panied this motion, though he was too far off to see
it. "And art thou not fair Maid of Judah," said the affectionate genius,
"worth to me all the broad lands of my fathers? Could they purchase for
me such love as thine? Art thou not the little ewe lamb of the poor
man?--but none shall ever have thee from me my daughter, but one
entirely worthy of thee?"

Scarcely had Dymock returned the courtesy of Tamar, before Jacob, who
had run to the top of the Tower before him, came to tell him that his
master was ready to see him, and Dymock, who needed no guide, soon found
himself at the head of several more rounds of stairs, which got narrower
as they ascended,--and in front of a narrow door well studded with knobs
of iron. Within this door was a room, which in time past had been used
for security, either for prisoners, treasures, or other
purposes,--tradition said not what,--but it still had every requisite of
strength, the narrow windows being provided with stauncheons of iron,
and the walls covered with strong wainscotting, in one side of which
were sliding pannels opening into a closet. The secret of these pannels
was known only to Dymock, and he, when he sold the castle, had revealed
it to Mr. Salmon, vaunting the great service of which this secret
closet, had been, in keeping plate and other valuables, though he
acknowledged, poor man, that he had never made any great use of this
mysterious conservatory.

It seems that Mr. Salmon had appropriated this same room to his especial
use; his bed, which in the French taste was covered with a tent-like
tester, occupied one nook, and the curtains, as well as the floor-cloth,
were of very rich, but tarnished and threadbare materials. Several
ponderous tomes in vellum emblazoned with gold, were placed on a ledge
of the wall near the bed; a square table, a trunk strongly clamped with
brass, and an old fashioned easy chair, completed the furniture.

And now for the first time Dymock saw Mr. Salmon in his deshabille. The
old gentleman had laid aside his coat, probably that it might be spared
unnecessary wear and tear; he wore a claret coloured waistcoat with
large flaps, on which were apparent certain tarnished remains of
embroidery; his lower extremities, as far as the knees, were encased in
a texture the colour of which had once been pepper and salt, and from
the knee downwards he wore a pair of home-manufactured, grey worsted
stockings, which proved that his housekeeper was by no