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honour's taking you away； but； after all； the truth is the truth …
there are few gentlemen in these parts like his honour； either for
learning or welcoming his friends。 Young gentleman； I congratulate
you。'
CHAPTER LXIV
New acquaintance … Old French style … The portrait … Taciturnity …
The evergreen tree … The dark hour … The flash … Ancestors … A
fortunate man … A posthumous child … Antagonist ideas … The hawks …
Flaws … The pony … Irresistible impulse … Favourable crisis … The
topmost branch … Twenty feet … Heartily ashamed。
I FOUND the stranger awaiting me at the door of the inn。 'Like
yourself； I am fond of walking；' said he； 'and when any little
business calls me to this place I generally come on foot。'
We were soon out of the town； and in a very beautiful country。
After proceeding some distance on the high…road； we turned off； and
were presently in one of those mazes of lanes for which England is
famous； the stranger at first seemed inclined to be taciturn； a few
observations； however； which I made appeared to rouse him； and he
soon exhibited not only considerable powers of conversation； but
stores of information which surprised me。 So pleased did I become
with my new acquaintance that I soon ceased to pay the slightest
attention either to place or distance。 At length the stranger was
silent； and I perceived that we had arrived at a handsome iron gate
and a lodge； the stranger having rung a bell； the gate was opened
by an old man； and we proceeded along a gravel path； which in about
five minutes brought us to a large brick house； built something in
the old French style； having a spacious lawn before it； and
immediately in front a pond in which were golden fish； and in the
middle a stone swan discharging quantities of water from its bill。
We ascended a spacious flight of steps to the door； which was at
once flung open； and two servants with powdered hair and in livery
of blue plush came out and stood one on either side as we passed
the threshold。 We entered a large hall； and the stranger； taking
me by the hand； welcomed me to his poor home； as he called it； and
then gave orders to another servant； but out of livery； to show me
to an apartment； and give me whatever assistance I might require in
my toilet。 Notwithstanding the plea as to primitive habits which I
had lately made to my other host in the town； I offered no
objection to this arrangement； but followed the bowing domestic to
a spacious and airy chamber； where he rendered me all those little
nameless offices which the somewhat neglected state of my dress
required。 When everything had been completed to my perfect
satisfaction； he told me that if I pleased he would conduct me to
the library； where dinner would be speedily served。
In the library I found a table laid for two； my host was not there；
having as I supposed not been quite so speedy with his toilet as
his guest。 Left alone； I looked round the apartment with inquiring
eyes； it was long and tolerably lofty； the walls from the top to
the bottom were lined with cases containing books of all sizes and
bindings； there was a globe or two； a couch； and an easy…chair。
Statues and busts there were none； and only one painting； a
portrait； that of my host； but not him of the mansion。 Over the
mantelpiece； the features staringly like； but so ridiculously
exaggerated that they scarcely resembled those of a human being；
daubed evidently by the hand of the commonest sign…artist； hung a
half…length portrait of him of round of beef celebrity … my sturdy
host of the town。
I had been in the library about ten minutes； amusing myself as I
best could； when my friend entered； he seemed to have resumed his
taciturnity … scarce a word escaped his lips till dinner was
served； when he said； smiling； 'I suppose it would be merely a
compliment to ask you to partake？'
'I don't know；' said I； seating myself； 'your first course consists
of troutlets； I am fond of troutlets； and I always like to be
companionable。'
The dinner was excellent； though I did but little justice to it
from the circumstance of having already dined； the stranger also；
though without my excuse； partook but slightly of the good cheer；
he still continued taciturn； and appeared lost in thought； and
every attempt which I made to induce him to converse was signally
unsuccessful。
And now dinner was removed； and we sat over our wine； and I
remember that the wine was good； and fully justified the encomiums
of my host of the town。 Over the wine I made sure that my
entertainer would have loosened the chain which seemed to tie his
tongue … but no！ I endeavoured to tempt him by various topics； and
talked of geometry and the use of the globes； of the heavenly
sphere； and the star Jupiter； which I said I had heard was a very
large star； also of the evergreen tree； which； according to Olaus；
stood of old before the heathen temple of Upsal； and which I
affirmed was a yew … but no； nothing that I said could induce my
entertainer to relax his taciturnity。
It grew dark； and I became uncomfortable。 'I must presently be
going；' I at last exclaimed。
At these words he gave a sudden start； 'Going；' said he； 'are you
not my guest； and an honoured one？'
'You know best；' said I； 'but I was apprehensive I was an intruder；
to several of my questions you have returned no answer。'
'Ten thousand pardons！' he exclaimed； seizing me by the hand； 'but
you cannot go now； I have much to talk to you about … there is one
thing in particular … '
'If it be the evergreen tree at Upsal；' said I； interrupting him；
'I hold it to have been a yew … what else？ The evergreens of the
south； as the old bishop observes； will not grow in the north； and
a pine was unfitted for such a locality； being a vulgar tree。 What
else could it have been but the yew … the sacred yew which our
ancestors were in the habit of planting in their churchyards？
Moreover； I affirm it to have been the yew for the honour of the
tree； for I love the yew； and had I home and land； I would have one
growing before my front windows。'
'You would do right； the yew is indeed a venerable tree； but it is
not about the yew。'
'The star Jupiter； perhaps？'
'Nor the star Jupiter； nor its moons； an observation which escaped
you at the inn has made a considerable impression upon me。'
'But I really must take my departure；' said I； 'the dark hour is at
hand。'
And as I uttered these latter words the stranger touched rapidly
something which lay near him … I forget what it was。 It was the
first action of the kind which I had observed on his part since we
sat down to table。
'You allude to the evil chance；' said I； 'but it is getting both
dark and late。'
'I believe we are going to have a storm；' said my friend； 'but I
really hope that you will give me your company for a day or two； I
have； as I said before； much to talk to you about。'
'Well；' said I； 'I shall be most happy to be your guest for this
night； I am ignorant of the country； and it is not pleasant to
travel unknown paths by night … dear me； what a flash of
lightning。'
It had become very dark； suddenly a blaze of sheet lightning
illumed the room。 By the momentary light I distinctly saw my host
touch another object upon the table。
'Will you allow me to ask you a question or two？' said he at last。
'As many as you please；' said I； 'but shall we not have lights？'
'Not unless you particularly wish it；' said my entertainer； 'I
rather like the dark； and though a storm is evidently at hand；
neither thunder nor lightning has any terrors for me。 It is other
things I quake at … I should rather say ideas。 Now permit me to
ask you … '
And then my entertainer asked me various questions； to all of which
I answered unreservedly； he was then silent for some time； at last
he exclaimed； 'I should wish to tell you the history of my life …
though not an adventurous one； I think it contains some things
which will interest you。'
Without waiting for my reply he began。 Amidst darkness and gloom；
occasionally broken by flashes of lightning； the stranger related
to me； as we sat at table in the library； his truly touching
history。
'Before proceeding to relate the events of my life； it will not be
amiss to give you some account of my ancestors。 My great…
grandfather on the male side was a silk mercer； in Cheapside； who；
when he died； left his son； who was his only child； a fortune of
one hundred thousand pounds and a splendid business； the son；
however； had no inclination for trade； the summit of his ambition
was to be a country gentleman； to found a family； and to pass the
remainder of his days in rural ease and dignity； and all this he
managed