Delaware grasped his hand without reply, and the other alighted. All his dogs sprang up to greet him with evident joy, much to the detriment of his clothes, but little to that of his good humor, and after gazing up and down the road for a moment, as one does in a strange place, he walked through the little gate, and entered the house, at the door of which stood a tidy old lady, evidently courtesying to a new lodger.
The coach drove on, and then again stopped at the lodge of the park, where Captain Delaware alighted also. His portmanteau was given to the woman at the lodge; and he himself, with a quick step, walked up the path which led to the mansion.
CHAPTER II.
Whether there be something inherent in the nature of things which renders any object that man very much desires, thenceforth very difficult to be obtained, or whether it be that, by a certain perversity in man's nature, he only desires those things that _are_ difficult to be obtained, I can not tell; but one point is very clear in every body's experience, that whenever we fix our heart upon one particular object, and strive for it very ardently, however easy it might seem before, we find a thousand difficulties and obstacles start up upon our path, and overrule our wishes. Nevertheless, as there is nothing upon earth half so tiresome--ay, and half so useless, too--as a disquisition upon causes and effects, we will proceed with the events which gave rise to the above sage observation, which, by rights, should have followed this chapter as a corollary upon it, instead of a sort of epigraph at its head.
The person who has figured before the reader during a long day's journey in a stage-coach under the name of Burrel, entered the small, neat house we have before described; and, after having considered attentively with his eyes all the proportions and dimensions of the little parlor which was to be his sitting-room, he seated himself before the antique, and somewhat obscure mahogany table that it contained, and addressed his servant--who had followed into the room, together with the decent, respectable landlady--pronouncing those two important, but somewhat laconic words, "Get dinner!"
The man bowed, and left the room without reply; and Barrel proceeded, speaking to the landlady, who was beginning to fear, from certain symptoms that she saw, that both master and man were equally taciturn--"Well, my good lady," he said, "my man has doubtless arranged every thing with you, and I hope you are satisfied with the bargain he has made?"
"Oh, dear, yes, sir!" replied Widow Wilson, as the good dame was denominated. "There was but one word to that bargain, I can assure you."
"I suppose so," said Barrel, dryly, "if Harding concluded it. But tell me--that is a beautiful park opposite the window; who does it belong to?"
"Bless you, sir, that is Emberton Park!" replied the landlady, looking unutterable things at Barrel's ignorance. "You must have heard tell of Sir Sidney Delaware, Bart., of Emberton Park, surely?
"I think I have heard the name," replied Barrel. "What family has he!"