ran along the low portico, and formed the
termination to two thin rows of meagre and dwarfish sycamores, which did
duty for an avenue, and were bounded, on the roadside, by a spruce white
gate, and a sprucer lodge, so moderate in its dimensions, that it would
scarcely have boiled a turnip: if a rat had got into it, he might have
run away with it. The ground was dug in various places, as if for the
purpose of further improvements, and here and there a sickly little tree
was carefully hurdled round, and seemed pining its puny heart out at the
confinement.

In spite of all these well-judged and well-thriving graces of art, there
was such a comfortless and desolate appearance about the place, that it
quite froze one to look at it; to be sure, a damp marsh on one side, and
the skeleton rafters and beams of an old stable on the other, backed by
a few dull and sulky-looking fir trees, might, in some measure, create,
or at least considerably add to, the indescribable cheerlessness of the
tout ensemble. While I was curiously surveying the various parts of this
northern "Delices," and marvelling at the choice of two crows who
were slowly walking over the unwholesome ground, instead of making all
possible use of the black wings with which Providence had gifted them,
I perceived two men on horseback wind round from the back part of
the building and proceed in a brisk trot down the avenue. We had not
advanced many paces before they overtook us; the foremost of them turned
round as he passed me, and pulling up his horse abruptly, discovered to
my dismayed view, the features of Mr. Thornton. Nothing abashed by the
slightness of my bow, or the grave stares of my lordly companions, who
never forgot the dignity of their birth, in spite of the vulgarity of
their tastes, Thornton instantly and familiarly accosted me.

"Told you so, Mr. Pelham--silent sow, Sure I should have the pleasure of
seeing you, though you kept it so snug. Well, will you bet now? No!--Ah,
you're a sly one. Staying here at that nice-looking house--belongs to
Dawson, an old friend of mine--shall be happy to introduce you!"

"Sir," said I, abruptly, "you are too good. Permit me to request that
you will rejoin your friend Mr. Dawson."

"Oh," said the imperturbable Thornton, "it does not signify; he won't be
affronted at my lagging a little. However," (and here he caught my
eye, which was assuming a sternness that perhaps little pleased him,)
"however, as it gets late