ht he, "I had warm and attached friends, ready
to exult in my successes, and sympathize with me in my sorrows. If I had
enemies, they were brave fellows, as willing to defend their cause with
the sword as myself. None flattered or frowned on him who was richer
than the rest. No subtle schemes lay in wait for him whose unsuspecting
frankness exposed him to deception; we were _bons camarades_, at least,"
said he, aloud, "and from what I have seen of the great world, I 've
lived to prize the distinction."

From this revery he was suddenly recalled by observing, directly in
front of him, an elderly gentleman, who, in a stooping posture, seemed
to seek for something among the dry leaves and branches beside a low
wicket.

"This is the first fruit of our gay neighborhood," said the old man,
testily, as he poked the dead leaves with his cane; "we 're lucky if
they leave us without more serious inconvenience."

"Can I assist you in your search?--have you lost something?" said
Cashel, approaching.

"There is a key--the key of the wicket--hid somewhere hereabouts,
young man," said the other, who, scarcely bestowing a look upon Roland,
continued his investigation as busily as before.

Cashel, undaunted by the somewhat ungracious reception, now aided him in
his search, while the other continued: "I 've known this path for nigh
forty years, and never remember this wicket to have been locked before.
But so it is. My old friend is afraid of the invasion of this noisy
neighborhood, and has taken to lock and key to keep them out. The key he
promised to hide at the foot of this tree."

"And here it is," said Cashel, as he unlocked the wicket and flung it
wide.

"Many thanks for your help, but you have a better reward than my
gratitude, in eyes some five-and-thirty years younger," said the old
man, with the same half-testy voice as before. "Perhaps you 'd like to
see the grounds here, yourself; come along. The place is small, but far
better kept than the great demesne, I assure you; just as many an humble
household is more orderly than many a proud retinue."

Roland was rather pleased by the quaint oddity of his new companion, of
whom he thought, but could not remember where, he had seen the features
before.

"You are a stranger in these parts, I conclude?" said the old man.

"Yes. I only arrived here about an hour ago, and have seen nothing save
the path from the Hall to this spot."

"There 's little more worth the seeing on