ow of his own lantern。 Mr。 Archer greeted him with civility； but the old man was in no humour of compliance。 He guided the new…comer across the court…yard； looking sharply and quickly in his face； and grumbling all the time about the cold； and the discomfort and dilapidation of the castle。 He was sure he hoped that Mr。 Archer would like it； but in truth he could not think what brought him there。 Doubtless he had a good reason … this with a look of cunning scrutiny … but； indeed； the place was quite unfit for any person of repute； he himself was eaten up with the rheumatics。 It was the most rheumaticky place in England； and some fine day the whole habitable part （to call it habitable） would fetch away bodily and go down the slope into the river。 He had seen the cracks widening； there was a plaguy issue in the bank below； he thought a spring was mining it； it might be tomorrow； it might be next day； but they were all sure of a come…down sooner or later。 'And that is a poor death；' said he； 'for any one； let alone a gentleman； to have a whole old ruin dumped upon his belly。 Have a care to your left there； these cellar vaults have all broke down； and the grass and hemlock hide 'em。 Well； sir； here is welcome to you； such as it is； and wishing you well away。'
And with that Jonathan ushered his guest through the tower door； and down three steps on the left hand into the kitchen or common room of the castle。 It was a huge； low room； as large as a meadow； occupying the whole width of the habitable wing； with six barred windows looking on the court； and two into the river valley。 A dresser； a table； and a few chairs stood dotted here and there upon the uneven flags。 Under the great chimney a good fire burned in an iron fire…basket； a high old settee； rudely carved with figures and Gothic lettering； flanked it on either side； there was a hinge table and a stone bench in the chimney corner； and above the arch hung guns； axes； lanterns； and great sheaves of rusty keys。
Jonathan looked about him； holding up the lantern； and shrugged his shoulders； with a pitying grimace。 'Here it is；' he said。 'See the damp on the floor； look at the moss； where there's moss you may be sure that it's rheumaticky。 Try and get near that fire for to warm yourself； it'll blow the coat off your back。 And with a young gentleman with a face like yours； as pale as a tallow…candle； I'd be afeard of a churchyard cough and a galloping decline；' says Jonathan； naming the maladies with gloomy gusto； 'or the cold might strike and turn your blood；' he added。
Mr。 Archer fairly laughed。 'My good Mr。 Holdaway；' said he； 'I was born with that same tallow…candle face； and the only fear that you inspire me with is the fear that I intrude unwelcomely upon your private hours。 But I think I can promise you that I am very little troublesome； and I am inclined to hope that the terms which I can offer may still pay you the derangement。'
'Yes； the terms；' said Jonathan； 'I was thinking of that。 As you say； they are very small；' and he shook his head。
'Unhappily； I can afford no more；' said Mr。 Archer。 'But this we have arranged already；' he added with a certain stiffness； 'and as I am aware that Miss Holdaway has matter to communicate； I will； if you permit； retire at once。 To… night I must bivouac； to…morrow my trunk is to follow from the 〃Dragon。〃 So if you will show me to my room I shall wish you a good slumber and a better awakening。'
Jonathan silently gave the lantern to Nance； and she； turning and curtseying in the doorway； proceeded to conduct their guest up the broad winding staircase of the tower。 He followed with a very brooding face。
'Alas！' cried Nance； as she entered the room； 'your fire black out；' and； setting down the lantern； she clapped upon her knees before the chimney and began to rearrange the charred and still smouldering remains。 Mr。 Archer looked about the gaunt apartment with a sort of shudder。 The great height； the bare stone； the shattered windows； the aspect of the uncurtained bed； with one of its four fluted columns broken short； all struck a chill upon his fancy。 From this dismal survey his eyes returned to Nance crouching before the fire； the candle in one hand and artfully puffing at the embers； the flames as they broke forth played upon the soft outline of her cheek … she was alive and young； coloured with the bright hues of life； and a woman。 He looked upon her； softening； and then sat down and continued to admire the picture。
'There； sir；' said she； getting upon her feet； 'your fire is doing bravely now。 Good…night。'
He rose and held out his hand。 'Come；' said he； 'you are my only friend in these parts； and you must shake hands。'
She brushed her hand upon her skirt and offered it； blushing。
'God bless you； my dear；' said he。
And then； when he was alone； he opened one of the windows； and stared down into the dark valley。 A gentle wimpling of the river among stones ascended to his ear； the trees upon the other bank stood very black against the sky； farther away an owl was hooting。 It was dreary and cold； and as he turned back to the hearth and the fine glow of fire； 'Heavens！' said he to himself； 'what an unfortunate destiny is mine！'
