she had made up her mind, very reluctantly, to become debtor to Major
Bridgenorth for the sum necessary to carry her husband's commands into
effect, and whilst she was bitterly regretting this departure from the
strictness of her usual economy, the steward, who, by-the-bye, had not
been absolutely sober since the news of the King's landing at Dover,
burst into the apartment, snapping his fingers, and showing more marks
of delight than was quite consistent with the dignity of my lady's
large parlour.

"What means this, Whitaker?" said the lady, somewhat peevishly; for
she was interrupted in the commencement of a letter to her neighbour
on the unpleasant business of the proposed loan,--"Is it to be always
thus with you?--Are you dreaming?"

"A vision of good omen, I trust," said the steward, with a triumphant
flourish of the hand; "far better than Pharaoh's, though, like his, it
be of fat kine."

"I prithee be plain, man," said the lady, "or fetch some one who can
speak to purpose."

"Why, odds-my-life, madam," said the steward, "mine errand can speak
for itself. Do you not hear them low? Do you not hear them bleat? A
yoke of fat oxen, and half a score prime wethers. The Castle is
victualled for this bout, let them storm when they will; and Gatherill
may have his d--d mains ploughed to the boot."

The lady, without farther questioning her elated domestic, rose and
went to the window, where she certainly beheld the oxen and sheep
which had given rise to Whitaker's exultation. "Whence come they?"