Thensadrelief！fromthebleakcoastthathearsTheGermanOceanroar，deep-blooming，strong，Andyellowhair’d，theblue-eyedSaxoncame。
Thomson’s_Liberty_。
Inahall，theheightofwhichwasgreatlydisproportionedtoitsextremelengthandwidth，alongoakentable，formedofplanksrough-hewnfromtheforest，andwhichhadscarcelyreceivedanypolish，stoodreadypreparedfortheeveningmealofCedrictheSaxon。Theroof，composedofbeamsandrafters，hadnothingtodividetheapartmentfromtheskyexceptingtheplankingandthatch；therewasahugefireplaceateitherendofthehall，butasthechimneyswereconstructedinaveryclumsymanner，atleastasmuchofthesmokefounditswayintotheapartmentasescapedbythepropervent。Theconstantvapourwhichthisoccasioned，hadpolishedtheraftersandbeamsofthelow-browedhall，byencrustingthemwithablackvarnishofsoot。Onthesidesoftheapartmenthungimplementsofwarandofthechase，andtherewereateachcornerfoldingdoors，whichgaveaccesstootherpartsoftheextensivebuilding。
TheotherappointmentsofthemansionpartookoftherudesimplicityoftheSaxonperiod，whichCedricpiquedhimselfuponmaintaining。Thefloorwascomposedofearthmixedwithlime，troddenintoahardsubstance，suchasisoftenemployedinflooringourmodernbarns。Foraboutonequarterofthelengthoftheapartment，thefloorwasraisedbyastep，andthisspace，whichwascalledthedais，wasoccupiedonlybytheprincipalmembersofthefamily，andvisitorsofdistinction。Forthispurpose，atablerichlycoveredwithscarletclothwasplacedtransverselyacrosstheplatform，fromthemiddleofwhichranthelongerandlowerboard，atwhichthedomesticsandinferiorpersonsfed，downtowardsthebottomofthehall。ThewholeresembledtheformoftheletterT，orsomeofthoseancientdinner-tables，which，arrangedonthesameprinciples，maybestillseenintheantiqueCollegesofOxfordorCambridge。Massivechairsandsettlesofcarvedoakwereplaceduponthedais，andovertheseseatsandthemoreelevatedtablewasfastenedacanopyofcloth，whichservedinsomedegreetoprotectthedignitarieswhooccupiedthatdistinguishedstationfromtheweather，andespeciallyfromtherain，whichinsomeplacesfounditswaythroughtheill-constructedroof。
Thewallsofthisupperendofthehall，asfarasthedaisextended，werecoveredwithhangingsorcurtains，anduponthefloortherewasacarpet，bothofwhichwereadornedwithsomeattemptsattapestry，orembroidery，executedwithbrilliantorrathergaudycolouring。Overthelowerrangeoftable，theroof，aswehavenoticed，hadnocovering；
theroughplasteredwallswereleftbare，andtherudeearthenfloorwasuncarpeted；theboardwasuncoveredbyacloth，andrudemassivebenchessuppliedtheplaceofchairs。
Inthecentreoftheuppertable，wereplacedtwochairsmoreelevatedthantherest，forthemasterandmistressofthefamily，whopresidedoverthesceneofhospitality，andfromdoingsoderivedtheirSaxontitleofhonour，whichsignifies``theDividersofBread。’’
Toeachofthesechairswasaddedafootstool，curiouslycarvedandinlaidwithivory，whichmarkofdistinctionwaspeculiartothem。OneoftheseseatswasatpresentoccupiedbyCedrictheSaxon，who，thoughbutinrankathane，or，astheNormanscalledhim，aFranklin，felt，atthedelayofhiseveningmeal，anirritableimpatience，whichmighthavebecomeanalderman，whetherofancientorofmoderntimes。
