that surpassing visage.

They sauntered along, every step developing new beauties in their
progress and eliciting from his companions renewed expressions of
rapture. The dim bowers, the shining glades, the tall rare trees, the
luxuriant shrubs, the silent and sequestered lake, in turn enchanted
them, until at length, Ferdinand, who had led them with experienced
taste through all the most striking points of the pleasaunce, brought
them before the walls of the castle.

'And here is Armine Castle,' he said; 'it is little better than a shell,
and yet contains something which you might like to see.'

'Oh! by all means,' exclaimed the lady.

'But we are spoiling your sport,' suggested the gentleman.

'I can always kill partridges,' replied Ferdinand, laying down his gun;
'but I cannot always find agreeable companions.'

So saying, he opened the massy portal of the castle and they entered
the hall. It was a lofty chamber, of dimensions large enough to feast
a thousand vassals, with a dais and a rich Gothic screen, and a gallery
for the musicians. The walls were hung with arms and armour admirably
arranged; but the parti-coloured marble floor was so covered with
piled-up cases of furniture that the general effect of the scene, was
not only greatly marred, but it was even difficult in some parts to
trace a path.

'Here,' said Ferdinand, jumping upon a huge case and running to the
wall, 'here is the standard of Ralph d'Ermyn, who came over with the
Conqueror, and founded the family in England. Here is the sword of
William d'Armyn, who signed Magna Carta. Here is the complete coat
armour of the second Ralph, who died before Ascalon. This case contains
a diamond-hilted sword, given by the Empress to the great Sir Ferdinand
for defeating the Turks; and here is a Mameluke sabre, given to the same
Sir Ferdinand by the Sultan for defeating the Empress.'

'Oh! I have heard so much of that great Sir Ferdinand,' said the lady.
'He must have been the most interesting character.'

'He was a marvellous being,' answered her guide, with a peculiar look,
'and yet I know not whether his descendants have not cause to rue his
genius.'

'Oh! never, never!' said the lady; 'what is wealth to genius? How much
prouder, were I an Armine, should I be of such an ancestor than of a
thousand others, even if they had left me this castle as complete as he
wished it to be!'

'Well, as to that,' replied Ferdinand, 'I believe I am somewhat of your