He went to bed； but sleep only visited his pillow in uneasy snatches。 Outbreaks of loud speech came up the staircase； he heard the old stones of the castle crack in the frosty night with sharp reverberations； and the bed complained under his tossings。 Lastly； far on into the morning； he awakened from a doze to hear； very far off； in the extreme and breathless quiet； a wailing flourish on the horn。 The down mail was drawing near to the 'Green Dragon。' He sat up in bed； the sound was tragical by distance； and the modulation appealed to his ear like human speech。 It seemed to call upon him with a dreary insistence … to call him far away； to address him personally； and to have a meaning that he failed to seize。 It was thus； at least； in this nodding castle； in a cold； miry woodland； and so far from men and society； that the traffic on the Great North Road spoke to him in the intervals of slumber。
THE GREAT NORTH ROAD CHAPTER III … JONATHAN HOLDAWAY
NANCE descended the tower stair； pausing at every step。 She was in no hurry to confront her uncle with bad news； and she must dwell a little longer on the rich note of Mr。 Archer's voice； the charm of his kind words； and the beauty of his manner and person。 But； once at the stair…foot； she threw aside the spell and recovered her sensible and workaday self。
Jonathan was seated in the middle of the settle； a mug of ale beside him； in the attitude of one prepared for trouble； but he did not speak； and suffered her to fetch her supper and eat of it； with a very excellent appetite； in silence。 When she had done； she； too； drew a tankard of home…brewed； and came and planted herself in front of him upon the settle。
'Well？' said Jonathan。
'My lord has run away；' said Nance。
'What？' cried the old man。
'Abroad；' she continued； 'run away from creditors。 He said he had not a stiver； but he was drunk enough。 He said you might live on in the castle； and Mr。 Archer would pay you； but you was to look for no more wages； since he would be glad of them himself。'
Jonathan's face contracted； the flush of a black； bilious anger mounted to the roots of his hair； he gave an inarticulate cry； leapt upon his feet； and began rapidly pacing the stone floor。 At first he kept his hands behind his back in a tight knot； then he began to gesticulate as he turned。
'This man … this lord；' he shouted； 'who is he？ He was born with a gold spoon in his mouth； and I with a dirty straw。 He rolled in his coach when he was a baby。 I have dug and toiled and laboured since I was that high … that high。' And he shouted again。 'I'm bent and broke； and full of pains。 D' ye think I don't know the taste of sweat？ Many's the gallon I've drunk of it … ay； in the midwinter； toiling like a slave。 All through； what has my life been？ Bend； bend； bend my old creaking back till it would ache like breaking； wade about in the foul mire； never a dry stitch； empty belly； sore hands； hat off to my Lord Redface； kicks and ha'pence； and now； here； at the hind end； when I'm worn to my poor bones； a kick and done with it。' He walked a little while in silence； and then； extending his hand； 'Now you； Nance Holdaway；' says he； 'you come of my blood； and you're a good girl。 When that man was a boy； I used to carry his gun for him。 I carried the gun all day on my two feet； and many a stitch I had； and chewed a bullet for。 He rode upon a horse； with feathers in his hat； but it was him that had the shots and took the game home。 Did I complain？ Not I。 I knew my station。 What did I ask； but just the chance to live and die honest？ Nance Holdaway； don't let them deny it to me … don't let them do it。 I've been as poor as Job； and as honest as the day； but now； my girl； you mark these words of mine； I'm getting tired of it。'
'I wouldn't say such words； at least；' said Nance。
'You wouldn't？' said the old man grimly。 'Well； and did I when I was your age？ Wait till your back's broke and your hands tremble； and your eyes fail； and you're weary of the battle and ask no more but to lie down in your bed and give the ghost up like an honest man； and then let there up and come some insolent； ungodly fellow … ah！ if I had him in these hands！ 〃Where's my money that you gambled？〃 I should say。 〃Where's my money that you drank and diced？〃 〃Thief！〃 is what I would say； 〃Thief！〃' he roared； '〃Thief〃'
'Mr。 Archer will hear you if you don't take care；' said Nance； 'and I would be ashamed； for one； that he should hear a brave； old； honest； hard…working man like Jonathan Holdaway talk nonsense like a boy。'
'D' ye think I mind for Mr。 Archer？' he cried shrilly； with a clack of laughter； and then he came close up to her； stooped down with his two palms upon his knees； and looked her in the eyes； with a strange hard expression； something like a smile。 'Do I mind for God； my girl？' he said； 'that's