noises of the evening, the talk of the rooks, and the calling of the
birds round about--a couple of young men on horseback dashed over the
bridge. One of them, with an oath, called him a fool, and told him to
keep out of the way--the other, who fancied he might have jostled the
foot-passenger, and possibly might have sent him over the parapet, pushed
on more quickly when he reached the other side of the water, calling
likewise to Tom to come on; and the pair of young gentlemen were up the
hill on their way to the house before Harry had recovered himself from
his surprise at their appearance, and wrath at their behaviour. In a
minute or two, this advanced guard was followed by two livery servants on
horseback, who scowled at the young traveller on the bridge a true
British welcome of Curse you, who are you? After these, in a minute or
two, came a coach-and-six, a ponderous vehicle having need of the horses
which drew it, and containing three ladies, a couple of maids, and an
armed man on a seat behind the carriage. Three handsome pale faces looked
out at Harry Warrington as the carriage passed over the bridge, and did
not return the salute which, recognising the family arms, he gave it. The
gentleman behind the carriage glared at him haughtily. Harry felt
terribly alone. He thought he would go back to Captain Franks. The Rachel
and her little tossing cabin seemed a cheery spot in comparison to that
on which he stood. The inn-folks did not know his name of Warrington.
They told him that was my lady in the coach, with her stepdaughter, my
Lady Maria, and her daughter, my Lady Fanny; and the young gentleman in
the grey frock was Mr. William, and he with powder on the chestnut was my
lord. It was the latter had sworn the loudest, and called him a fool; and
it was the grey frock which had nearly galloped Harry into the ditch.

The landlord of the Three Castles had shown Harry a bedchamber, but he
had refused to have his portmanteaux unpacked, thinking that, for a
certainty, the folks of the great house would invite him to theirs. One,