The natives, whether inhabitants of mountain or of vale, flocked from all parts to the spectacle. No minstrel, who had any ambition to distinguish himself, neglected the invitation. The domestics of the castle were arrayed in their gala liveries of orange-tawney, new for the occasion. All hands were busy in the kitchen, which was of conventual size, and the savory steam ascended to the vaulted roof in clouds of stomach-stirring odour. The cellar, though provided with a double tier of potent ordnance, was formidably menaced by the numbers of the assailants. Cecilia, the moving spring of all operations, had taken her measures so providently, and given out her orders with such precision, that all things went on in their respective departments with consummate regularity.
Mrs. De Lancaster, still languid, though in spirits less depressed, was incapable of taking any share in the festivities of the day, and confined herself to her apartment. The worthy old colonel had put himself in full uniform for the occasion, and Captain Henry Wilson, brilliant as if accoutred for a review, appeared as if he had been mailed in glittering sheets of silver. A ditto suit of melancholy bottle-green sufficed for Philip’s unambitious taste.
These with the venerable senior of the family had assembled in the great saloon, when the Reverend Edward Wilson, leading our young hero by the hand, presented him to his grandfather with the following address—I have the honour, sir, to introduce my pupil to you, and am most happy in assuring you, that I have already witnessed such encouraging instances both of his application and of his talents, as far exceed the promise of my most sanguine hopes. If my instructions can keep pace with the rapidity of his comprehension, it will not be very long before he will have exhausted all I shall wish to teach him as a reader of the classics. His own naturally strong understanding, and the inborn virtues of his heart, will leave me little else to do, save only to repress a certain ebullition of courageous spirit, which, though it be a quality, that ought to be found in every gentleman’s character, should not be called forth upon every frivolous occasion.
The old man sighed, cast a tender look upon his grandson, kissed him on each cheek, and turning aside to the preceptor, said in a whisper, I will talk to him on this subject.
A dealer in minute descriptions would here find some employment about the dress and person of our hero, as well as of his aunt Cecilia, hitherto unnoticed; but as elegance and perfect neatness were all that she aimed at, and her nephew imitated, simplicity, as I understand it, is not liable to description, and it would be loss of labour to attempt it.
The equipage of Sir Owen ap Owen was now discovered in approach. There had been a sensible falling off in the accustomed intercourse between the houses of De Lancaster and Owen since the accession of the Spanish widow and her son to the family of the baronet. Some little sparring upon points of county politics had occurred to threaten rather than to effect an actual breach between them. This visit therefore was regarded by the worthy host of the castle as a conciliatory advance on the part of his old friend and neighbour, whom of course he welcomed with all possible cordiality.
Sir Owen’s constitution was completely broken down; he walked with difficulty through the hall, leaning on De Lancaster’s arm, who saw with concern the change, that had been wrought in his once sturdy frame. Philip not being disposed to quit his corner, Captain Henry Wilson ushered in Mrs. David Owen, who having made her Spanish salutations to the company, took her seat upon the sopha, and gave the captain to understand that there was room for him to sit beside her. She made an excuse for her son, that he was out with the hounds, and had not returned, but would pay his compliments to Mr. De Lancaster in the course of the afternoon: she turned a look upon her bottle-green lover, which was not very expressive of complacency, and immediately played off her best graces on the captain: she took notice of his uniform, and complimented him by observing it was quite as brilliant as that of the Spanish guards—If we, who wear it, are quite as brave, the captain courteously replied, our finery will be well bestowed. She addressed herself to Cecilia, and observed that Master John, as she called him, was very much grown. He had taken his seat beside his godfather Sir Owen, who, when he had recovered his breath, said to De Lancaster—We are come, my good sir, to pay our compliments to you on this occasion, and have brought Ap-Rees with us to give you a specimen of his art, which you will understand, but I do not. Rachel, as you see, has set herself out in all her finery to do grace to your festival, but you must take a plain man in a plain coat, for I am too ill to thrust my crazy carcase into a fresh doublet, and shall hardly shift my rigging till I change it for a suit of sheep’s wool only.
De Lancaster shook his head, turned an eye of pity on his friend, but made no answer.
Sir Owen had now taken his godson by the hand, and was asking him why he did not go out with the hounds—I wait, John replied, till I can see you in the field, mounted on your favourite horse Glendowr; then I shall turn out with pleasure—Ah! my dear boy, cried Sir Owen, never, never again in this life shall I find myself upon the back of Glendowr. I can only look at him through the window, when he is led out to amuse me. He is the best horse and the best hunter in England: Lamprey was his sire, and Lamprey belonged to Sir William Morgan of Tredegar. I am torn to pieces for Glendowr, but a sack of money would not buy him: nephew David spells hard to borrow him, but I won’t lend him to David of all men living, for he is cruel to his horses, and abuses the fine creature, that carries him; but I will lend him to you, John, freely and willingly, for you are merciful, and will use him well; nay, I could find it in my heart to give him to you out and out.
Upon no account, John exclaimed, would I take him, whilst it can afford you, my dear sir, a moment’s pleasure to look at him.