examined his sword, returning it
quickly into its sheath, as the weeping Alice drew away the children to
her own apartment. Old Geoffery now grew more talkative. Leaning his
chin upon his hand, and his elbow on the table, he thus proceeded:--

"It's four long years come St Barnabas since Sir Harry's death; and my
lady, rest her soul! went melancholy soon after. Everything was
bequeathed in trust to my master, Hildebrand Wentworth, a great friend
of Sir Harry's, and his secretary or purse-bearer, I forget which--no
matter--all the property, I say, was left in trust for Sir Harry's wife
and children. Hildebrand brought a will from Sir Harry to this effect,
and poor Lady Fairfax never looked up afterwards. She moped about, and
would see nobody, and then it was they said she was out of her wits. It
was not long before her head-gear and mantle were found by the
river-side just below the old bridge you crossed--but her body never."

Here the entrance of Michael cut short the old man's discourse.

"Belike thou hast not lacked a cup of warm sack, and a whey-posset with
my master in the west turret," scoffingly cried Master Geoffery. Michael
looked surly as he replied--

"Old Gabergeon, let us have a draught of thy best, a stirrup-cup.
Breakfast I have settled with above stairs."

"Marry take your swill, Mr Saucypate," tartly replied Geoffery. "And so,
because you have eaten and drunk with my master, it is 'old Gabergeon;'
else had it been good Master Hardpiece, or 'if you will, Master
Geoffery!' Out upon such carrion, say I, that think themselves live meat
when they are but fly-blown."

"Old Geoffery," said Michael, coolly, "we'll settle our rank at a more
convenient opportunity. Just now I'll thank thee for the flagon."

"It's in the cupboard," growled Hardpiece. "Verily these arms would
tingle. But I am old, and that same Michael but a sorry brute--no
beating would mend him. An ass of most vicious propensities; he will
bite forwards and kick backwards. Friends get the benefit of his teeth,
and foes the favour of his heels."

Thus did the old man console himself for the rudeness he could not
restrain. It was not long ere a summons hurried them to the courtyard.
They found their beasts equipped and ready to depart; Harry and Julia
looking joyously on, vastly diverted with the horses' accoutrements.
Hildebrand stood by the gateway, looking moody and anxious for their
departure; Alice, full of sorrow, attended with some r