WOODTHORPE.

A REMINISCENCE OF A PHYSICIAN.

BY KELLY KENNYON.

PART II.

A FEW days subsequent to the events previously narrated, Simon the groom was to be seen harnessing the grey-faced old coach-horse, which had long been familiarly known by the military name of Corporal, to the jingling phaeton, which for many a long day had formed the equipage of Spenser House. Ere long that antiquated vehicle was slowly rolling along the narrow and shady lanes which conducted to the cross-roads inn, where they joined the more spacious and better-constructed turnpike-road. That house of entertainment was an unpretending place, and had for ages been known by the sign of the Spenser Arms. It was one of the post-and-pan buildings, as they are termed, formed of huge piles of timber driven into the ground, and the interspaces filled up with lath and plaster. The woodwork was painted brown, the stucco whitewashed, which gave it a look of cleanliness and order, while the thickly-thatched covering and the small latticed windows imparted an air of humble and homely comfort. Situated in a solitary but romantic position, several miles apart from the towns, between which it stood midway, it had gladdened the heart of many a weary wayfarer who had in summer's heat been refreshed beneath its cooling shades; in winter's storm been cheered by its blazing hearth. The landlord, in his younger days, had been butler, and his wife a maid-servant, at Woodthorpe during the life of the present Godfrey's father. When the former had on occasions quaffed a cup of his own-brewed October, he loved to become loquacious, and give historieslong, tedious histories-relative to the elder Godfrey: how that revered personage could, if required, take three bottles of port unaffected, which in those times was a most gentlemanly accomplishment; how he could sit the night through with a chosen few, and look fresh as a daisy on the following morning; and that it was his punctual habit to drink a goblet of rum-punch before breakfast. The host would then descant on other capabilities of the old squire; how many head of game he had once bagged on the 1st of September; what fearful leaps he had taken on his favourite Whitefoot; then he would go on about the former hospitalities of the hall; tell to wondering ears of having himself actually waited on lords and peers. His wife would then chime in with many anecdotes touching the family, and, if patiently listened to, would become as prosy as her husband on a topic of which many had become tired of hearing. Whatever was strange, its analogue was or had been at Woodthorpe; whatever was of human greatness recorded, some one of the departed Spensers had formed a counterpart. All this, however, showed in simple minds the proofs of attachment and respect which reflected credit on those by whom such feelings were elicited. They have not been bad masters and mistresses whom domestics love to praise when adulation can be of no advantage.

The Tally-ho! coach changed horses at the Spenser Arms, by which

and where Master Alfred was, by previous appointment, to meet their own conveyance. Simon and the Corporal had set off rather too early, for fear of not being in time to receive their charge; they were half an hour too soon. The Corporal stood very quietly on the green, but not so Simon, who sauntered about, cracked his whip, and entered into various topics of conversation with the landlord. The faithful domestic had walked just as far as the turn where he could have a view of a long and straight piece in the road, returned, went back, and returned the third time. "Drat the stage, 'tis a long time, this morning," addressing himself to the fat, red-faced, jolly man, who, as he loitered about with a leisurely and complacent air, felt fully conscious that he was really the sole and indisputable occupant and master of that renowned house-ofcall, and the fifty broad acres that lay at its back-door.

""Tis not quite the half-hour yet, Simon-it wants eight minutes of her time," replied the rubicund son of Bacchus, as with something of importance he laid hold of the large gold seal and bright steel chain that dangled from the zone of his tight drab smalls, and drew from his fob a huge silver watch. "She'll not be long, though," continued he, lowering the said watch into its quarters, and giving a tug or two at the chain, as if to assure himself it had made the right descent.

Simon again cracked his whip, then with great precision hit divers times a tuft of grass with the extreme end of the thong, thrust the other hand into his pocket, and accosting the Corporal, made some slight observation, at which his quadrupal companion gave a toss of the head, which Simon always considered as the tacit acknowledgment of the Corporal's comprehension. I have said he went three times to the turn in the road. He went once more, and at that instant his gladdened ears heard the clanging sound of the winding horn-then heard the wheels— then saw the Tally-ho! "They're a-comin' at last, old fellow," said he to the Corporal. The Corporal again, with wonderful intelligence, tossed his head-moved a pace or two on-stopped again, when the old groom just hinted if he would stand still, they would soon be off home.

