Ashespoke，thedooropened，andMasterMumblazenappeared——awithered，thin，elderlygentleman，withacheeklikeawinterapple，andhisgreyhairpartlyconcealedbyasmall，highhat，shapedlikeacone，orratherlikesuchastrawberry—basketasLondonfruiterersexhibitattheirwindows。Hewastoosententiousapersontowastewordsonmeresalutation;so，havingwelcomedTressilianwithanodandashakeofthehand，hebeckonedhimtofollowtoSirHugh\'sgreatchamber，whichthegoodknightusuallyinhabited。WillBadgerfollowed，unasked，anxioustoseewhetherhismasterwouldberelievedfromhisstateofapathybythearrivalofTressilian。
Inalong，lowparlour，amplyfurnishedwithimplementsofthechase，andwithsilvantrophies，byamassivestonechimney，overwhichhungaswordandsuitofarmoursomewhatobscuredbyneglect，satSirHughRobsartofLidcote，amanoflargesize，whichhadbeenonlykeptwithinmoderatecompassbytheconstantuseofviolentexercise，ItseemedtoTressilianthatthelethargy，underwhichhisoldfriendappearedtolabour，had，evenduringhisfewweeks\'absence，addedbulktohisperson——atleastithadobviouslydiminishedthevivacityofhiseye，which，astheyentered，firstfollowedMasterMumblazenslowlytoalargeoakendesk，onwhichaponderousvolumelayopen，andthenrested，asifinuncertainty，onthestrangerwhohadenteredalongwithhim。Thecurate，agrey—headedclergyman，whohadbeenaconfessorinthedaysofQueenMary，satwithabookinhishandinanotherrecessintheapartment。He，too，signedamournfulgreetingtoTressilian，andlaidhisbookaside，towatchtheeffecthisappearanceshouldproduceontheafflictedoldman。
AsTressilian，hisowneyesfillingfastwithtears，approachedmoreandmorenearlytothefatherofhisbetrothedbride，SirHugh\'sintelligenceseemedtorevive。Hesighedheavily，asonewhoawakensfromastateofstupor;aslightconvulsionpassedoverhisfeatures;heopenedhisarmswithoutspeakingaword，and，asTressilianthrewhimselfintothem，hefoldedhimtohisbosom。
\"Thereissomethinglefttoliveforyet，\"werethefirstwordsheuttered;andwhilehespoke，hegaveventtohisfeelingsinaparoxysmofweeping，thetearschasingeachotherdownhissunburntcheeksandlongwhitebeard。
\"Ine\'erthoughttohavethankedGodtoseemymasterweep，\"saidWillBadger;\"butnowIdo，thoughIamliketoweepforcompany。\"