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Accept it? By all means; and I will come and see you at your court." "Nothing is more different between England and America," said Redclyffe, "than the different way in which the citizen of either country looks at official station.
Redclyffe looked at the old tower and little adjoining edifice with an interest that attached itself to every separate, moss-grown stone; but the Warden, like most Englishmen, was at once amazed and wearied with the American's enthusiasm for this spot, which to him was uninteresting for the very reason that made it most interesting to Redclyffe, because it had stood there such a weary while.
While he was in these musings, he saw Lord Braithwaite looking at him through the glass of the porch, with fixed, curious eyes, and a smile on his face. On perceiving that Redclyffe was aware of his presence, he came forth without appearing in the least disturbed. "What think you of the Bloody Footstep?" asked he.
One more waking interval he had that day, and again essayed to enter into conversation with the old man, who had thus strangely again become connected with his life, after having so long vanished from his path. "Where am I?" asked Edward Redclyffe. "In the home of misfortune," said Colcord. "Ah! then I have a right to be here!" said he. "I was born in such a home. Do you remember it?"
"Have the family," asked Redclyffe of his host, "ever yet made out their claim to this title, which has so long been playing the will-of- the-wisp with them?" "No, not yet," said the Warden, puffing out a volume of smoke from his meerschaum, and making it curl up to the ceiling. "Their claim has as little substance, in my belief, as yonder vanishing vapor from my pipe.
"You eat little, my friend," said the Warden, pouring out a glass of sherry for Redclyffe, and another for himself. "But you are right, in such a predicament as yours. Spare your stomach while you are weakly, and it will help you when you are strong This, now, is the most enjoyable meal of the day with me.
But I fairly tell you, my good friend, that his Lordship being a man of unknown principles of honor, outlandish, and an Italian in habit and moral sense I scarcely like to trust you in his house, he being aware that your existence may be inimical to him. My humble board is the safer of the two." "Pshaw!" said Redclyffe.
"Yes," repeated the old man, looking keenly in his face, "you will not leave us yet." Redclyffe returned through the quadrangle to the Warden's house; and there were the brethren, sitting on benches, loitering in the sun, which, though warm for England, seemed scarcely enough to keep these old people warm, even with their cloth robes.
On the rafters of this old hall there were cobwebs in such abundance that Redclyffe could not but reflect on the joy which old Doctor Grimshawe would have had in seeing them, and the health to the human race which he would have hoped to collect and distil from them. From this great, antique room they crossed the quadrangle and entered the kitchen of the establishment.
Several times I have fancied a strange intelligence in this monster; but I have natural horror of him, and therefore refrain from interviews." "You do wisely, sir," said Redclyffe. "His powers and purposes are questionably beneficent, at best."
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