The vehicle in a few minutes approximated the old-fashioned portico of the wayside inn; but before the wheels had ceased to revolve, Simon, with glistening eye and happy countenance, said in tone audible to all present, "Oh, Master Alfred, 'you're there, I see. Ben awaitin' on ye a long time this mornin'-thought the old stager would never come." After this public announcement that Master Alfred had really arrived, one gentleman, as if suddenly awoke from a comfortable doze, protruded his travelling-cap and a pair of huge grey whiskers, with red face and flat nose to correspond, said to himself or companions within, when he observed the fresh horses, "Change here, I suppose!" then calling out for a glass of mild ale, backed himself into the warm corner which comfortably contrasted with the fresh air of the morning.

"How are you, old fellow?" said young Spenser, as he, like a roebuck, jumped at one leap from the box-seat, and cordially seized the hard hand of Simon, who was childishly delighted at his young master's return.

"I hope you are well, Mr. Alfred?" respectfully said the landlord, and touching his hat to the young squire.

"Very glad to see you coming home again, Mister Alfred," simultaneously said the hostess, as she was about to pass with the glass of mild

ale for the travelling-cap and whiskers, who by this time had thrown down the coach window, and found his tongue as dry as a tinder-box.

"Lor bless me, how he has grown, I scarcely knew him—and he is so tall," observed Simon, who was now gossiping with the landlady.

"Now, ma'am, that ale, if you please," shouted the thirsty gentleman out of the coach window, and who feared the horses would be harnessed and off before he secured his morning draught.

The landlady then really recollected she was the bearer of some of the best home-brewed, and when she had extended the sparkling liquor, she was about to enter into some excuse for her absence, by stating that Master Spenser, of Woodthorpe, was returning home, and she was wishing him

At this moment the grey-whiskered traveller abruptly said: "That'll do-there's the glass-here's twopence-shut the door." At which the hostess was a little damped in her ardour about the young squire, for she thought that every one had known the Spensers, of Spenser House, Woodthorpe, and was amazed at this rude indifference on the part of the traveller.

"Here, my man, seize hold of this trunk and portmanteau, and don't stand chatting there," said the guard to Simon, "or," continued he-“ or will perhaps have to fetch them from the next town."

you

The luggage was lowered, the coachman flourished his whip, a shrill blast was blown from the horn, the horses bounded over the ground, and in a few minutes the Tally-ho! was lost in the distance.

Alfred desired Simon to follow him into the inn, and try his hand at a glass of hot rum-and-water, just by way of keeping out the Christmas cold. The interior of the Spenser Arms was in keeping with the exterior. All was clean, neat, and comfortable. The chief apartment was the house, which was immediately entered from the front door. Not boasting of fine furniture and carpet-floor, it more partook of a kitchen of the better order. It's ample fireplace, and the cosy, dark-leathered seat which was placed on one side, formed a snug berth in cold December days; the bright range, with its well scoured bars-the highly-polished fender, made silver-like by many a protracted rubbing-the white hearthstone and "nicely-sanded floor"-the interesting pictures of John Gilpin's journey, and the death of Turpin's dying Bess!-the little bar, with its glass windows, fenced off in one corner, where stood the spirit kegs, and were hung and arranged lots of bright pewter pots, and rows of glasses, all clean-beautifully clean, and where the matron of the cross-roads inn was wont to preside as the deity of that little sanctum!-I repeat, everything conferred an air of English way-side comfort that was truly English, and nowhere to be found but in England. There, too, were a neat little parlour and equally neat little bedroom all on the same floor, both promising the same description of characteristics.

Simon followed his young master in, laid hold of the goblet, and, doffing his hat from his sunburnt brow, wished the young squire's health in superlatives, and declared he was quite and altogether like the old breed, with other encomiums; then gave a hearty pull at the hot contents of the goblet, which were so strong-the landlady had put in an extra quantity, partly in her zeal for the family, partly because she did so in compliment to the young squire, and partly because Simon was a fellow

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servant when she lived at the hall-which were so strong, I repeat, that Simon actually could not speak for several moments; but this Simon attributed to the water being, as he said, "biling hot."

The landlady, in her wanton good humour, would ask a question of her former fellow-servant just at the moment he could not speak, and she was evidently satisfied at this additional proof of the poignancy of the bacchanalian liquids which she had the honour of pouring out at the cross-roads inn.

Simon then handed the rum-and-water to the landlord, who also extolled Mr. Alfred's virtues, and gave a declaration that he grew more and more like the old squire every time he saw him!

The newly-emancipated schoolboy refreshed himself with a glass of negus, munched a biscuit, lit a cigar, and impatiently asked the domestic if he were ready. Simon gave another pull, and with added gusto, to the mixture, and moved off to the carriage, where Alfred was patting the head of the Corporal, a personage which he recollected ever since he could discriminate between a horse and a cow. In a brief space of time they were happily on their way to Woodthorpe.

