t the Manor-house, he heard with evident
satisfaction that the Earl had been suddenly summoned on state affairs
to London.

There was an unaccountable soreness in Aram's mind, which made him feel
a resentment--a suspicion against all who sought to lure him from
his retreat. "Thank Heaven!" thought he, when he heard of the
Earl's departure; "we shall not meet for another year!" He was
mistaken.--Another year!

CHAPTER V.

IN WHICH THE STORY RETURNS TO WALTER AND THE CORPORAL.--THE
RENCONTRE WITH A STRANGER, AND HOW THE STRANGER PROVES TO BE
NOT ALTOGETHER A STRANGER.

Being got out of town in the road to Penaflor, master of my own
action, and forty good ducats; the first thing I did was to
give my mule her head, and to go at what pace she pleased.
.............
I left them in the inn, and continued my journey; I was hardly
got half-a-mile farther, when I met a cavalier very genteel,
--Gil Blas.

It was broad and sunny noon on the second day of their journey, as
Walter Lester, and the valorous attendant with whom it had pleased Fate
to endow him, rode slowly into a small town in which the Corporal in
his own heart, had resolved to bait his roman-nosed horse and refresh
himself. Two comely inns had the younger traveller of the twain already
passed with an indifferent air, as if neither bait nor refreshment
made any part of the necessary concerns of this habitable world. And in
passing each of the said hostelries, the roman-nosed horse had uttered
a snort of indignant surprise, and the worthy Corporal had responded
to the quadrupedal remonstrance by a loud hem. It seemed, however, that
Walter heard neither of the above significant admonitions; and now the
town was nearly passed, and a steep hill that seemed winding away into
eternity, already presented itself to the rueful gaze of the Corporal.

"The boy's clean mad," grunted Bunting to himself--"must do my duty to
him--give him a hint."

Pursuant to this notable and conscientious determination, Bunting jogged
his horse into a trot, and coming alongside of Walter, put his hand to
his hat and said:

"Weather warm, your honour--horses knocked up--next town far as
hell!--halt a bit here--augh!"

"Ha! that is very true, Bunting; I had quite forgotten the length of our
journey. But see, there is a sign-post yonder, we will take advantage of
it."

"Augh! and your honour's right--fit