well environing;
And softe as velvet the younge grass
That thereupon lustily come springing.'"

"And in that arbour, Lucy--that is, my wife--sits in the summer evenings
with her father and our children; and then--ah! see our pets come to
welcome me," pointing to the deer, who had advanced within a few yards
of him, but, intimidated by the stranger, would not venture within
reach--"Lucy loved choosing her favourites among animals which had
formerly been wild, and, faith, I loved it too. But you observe the
house, sir: it was built in the reign of Queen Anne; it belonged to
my mother's family; but my father sold it, and his son five years ago
rebought it. Those arms belonged to my maternal ancestry. Look, look
at the peacocks creeping along: poor pride theirs that can't stand the
shower! But, egad, that reminds me of the rain. Come, sir, let us make
for our shelter." And, resuming their progress, a minute more brought
them to the old-fashioned porch. Cole's ring summoned a man, not decked
in "livery gay," but, "clad in serving frock," who took the horses with
a nod, half familiar, half respectful, at his master's injunctions of
attention and hospitality to the stranger's beast; and then our old
acquaintance, striking through a small low hall, ushered Clarence into
the chief sitting-room of the mansion.

CHAPTER LXIV.

We are not poor; although we have
No roofs of cedar, nor our brave
Baiae, nor keep
Account of such a flock of sheep,
Nor bullocks fed
To lard the shambles; barbles bred
To kiss our hands; nor do we wish
For Pollio's lampreys in our dish.

If we can meet and so confer
Both by a shining salt-cellar,
And have our roof,
Although not arched, yet weather-proof,
And ceiling free
From that cheap candle-bawdery,
We'll eat our bean with that full mirth
As we were lords of all the earth.
HERRICK, from HORACE.

On entering the room, Clarence recognized Lucy, whom eight years had
converted into a sleek and portly matron of about thirty-two, without
stealing from her countenance its original expression of mingled modesty
and good-nature. She hastened to meet her husband, with an eager and
joyous air of welcome seldom seen on matrimonial faces after so many
years of wedlock.

A fine, stout boy, of about eleven years old, left a crossbow, which on
his father's entrance he had appeared earnestly employed in me