he found himself flying over the ground
as fast as he would have done had a pack of hounds been before him in
full chase of a deer. In a shorter time than he had calculated on,
therefore, he arrived at the front of Harwood Grange. It was a mansion
built in the time of Elizabeth, with high roof and pointed gables,
richly ornamented with the arms of the family, deeply carved in stone,
over the principal entrance. It had no moat nor other means of defence
having originally been a hunting-lodge. It was also out of the highway,
and had thus escaped being turned into a fortress, and suffering the
fate of many mansions throughout England during the wars between the
"Cavaliers" and the "Roundheads." It was of considerable size, the
outbuildings affording ample accommodation for horses and dogs.

Both the Squire and his daughter were at home, and had seen him approach
as he rode up the avenue. He received a cordial welcome from the Squire
in the old hall, into which the entrance-door opened. It was hung round
with the usual trophies of the chase, hunting-poles, boar-spears,
deer-horns, old cross-bows, and modern fire-arms, as well as curious
pieces of ancient armour, which had done good service when worn by his
father and his retainers in the time of the first Charles, under whose
banner the family had ranged themselves. In the corner stood whole
suits of armour, placed on lay figures, while on a table at the farther
end lay hawk's jesses, and hoods, and bells, and other apparatus of the
gentle sport of heronry. A long massive oak table, with a side board of
the same wood and style of construction, and numerous high-backed
chairs, completed the furniture of the room, while at the inner end was
a huge fire-place, with a mantel-piece high above it, and carved oak
seats on either side