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"Yes," replied Lady R "And where does he reside?" "In Essex, at Culverwood Hall, the seat of all my misfortunes." I started a little at the mention of the place, as it was the one which the reader may remember was spoken of by Lionel. I then turned the conversation to other matters, and by dinner-time Lady R had recovered herself, and was as amiable as ever.
"'The roads are frozen I mean snowed up, he said. 'There's just one bottle of port left, and what Captain Calker will say I dare say I know, but I'd rather not. Damn this weather! God forgive me! that's not right but it is trying ain't it, my boy? "'What will you give me for a dozen of port, uncle? was all my answer. "'Give you? I'll give you Culverwood, you rogue. "'Done, I cried.
Thereupon he bade farewell to the sea, though I dare say he did not like the parting, and retired with his bride to the house where he was born the same house I told you I was born in, which had been in the family for many generations, and which your cousin now lives in. "It was late in the autumn when they arrived at Culverwood.
And then I thought that, if the snow went on falling as it did, and if the wind rose any higher, it might turn out that the roads through the hilly part of Yorkshire in which Culverwood lay, might very well be blocked up. "The north wind doth blow, And we shall have Know, And what will my uncle do then, poor thing?
"However, I bargained first for a complete suit, and then sold him my liveries, exchanging my dress in the back parlour. I then returned to the tap, obtained my other clothes, and as soon as the coach started, got outside and arrived in London. I called upon you at this house, and found that you were in the country, and then I resolved that I would go down to Culverwood Hall."
"`When, why? what's that to you, you impudent boy? "`Nay, then, I'll put another question to you. How long is it since you were at Culverwood Hall? "`Culverwood Hall! What do you know about Culverwood Hall? the boy's mad, I believe; go away, you've done your message; if you don't, I'll tell her ladyship. "`Certainly, Mrs Green, said I. `I wish you a good-night.
"It certainly is strange, Lionel," replied I, "but my advice is that you remain patiently till you can find it out, which by leaving Lady R you are not likely to do." "I don't know that, Miss Valerie; let me get down to Culverwood Hall, and I think I would find out something, or my wits were given me to no purpose. But I hear her ladyship coming upstairs: so good-bye, Miss Valerie."
I asked many at the inn where I put up, but no one could tell me, and at such places I was not likely to find any book which I could refer to. I went to the coach offices and asked what coaches started for Essex, and the reply was, `Where did I want to go? and, when I said Culverwood Hall, no one could tell me by which coach I was to go, or which town it was near.
I gathered courage, however, and before three days were over, I began to tell her all my slowly reviving memories of the place, with my childish adventures associated with this and that room or outhouse or spot in the grounds; for the longer I was in the place the more my old associations with it revived, till I was quite astonished to find how much of my history in connection with Culverwood had been thoroughly imprinted on my memory.
Every now and then she held the letter up to the candle, and when the light was strong upon it, I could read a line from where I stood, for I have been used to her ladyship's writing, as you know. One line I read was, `remains still at Culverwood Hall; another was, `the only person now left in Essex. I also saw the words `secrecy' and `ignorant' at the bottom of the page.
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