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college； had been connected with young Woodville； whom； by a few
questions； he now ascertained to be the same with the owner of this fair
domain。 He had been raised to the peerage by the decease of his father a
few months before； and； as the General learned from the landlord； the term
of mourning being ended； was now taking possession of his paternal estate
in the jovial season of merry； autumn； accompanied by a select party of
friends； to enjoy the sports of a country famous for game。
This was delightful news to our traveller。 Frank Woodville had been
Richard Browne's fag at Eton； and his chosen intimate at Christ Church；
their pleasures and their tasks had been the same； and the honest soldier's
heart warmed to find his early friend in possession of so delightful a
residence； and of an estate； as the landlord assured him with a nod and a
wink； fully adequate to maintain and add to his dignity。 Nothing was
more natural than that the traveller should suspend a journey； which there
was nothing to render hurried； to pay a visit to an old friend under such
agreeable circumstances。
The fresh horses； therefore； had only the brief task of conveying the
General's travelling carriage to Woodville Castle。 A porter admitted them
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at a modern Gothic lodge； built in that style to correspond with the castle
itself； and at the same time rang a bell to give warning of the approach of
visitors。 Apparently the sound of the bell had suspended the separation
of the company； bent on the various amusements of the morning； for； on
entering the court of the chateau； several young men were lounging about
in their sporting dresses； looking at and criticizing the dogs which the
keepers held in readiness to attend their pastime。 As General Browne
alighted； the young lord came to the gate of the hall； and for an instant
gazed； as at a stranger； upon the countenance of his friend； on which war；
with its fatigues and its wounds； had made a great alteration。 But the
uncertainty lasted no longer than till the visitor had spoken； and the hearty
greeting which followed was such as can only be exchanged betwixt those
who have passed together the merry days of careless boyhood or early
youth。
〃If I could have formed a wish； my dear Browne；〃 said Lord
Woodville； 〃it would have been to have you here； of all men； upon this
occasion； which my friends are good enough to hold as a sort of holiday。
Do not think you have been unwatched during the years you have been
absent from us。 I have traced you through your dangers； your triumphs；
your misfortunes； and was delighted to see that； whether in victory or
defeat； the name of my old friend was always distinguished with
applause。〃
The General made a suitable reply； and congratulated his friend on his
new dignities； and the possession of a place and domain so beautiful。
〃Nay； you have seen nothing of it as yet；〃 said Lord Woodville； 〃and I
trust you do not mean to leave us till you are better acquainted with it。 It
is true； I confess； that my present party is pretty large； and the old house；
like other places of the kind； does not possess so much accommodation as
the extent of the outward walls appears to promise。 But we can give you
a comfortable old…fashioned room； and I venture to suppose that your
campaigns have taught you to be glad of worse quarters。〃
The General shrugged his shoulders； and laughed。 〃I presume；〃 he
said； 〃the worst apartment in your chateau is considerably superior to the
old tobacco…cask in which I was fain to take up my night's lodging when I
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THE TAPESTRIED CHAMBER
was in the Bush； as the Virginians call it； with the light corps。 There I lay；
like Diogenes himself； so delighted with my covering from the elements；
that I made a vain attempt to have it rolled on to my next quarters； but my
commander for the time would give way to no such luxurious provision；
and I took farewell of my beloved cask with tears in my eyes。〃
〃Well； then； since you do not fear your quarters；〃 said Lord Woodville；
〃you will stay with me a week at least。 Of guns； dogs； fishing…rods； flies；
and means of sport by sea and land； we have enough and to spareyou
cannot pitch on an amusement but we will find the means of pursuing it。
But if you prefer the gun and pointers； I will go with you myself； and see
whether you have mended your shooting since you have been amongst the
Indians of the back settlements。〃
The General gladly accepted his friendly host's proposal in all its
points。 After a morning of manly exercise； the company met at dinner；
where it was the delight of Lord Woodville to conduce to the display of
the high properties of his recovered friend； so as to recommend him to his
guests； most of whom were persons of distinction。 He led General
Browne to speak of the scenes he had witnessed； and as every word
marked alike the brave officer and the sensible man； who retained
possession of his cool judgment under the most imminent dangers； the
company looked upon the soldier with general respect； as on one who had
proved himself possessed of an uncommon portion of personal courage
that attribute of all others of which everybody desires to be thought
possessed。
The day at Woodville Castle ended as usual in such mansions。 The
hospitality stopped within the limits of good order。 Music； in which the
young lord was a proficient； succeeded to the circulation of the bottle；
cards and billiards； for those who preferred such amusements； were in
readiness； but the exercise of the morning required early hours； and not
long after eleven o'clock the guests began to retire to their several
apartments。
The young lord himself conducted his friend； General Browne； to the
chamber destined for him； which answered the description he had given of
it； being comfortable； but old…fashioned； The bed was of the massive form
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used in the end of the seventeenth century； and the curtains of faded silk；
heavily trimmed with tarnished gold。 But then the sheets； pillows； and
blankets looked delightful to the campaigner； when he thought of his
〃mansion； the cask。〃 There was an air of gloom in the tapestry hangings；
which； with their worn…out graces； curtained the walls of the little chamber；
and gently undulated as the autumnal breeze found its way through the
ancient lattice window； which pattered and whistled as the air gained
entrance。 The toilet； too； with its mirror； turbaned after the manner of the
beginning of the century； with a coiffure of murrey…coloured silk； and its
hundred strange…shaped boxes； providing for arrangements which had
been obsolete for more than fifty years； had