"Well, how are they all at home?" inquired the youth, when he was more at leisure to enter into minute inquiries, and after which interrogative he emitted from his mouth an enormous volume of smoke, which was done with an air of manliness, showing him to be no novice at burning the noxious weed.

"All hearty and well, Master Alfred-all hearty and well," reiterated he.

"And how is Jumper ?"

"Fresh as a racer," said Simon.

"That's right; I'll give him a breathing to-morrow. They meet at the Box-tree Hill, do they not?"

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Yes, at ten o'clock, and he'll carry you in fine style, that he will." "What kind of a stock of dogs have you now, Simon? The young springers, which were mere puppies when I left, are fit for work, I suppose, by this?"

"Master ordered me to hang Juno, and Flash, and Timon, but there are plenty of that kind of animals in the kennel yet; and for my part, I only wish there were another gallows-day, meat is so difficult, you see, to come at, and the hungry brutes bolt so much-but the hemp necklace must be used again, we've so many on 'em, we have."

"Do Sir Harry's hounds run well this year ?" inquired Alfred.

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Splendaciously! And the whip told me the other day that they had already killed ten brace, and that they ran like pigeons. Last year their hounds tailed too much, but they've draughted out the old 'uns, and some of the young 'uns as hadn't speed, and got a few fresh 'uns in their places. They now, said he, pack beautifully. But, he said, though they packed better, and were swifter, yet the cry was not so good, because some of the older dogs had finer and deeper sounding tones, and because, Master Alfred, the fleeter you breed 'em the less music you have. When they are going like the wind they havn't time to waste their breath in giving voice. I knows sum'at about these 'ere matters, as, many years ago, before I came to Woodthorpe, I was second whip to Sir Harry Dashover's pack for two seasons, and I well remember how the old huntsman used to talk

He now

and tell about hounds. Poor old man, he is living yet. But, you mind, he knew hunting and all about it, because it was his business. merely rides to the cover to see 'em throw off.

the crack o' the whip still."

Though so old, he likes

"Sir Harry is a bold and good rider I have been told."

"He was, Master Alfred, he was-but I s'pose with him, as with all, when years come on caution follows."

Such was their conversation as the vehicle, rumbling, rolled along; and in no great length of time the Corporal was conveying his charge down the stately avenue that conducted to the mansion. Scarcely had the carriage been drawn up, when Godfrey, with nimble step, descended from the main entrance, seized his son's hand, and cordially welcomed his return. During this salutation, the parent's love glistened in the father's eyes. Before him stood the hope of his declining years, the boy verging into manhood, the only representative of his ancient line. This was the last time he would return from school: he had arrived at one of the turning-points of life. The mother met him in all the impatience of affection at the door, and embraced her boy in all the fondness of a mother's love. The girls-the seven sisters-simultaneously clustered around their only brother, and severally welcomed him with all that warmth and purity of soul which those who have sisters only know. Godfrey was in high spirits: it was a happy day, and all hoped for a merry Christmas. Simon received orders to have both Jumper and the Corporal ready for the morrow's meet at Box-tree Hill, which was, indeed, a piece of strange intelligence to the groom, as his master had not seen the hounds for two or three seasons. The captain merely intended to ride to the meet in company with his son, to whom he wished to be kind and indulgent. On this, the first day of Alfred's return, he with youthful eagerness visited the stable, then the kennel, where he found several old faces to which his voice was not forgotten; he freed them from their confinement, and they whisked round and round in giddy circles, as if they had lost every whit of their canine rationality. He strolled through the park, traced his long graven name on many a tree, loitered by the fishpond, and sought each familiar spot that recalled some happy association of earlier days.

In the evening, the sky looked clear, the air felt sharp and frosty, and the smoke ascended in perpendicular columns. Whilst looking at the evening sky, and forming conjectures on the morrow's weather, a flock of wild ducks whizzed over his head, and flew in the direction of the brook which ran through the valley of Woodthorpe. He resolved, before many nights had passed away, to lessen their numbers, and with a sportsman's eye he noticed the point where they were most likely to alight, and where he might on a future occasion gain a shot. That evening was indeed a pleasant one with those who formed the glad group round Captain Spenser's hearth. The sombre dining-room looked more cheerful than it was wont; every face told of gladness; whilst the catch, the jest, the laugh, the repartee, added to the social harmony, and, as Dr. Primrose observed on one occasion, if there was not more wit than common, there was more laughter. The wrinkles on Godfrey's brow were more obliterated than usual, and his features relaxed into many an unrestrained smile. Yes, that evening, he seemed to forget his cares, drove from his remem