ivided with hedgerow timber of great age
and size. There were few marks of modern improvement. The environs of the
place intimated neither the solitude of decay nor the bustle of novelty;
the houses were old, but in good repair; and the beautiful little river
murmured freely on its way to the left of the town, neither restrained by
a dam nor bordered by a towing-path.

Upon a gentle eminence, nearly a mile to the southward of the town, were
seen, among many venerable oaks and tangled thickets, the turrets of a
castle, as old as the wars of York and Lancaster, but which seemed to have
received important alterations during the age of Elizabeth and her
successor.

It had not been a place of great size; but whatever accommodation it
formerly afforded was, it must be supposed, still to be obtained within
its walls; at least, such was the inference which General Browne drew from
observing the smoke arise merrily from several of the ancient wreathed and
carved chimney-stalks.

The wall of the park ran alongside of the highway for two or three
hundred yards; and through the different points by which the eye found
glimpses into the woodland scenery, it seemed to be well stocked. Other
points of view opened in succession; now a full one, of the front of the
old castle, and now a side glimpse at its particular towers; the former
rich in all the bizarrerie of the Elizabethan school, while the simple and
solid strength of other parts of the building seemed to show that they had
been raised more for defense than ostentation.

Delighted with the partial glimpses which he obtained of the castle
through the woods and glades by which this ancient feudal fortress was
surrounded, our military traveler was determined to inquire whether it
might not deserve a nearer view, and whether it contained family pictures
or other objects of curiosity worthy of a stranger's visit; when, leaving
the vicinity of the park, he rolled through a clean and well-paved street,
and stopped at the door of a well-frequented inn.

Before ordering horses to proceed on his journey, General Browne made
inquiries concerning the proprietor of the chateau which had so attracted
his admiration; and was equally surprised and pleased at hearing in reply
a nobleman named, whom we shall call Lord Woodville. How fortunate!

Much of Browne's early recollections, both at school and at college, had
been connected with young Woodville, whom, by a few questions, he now
ascer