The Tapestried Chamber | Page 5

Woodville Castle. A porter admitted
them at a modern Gothic lodge, built in that style to correspond with
the castle itself, and at the same time rang a bell to give warning of the
approach of visitors. Apparently the sound of the bell had suspended
the separation of the company, bent on the various amusements of the
morning; for, on entering the court of the chateau, several young men
were lounging about in their sporting dresses, looking at and criticizing
the dogs which the keepers held in readiness to attend their pastime. As
General Browne alighted, the young lord came to the gate of the hall,
and for an instant gazed, as at a stranger, upon the countenance of his
friend, on which war, with its fatigues and its wounds, had made a great
alteration. But the uncertainty lasted no longer than till the visitor had
spoken, and the hearty greeting which followed was such as can only
be exchanged betwixt those who have passed together the merry days
of careless boyhood or early youth.
"If I could have formed a wish, my dear Browne," said Lord Woodville,
"it would have been to have you here, of all men, upon this occasion,
which my friends are good enough to hold as a sort of holiday. Do not
think you have been unwatched during the years you have been absent
from us. I have traced you through your dangers, your triumphs, your
misfortunes, and was delighted to see that, whether in victory or defeat,
the name of my old friend was always distinguished with applause."
The General made a suitable reply, and congratulated his friend on his
new dignities, and the possession of a place and domain so beautiful.
"Nay, you have seen nothing of it as yet," said Lord Woodville, "and I
trust you do not mean to leave us till you are better acquainted with it.
It is true, I confess, that my present party is pretty large, and the old
house, like other places of the kind, does not possess so much
accommodation as the extent of the outward walls appears to promise.

But we can give you a comfortable old-fashioned room, and I venture
to suppose that your campaigns have taught you to be glad of worse
quarters."
The General shrugged his shoulders, and laughed. "I presume," he said,
"the worst apartment in your chateau is considerably superior to the old
tobacco-cask in which I was fain to take up my night's lodging when I
was in the Bush, as the Virginians call it, with the light corps. There I
lay, like Diogenes himself, so delighted with my covering from the
elements, that I made a vain attempt to have it rolled on to my next
quarters; but my commander for the time would give way to no such
luxurious provision, and I took farewell of my beloved cask with tears
in my eyes."
"Well, then, since you do not fear your quarters," said Lord Woodville,
"you will stay with me a week at least. Of guns, dogs, fishing-rods,
flies, and means of sport by sea and land, we have enough and to
spare--you cannot pitch on an amusement but we will find the means of
pursuing it. But if you prefer the gun and pointers, I will go with you
myself, and see whether you have mended your shooting since you
have been amongst the Indians of the back settlements."
The General gladly accepted his friendly host's proposal in all its points.
After a morning of manly exercise, the company met at dinner, where it
was the delight of Lord Woodville to conduce to the display of the high
properties of his recovered friend, so as to recommend him to his
guests, most of whom were persons of distinction. He led General
Browne to speak of the scenes he had witnessed; and as every word
marked alike the brave officer and the sensible man, who retained
possession of his cool judgment under the most imminent dangers, the
company looked upon the soldier with general respect, as on one who
had proved himself possessed of an uncommon portion of personal
courage--that attribute of all others of which everybody desires to be
thought possessed.
The day at Woodville Castle ended as usual in such mansions. The
hospitality stopped within the limits of good order. Music, in which the
young lord was a proficient, succeeded to the circulation of the bottle;
cards and billiards, for those who preferred such amusements, were in
readiness; but the exercise of the morning required early hours, and not
long after eleven o'clock the guests began to retire to their several

apartments.
The young lord himself conducted his friend, General Browne, to the
chamber destined for him, which answered the description he had given
of it,