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 footsteps. 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 TWELVE

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--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 kind, coming across the bog with great speed, in the
direction of myself; the nature of the ground seemed to offer but little
impediment to these beings, both clearing the holes and abysses which lay
in their way with surprising agility; the animal was, however, some
slight way in advance, and, bounding over the dyke, appeared on the road
just before me. It was a dog, of what species I cannot tell, never
having seen the like before or since; the head was large and rou