"I have heard of good Sir Hugh Robsart," interrupted the host, "many a

time and oft; his huntsman and sworn servant, Will Badger, hath spoken

of him an hundred times in this very house. A jovial knight he is,

and hath loved hospitality and open housekeeping more than the present

fashion, which lays as much gold lace on the seams of a doublet as would

feed a dozen of tall fellows with beef and ale for a twelvemonth, and

let them have their evening at the alehouse once a week, to do good to

the publican."

"If you have seen Will Badger, mine host," said Tressilian, "you have

heard enough of Sir Hugh Robsart; and therefore I will but say, that the

hospitality you boast of hath proved somewhat detrimental to the estate

of his family, which is perhaps of the less consequence, as he has but

one daughter to whom to bequeath it. And here begins my share in the

tale. Upon my father's death, now several years since, the good Sir Hugh

would willingly have made me his constant companion. There was a

time, however, at which I felt the kind knight's excessive love for

field-sports detained me from studies, by which I might have profited

more; but I ceased to regret the leisure which gratitude and hereditary

friendship compelled me to bestow on these rural avocations. The

exquisite beauty of Mistress Amy Robsart, as she grew up from childhood

to woman, could not escape one whom circumstances obliged to be so

constantly in her company--I loved her, in short, mine host, and her

father saw it."

"And crossed your true loves, no doubt?" said mine host. "It is the way

in all such cases; and I judge it must have been so in your instance,

from the heavy sigh you uttered even now."

"The case was different, mine host. My suit was highly approved by

the generous Sir Hugh Robsart; it was his daughter who was cold to my

passion."

"She was the more dangerous enemy of the two," said the innkeeper. "I

fear me your suit proved a cold one."

"She yielded me her esteem," said Tressilian, "and seemed not unwilling

that I should hope it might ripen into a warmer passion. There was

a contract of future marriage executed betwixt us, upon her father's

intercession; but to comply with her anxious request, the execution was

deferred for a twelvemonth. During this period, Richard Varney appeared

in the country, and, availing himself of some distant family connection

with Sir Hugh Robsart, spent much of his time in his company, until, at

length, he almost lived in the family."




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