“Whose house do you want, master?” said the man, touching his hat.
“Mr. Wood’s,” was the reply.
“There is Dollis Hill,” said the man, pointing to a well-wooded eminence about a mile distant, “and there,” he added, indicating the roof of a house just visible above a grove of trees “is Mr. Wood’s. If you ride past the church, and mount the hill, you’ll come to Neasdon and then you’ll not have above half a mile to go.”
The young man thanked his informant, and was about to follow his instructions, when the other called after him ——
“I say, master, did you ever hear tell of Mr. Wood’s famous ‘prentice?”
“What apprentice?” asked the stranger, in surprise.
“Why, Jack Sheppard, the notorious house-breaker — him as has robbed half Lunnun, to be sure. You must know, Sir, when he was a lad, the day after he broke into his master’s house in Wych Street, he picked a gentleman’s pocket in our church, during sarvice time — that he did, the heathen. The gentleman catched him i’ th’ fact, and we shut him up for safety i’ that pris’n. But,” said the fellow, with a laugh, “he soon contrived to make his way out on it, though. Ever since he’s become so famous, the folks about here ha’ christened it Jack Sheppard’s cage. His mother used to live i’ this village, just down yonder; but when her son took to bad ways, she went distracted — and now she’s i’ Bedlam, I’ve heerd.”
“I tell e’e what, John Dump,” said the other fellow, who had hitherto preserved silence, “I don’t know whether you talkin’ o’ Jack Sheppard has put him into my head or not; but I once had him pointed out to me, and if that were him as I seed then, he’s just now ridden past us, and put up at the Six Bells.”
“The deuce he has!” cried Dump. “If you were sure o’ that we might seize him, and get the reward for his apprehension.”
“That ‘ud be no such easy matter,” replied the countryman. “Jack’s a desperate fellow, and is always well armed; besides, he has a comrade with him. But I’ll tell e’e what we might do ——”
The young man heard no more. Taking the direction pointed out, he rode off. As he passed the Six Bells, he noticed the steeds of the two horsemen at the door; and glancing into the house, perceived the younger of the two in the passage. The latter no sooner beheld him than he dashed hastily into an adjoining room. After debating with himself whether he should further seek an interview, which, though, now in his power, was so sedulously shunned by the other party, he decided in the negative; and contenting himself with writing upon a slip of paper the hasty words — “You are known by the villagers — be upon your guard,”— he gave it to the ostler, with instructions to deliver it instantly to the owner of the horse he pointed out, and pursued his course.
Passing the old rectory, and still older church, with its reverend screen of trees, and slowly ascending a hill side, from whence he obtained enchanting peeps of the spire and college of Harrow, he reached the cluster of well-built houses which constitute the village of Neasdon. From this spot a road, more resembling the drive through a park than a public thoroughfare, led him gradually to the brow of Dollis Hill. It was a serene and charming evening, and twilight was gently stealing over the face of the country. Bordered by fine timber, the road occasionally offered glimpses of a lovely valley, until a wider opening gave a full view of a delightful and varied prospect. On the left lay the heights of Hampstead, studded with villas, while farther off a hazy cloud marked the position of the metropolis. The stranger concluded he could not be far from his destination, and a turn in the road showed him the house.
Beneath two tall elms, whose boughs completely overshadowed the roof, stood Mr. Wood’s dwelling — a plain, substantial, commodious farm-house. On a bench at the foot of the trees, with a pipe in his mouth, and a tankard by his side, sat the worthy carpenter, looking the picture of good-heartedness and benevolence. The progress of time was marked in Mr. Wood by increased corpulence and decreased powers of vision — by deeper wrinkles and higher shoulders, by scantier breath and a fuller habit. Still he looked hale and hearty, and the country life he led had imparted a ruddier glow to his cheek. Around him were all the evidences of plenty. A world of haystacks, bean-stacks, and straw-ricks flanked the granges adjoining his habitation; the yard was crowded with poultry, pigeons were feeding at his feet, cattle were being driven towards the stall, horses led to the stable, a large mastiff was rattling his chain, and stalking majestically in front of his kennel, while a number of farming-men were passing and repassing about their various occupations. At the back of the house, on a bank, rose an old-fashioned terrace-garden, full of apple-trees and other fruit-trees in blossom, and lively with the delicious verdure of early spring.
Hearing the approach of the rider, Mr. Wood turned to look at him. It was now getting dusk, and he could only imperfectly distinguish the features and figure of the stranger.
“I need not ask whether this is Mr. Wood’s,” said the latter, “since I find him at his own gate.”
“You are right, Sir,” said the worthy carpenter, rising. “I am Owen Wood, at your service.”
“You do not remember me, I dare say,” observed the stranger.
“I can’t say I do,” replied Wood. “Your voice seems familiar to me — and — but I’m getting a little deaf — and my eyes don’t serve me quite so well as they used to do, especially by this light.”
“Never mind,” returned the stranger, dismounting; “you’ll recollect me by and by, I’ve no doubt. I bring you tidings of an old friend.”
“Then you’re heartily welcome, Sir, whoever you are. Pray, walk in. Here, Jem, take the gentleman’s horse to the stable — see him dressed and fed directly. Now, Sir, will you please to follow me?”
Mr. Wood then led the way up a rather high and, according to modern notions, incommodious flight of steps, and introduced his guest to a neat parlour, the windows of which were darkened by pots of flowers and creepers. There was no light in the room; but, notwithstanding this, the young man did not fail to detect the buxom figure of Mrs. Wood, now more buxom and more gorgeously arrayed than ever — as well as a young and beautiful female, in whom he was at no loss to recognise the carpenter’s daughter.
Winifred Wood was now in her twentieth year. Her features were still slightly marked by the disorder alluded to in the description of her as a child — but that was the only drawback to her beauty. Their expression was so amiable, that it would have redeemed a countenance a thousand times plainer than hers. Her figure was perfect — tall, graceful, rounded — and, then, she had deep liquid blue eyes, that rivalled the stars in lustre. On the stranger’s appearance, she was seated near the window busily occupied with her needle.
“My wife and daughter, Sir,” said the carpenter, introducing them to his guest.
Mrs. Wood, whose admiration for masculine beauty was by no means abated, glanced at the well-proportioned figure of the young man, and made him a very civil salutation. Winifred’s reception was kind, but more distant, and after the slight ceremonial she resumed her occupation.
“This gentleman brings us tidings of an old friend, my dear,” said the carpenter.
“Ay,