ine-wood fire, that burned briskly
within the ample chimney, in the keen air of a frosty morning. "I see
I shall have my ride for my pains," was Fred's reflection as he passed
into the wide hall, and beheld the old weapons and hunting spoils
arranged around the walls. "These people affect chieftainship, and go
hungry to bed, to dream of fourteen quarterings. Be it so. I shall see
the old rookery at all events;" and, so saying, he gave a vigorous pull
at the old bell, which answered loudly in its own person, and, also,
by a deep howl from the aged fox-hound, then lying at the fire in
the drawing-room. These sounds soon died away, and a silence deep
and unbroken as before succeeded. A second time, and a third, Travers
repeated his summons, but without any difference of result, save
that the dog no longer gave tongue;--it seemed as if he were becoming
reconciled to the disturbance, as one that needed no farther attention
from him.

"I must explore for myself," thought Fred, and so, attaching his horse
to the massive ring by which a chain used once to be suspended across
the portal, he entered the house. Walking leisurely forward, he gained
the long corridor; for a second or two he was uncertain how to proceed,
when a gleam of light from the half-open door in the tower led him
onward. As he drew near he heard the deep tones of a man's voice
recounting, as it seemed, some story of the chase; the last words, at
least, were--"I fired but one shot--the herd is wild enough
already." Travers pushed wide the door, and entered; as he did so, he
involuntarily halted; the evidences of habits and tastes he was not
prepared for, suddenly rebuked his unannounced approach, and he would
gladly have retreated, were it now practicable.

"Well, sir," said the same voice he heard before, and from a young man,
who leaned with one arm on the chimney-piece, and with the other hand
held his gun, while he appeared as if he had been conversing with a pale
and sickly youth, popped and pillowed in a deep arm-chair. They were the
only occupants of the room.

"Well, sir, it would seem you have made a mistake; the inn is lower down
the glen--you'll see a sign over the door-way."

The look which accompanied this insolent speech recalled at once to
Frederick's mind the same figure he had seen in the glen; and, stung by
impertinence from such a quarter, he replied--

"Have no fear, young fellow; you may poach every acre for twenty miles
round--I have