Itappeared，indeed，fromthecountenanceofthisproprietor，thathewasofafrank，buthastyandcholerictemper。Hewasnotabovethemiddlestature，butbroad-shouldered，long-armed，andpowerfullymade，likeoneaccustomedtoendurethefatigueofwarorofthechase；hisfacewasbroad，withlargeblueeyes，openandfrankfeatures，fineteeth，andawellformedhead，altogetherexpressiveofthatsortofgood-humourwhichoftenlodgeswithasuddenandhastytemper。Prideandjealousytherewasinhiseye，forhislifehadbeenspentinassertingrightswhichwereconstantlyliabletoinvasion；andtheprompt，fiery，andresolutedispositionoftheman，hadbeenkeptconstantlyuponthealertbythecircumstancesofhissituation。
Hislongyellowhairwasequallydividedonthetopofhisheadanduponhisbrow，andcombeddownoneachsidetothelengthofhisshoulders；
ithadbutlittletendencytogrey，althoughCedricwasapproachingtohissixtiethyear。
Hisdresswasatunicofforestgreen，furredatthethroatandcuffswithwhatwascalledminever；
akindoffurinferiorinqualitytoermine，andformed，itisbelieved，oftheskinofthegreysquirrel。
Thisdoublethungunbuttonedoveraclosedressofscarletwhichsatetighttohisbody；hehadbreechesofthesame，buttheydidnotreachbelowthelowerpartofthethigh，leavingthekneeexposed。Hisfeethadsandalsofthesamefashionwiththepeasants，butoffinermaterials，andsecuredinthefrontwithgoldenclasps。Hehadbraceletsofgolduponhisarms，andabroadcollarofthesamepreciousmetalaroundhisneck。Abouthiswaistheworearichly-studdedbelt，inwhichwasstuckashortstraighttwo-edgedsword，withasharppoint，sodisposedastohangalmostperpendicularlybyhisside。Behindhisseatwashungascarletclothcloaklinedwithfur，andacapofthesamematerialsrichlyembroidered，whichcompletedthedressoftheopulentlandholderwhenhechosetogoforth。Ashortboar-spear，withabroadandbrightsteelhead，alsoreclinedagainstthebackofhischair，whichservedhim，whenhewalkedabroad，forthepurposesofastafforofaweapon，aschancemightrequire。
Severaldomestics，whosedressheldvariousproportionsbetwixttherichnessoftheirmaster’s，andthecoarseandsimpleattireofGurththeswine-herd，watchedthelooksandwaitedthecommandsoftheSaxondignitary。Twoorthreeservantsofasuperiororderstoodbehindtheirmasteruponthedais；therestoccupiedthelowerpartofthehall。
Otherattendantstherewereofadifferentdescription；
twoorthreelargeandshaggygreyhounds，suchaswerethenemployedinhuntingthestagandwolf；asmanyslow-houndsofalargebonybreed，withthicknecks，largebeads，andlongears；
andoneortwoofthesmallerdogs，nowcalledterriers，whichwaitedwithimpatiencethearrivalofthesupper；but，withthesagaciousknowledgeofphysiognomypeculiartotheirrace，forboretointrudeuponthemoodysilenceoftheirmaster，apprehensiveprobablyofasmallwhitetruncheonwhichlaybyCedric’strencher，forthepurposeofrepellingtheadvancesofhisfour-leggeddependants。
Onegrislyoldwolf-dogalone，withthelibertyofanindulgedfavourite，hadplantedhimselfclosebythechairofstate，andoccasionallyventuredtosolicitnoticebyputtinghislargehairyheaduponhismaster’sknee，orpushinghisnoseintohishand。Evenhewasrepelledbythestemcommand，``Down，Balder，down！Iamnotinthehumourforfoolery。’’
