his worship's. You shall hear the story
another time, and I warrant you will crack your sides over it."

Sir William, being an old man and gouty to boot, saw his prisoners in
his own room, whither we were accordingly conducted. I had no chance to
get a word with my comrade, who, I noticed, kept his hand to his mouth,
and pulled his cap over his eyes--I suppose, to conceal himself from
those about the place who might know him. As for me, I had no desire to
hide myself from the only man there who knew me.

Sir William was a fine, red-faced, white-headed old gentleman, with
something of the old soldier in his air, and (when he came to speak), a
good deal of him in his words. He sat in a great chair, with one foot
swaddled on a stool before him; and the oaths with which he greeted each
twinge as it came, boded ill for us his prisoners.

He kept us waiting a long time at the dimly lit end of the hall, while
he spoke to his guest. At last he ordered us to be led forward. As we
advanced, and their eyes fell on us, each uttered an exclamation. I
kept my eye on Captain Merriman, and watched the storm that gathered on
his brow, and the crimson flush that sprung to his cheeks. It was plain
he knew me again, and I was content.

As for Sir Ludar, he stared listlessly at his guardian till it should
please his worship to speak.

His worship began with a string of oaths.

"Why, what means this, sirrah! How came _you_ here, you vagabond Irish
whelp, in this company? Speak, or by my beard, I'll--I'll--"

He did not say what he would do, for his foot gave him a twinge which
demanded of him every word he could spare.

"I have left Oxford, Sir Guardian," said Ludar, "I liked not the place,
or the ways of the place, or the Welshman, my keeper; and as for my
present company," said he, turning to me, "'tis good enough for me. It
was I shot the deer, not he; and so pray bid these fellows loose him."

At this the angry old soldier nearly went off in a fit. He flourished
his stick towards the offender, and even tried to rise from his chair, a
proceeding which brought on fresh pangs, and set him swearing hard for a
minute or more.

"How now! what, a murrain on you, puppy! Am I to be told my duty by a
raw-boned, ill-conditioned Irish gallowglass that I have fed at my table
and spent half my life in making a gentleman of? What do you think of
that, Sir Captain? How would you like to be saddled with a young wolf-
hound cub l