his own hand." "You
surprise me." "I saw him coming once with his servants. I had my baby
in my arms--that's she that lives in that cottage yonder, she's grown a
woman now--and I was shuffling along to get out of his way, when he
called out, 'What a beautiful little babe, let me look at it,' and then
he smiled and made as though he would shake hands with the child, and,
bless you, he slipped half-a-sovereign into my hand." I confess I was
delighted at the little anecdote, and I am sure the good woman's praise
was perfectly disinterested. Those who know anything of the poor are
convinced they never flatter those from whom they can never again derive
any benefit. I had almost expected to hear curses, if not loud at least
deep.

A bailiff resides in the Abbey stables, who has charge of the place, but
the "steeds are vanished from the stalls." We inquired if we could see
the remaining apartments, but found the bailiff was gone to Hindon, and
had taken the keys with him. Here was a difficulty indeed. "Perhaps,"
said his daughter, "you can get into the great Tower staircase; I think
the door is open." We proceeded thither, but alas! a ponderous door and
locked most unequivocally denied all entrance. "Perhaps father has left
the key in his old coat; I will run and see" said our interesting young
cicerone. She scuttled off, and we waited in anxiety, till in five
minutes she returned with a large bunch of keys, the passport to the
extraordinary apartments still remaining. My joy was as great at hearing
the lock turn as was ever "Vathek's" when he discovered the Indian at the
gate of the Hall of Eblis with his _clef d'or_. The great circular
staircase survived the shock of the falling tower. The stairs wind round
a massive centre, or newel, three feet in diameter; the ascent is gentle,
the stairs at least six feet broad. They form an approach light,
elegant, and so lofty that you cannot touch with the hand the stairs
above your head. Numerous small windows make the staircase perfectly
light, and the inside is so clean that it is difficult to believe it is
not continually scoured and whitened, but this I was assured was not the
case. Two hundred and ten steps lead to a leaden roof, the view from
which beggars description. You have here a bird's eye view of the lovely
estate. Majestic trees, hanging woods, and luxuriant plantations cover
the ground for two or three miles round, whilst beyond this begin those
im