Infact，Cedric，aswehaveobserved，wasinnoveryplacidstateofmind。TheLadyRowena，whohadbeenabsenttoattendaneveningmassatadistantchurch，hadbutjustreturned，andwaschanginghergarments，whichhadbeenwettedbythestorm。TherewereasyetnotidingsofGurthandhischarge，whichshouldlongsincehavebeendrivenhomefromtheforestandsuchwastheinsecurityoftheperiod，astorenderitprobablethatthedelaymightbeexplainedbysomedepreciationoftheoutlaws，withwhomtheadjacentforestabounded，orbytheviolenceofsomeneighbouringbaron，whoseconsciousnessofstrengthmadehimequallynegligentofthelawsofproperty。Thematterwasofconsequence，forgreatpartofthedomesticwealthoftheSaxonproprietorsconsistedinnumerousherdsofswine，especiallyinforest-land，wherethoseanimalseasilyfoundtheirfood。
Besidesthesesubjectsofanxiety，theSaxonthanewasimpatientforthepresenceofhisfavouriteclownWamba，whosejests，suchastheywere，servedforasortofseasoningtohiseveningmeal，andtothedeepdraughtsofaleandwinewithwhichhewasinthehabitofaccompanyingit。Addtoallthis，Cedrichadfastedsincenoon，andhisusualsupperhourwaslongpast，acauseofirritationcommontocountrysquires，bothinancientandmoderntimes。Hisdispleasurewasexpressedinbrokensentences，partlymutteredtohimself，partlyaddressedtothedomesticswhostoodaround；andparticularlytohiscupbearer，whoofferedhimfromtimetotime，asasedative，asilvergobletfilledwithwine——``WhytarriestheLadyRowena?’’
``Sheisbutchangingherhead-gear，’’repliedafemaleattendant，withasmuchconfidenceasthefavouritelady’s-maidusuallyanswersthemasterofamodernfamily；``youwouldnotwishhertositdowntothebanquetinherhoodandkirtle?andnoladywithintheshirecanbequickerinarrayingherselfthanmymistress。’’
Thisundeniableargumentproducedasortofacquiescentumph！onthepartoftheSaxon，withtheaddition，``IwishherdevotionmaychoosefairweatherforthenextvisittoStJohn’sKirk；——
butwhat，inthenameoftendevils，’’continuedhe，turningtothecupbearer，andraisinghisvoiceasifhappytohavefoundachannelintowhichhemightdiverthisindignationwithoutfearorcontrol——
``what，inthenameoftendevils，keepsGurthsolongafield?Isupposeweshallhaveanevilaccountoftheherd；hewaswonttobeafaithfulandcautiousdrudge，andIhaddestinedhimforsomethingbetter；perchanceImightevenhavemadehimoneofmywarders。’’*
*Theoriginalhas_Cnichts_，bywhichtheSaxonsseemto*havedesignatedaclassofmilitaryattendants，sometimesfree，*sometimesbondsmen，butalwaysrankingaboveanordinary*domestic，whetherintheroyalhouseholdorinthoseofthe*aldermenandthanes。Butthetermcnicht，nowspeltknight，*havingbeenreceivedintotheEnglishlanguageasequivalent*totheNormanwordchevalier，Ihaveavoidedusingitinits*moreancientsense，topreventconfusion。L。T。
Oswaldthecupbearermodestlysuggested，``thatitwasscarceanhoursincethetollingofthecurfew；’’
anill-chosenapology，sinceitturneduponatopicsoharshtoSaxonears。
``Thefoulfiend，’’exclaimedCedric，``takethecurfew-bell，andthetyrannicalbastardbywhomitwasdevised，andtheheartlessslavewhonamesitwithaSaxontonguetoaSaxonear！Thecurfew！’’
headded，pausing，``ay，thecurfew；whichcompelstruementoextinguishtheirlights，thatthievesandrobbersmayworktheirdeedsindarkness！——
Ay，thecurfew；——ReginaldFront-de-BufandPhilipdeMalvoisinknowtheuseofthecurfewaswellasWilliamtheBastardhimself，ore’eraNormanadventurerthatfoughtatHastings。Ishallhear，Iguess，thatmypropertyhasbeensweptofftosavefromstarvingthehungrybanditti，whomtheycannotsupportbutbytheftandrobbery。Myfaithfulslaveismurdered，andmygoodsaretakenforaprey——andWamba——whereisWamba?SaidnotsomeonehehadgoneforthwithGurth?’’
Oswaldrepliedintheaffirmative。