the birds had still two
days of peace and quietness, leading their broods through the stubbles,
and pointing out to them the corn which had spilled on the ground, for
their food. That the old birds had some idea of a gun, it is to be
supposed, from their having escaped the season before; but the young
coveys had still that pleasure to come; in two days more they were to be
initiated into the astonishing fact, that fast as feathers could fly,
lead could fly faster, and overtake them.

The two or three days before the shooting season begins are invariably
very tedious in the country, and I passed my morning chiefly in roaming
through the park and pleasure grounds, and I hardly need say that,
during those rambles, my thoughts were chiefly occupied with the
intimacy which had taken place between my mother and Lord de Versely.
On the third morning after my arrival I had been strolling for more than
two hours, when I came to a very retired sort of Gothic cell, formed of
the distended limbs of an old oak, intermixed with stones and grass. It
faced towards the park, and was built up on the green lawn amidst clumps
of laurel and other evergreens. I threw myself on the benches. It was
just the place for a man to select for a rendezvous: just the secret
spot where a maiden could listen without trembling at intruders; and it
struck me that this must have been the trysting place of my parents.
For an hour I remained there, castle-building for the future, and musing
on the past, when I heard a voice, close to me on the other side of the
cell, the back of which was turned towards the hall. I knew the voice
to be that of the old lady, who, it appears, had, as usual, come out in
her garden chair, and was dragged by her attendant, Phillis: the wheels
had made no noise on the velvet lawn, and, until roused by her voice, I
was not aware of their approach.

"Nonsense, Phillis; why, child, what should you know about such things?"
said the old lady.

"If you please to recollect, ma'am," replied Phillis, who certainly was
old enough to recollect all the passages in a woman's life, "I was your
maid at the time that it happened, and I was constantly in company with
Bella Mason. She was very respectful towards you, but you did not know
what her temper was; there never was so proud a young woman, or who
considered herself of such consequence as she did--so much so, that she
treated even Mr Jonas, the butler, and Mrs Short, the housekeeper,