I have served with credit in the army, and I should prefer a soldier’ s life. “

“You please me well, ” said the Baron; “I will send you to France, and give you a recommendation to the Regent; he knows you personally, and will prefer you, for my sake, and for your own merit.”

“My lord, you overwhelm me with your goodness! I am but your creature, and my life shall be devoted to your service. “

“But, ” said the Baron, “how to dispose of you till the spring? “

“That, ” said Oswald, “may be thought of at leisure; I am glad that you have resolved, and I congratulate you both. ” The Baron put an end to the conversation by desiring Edmund to go with him into the menage to see his horses. He ordered Oswald to acquaint his son William with all that had passed, and to try to persuade the young men to meet Edmund and William at dinner.

The Baron took Edmund with him into his menage to see some horses he had lately purchased; while they were examining the beauties and defects of these noble and useful animals, Edmund declared that he preferred Caradoc, a horse he had broke himself, to any other in my lord’ s stables. “Then, ” said the Baron, “I will give him to you; and you shall go upon him to seek your fortune. ” He made new acknowledgments for this gift, and declared he would prize it highly for the giver’ s sake. “But I shall not part with you yet,” said my lord; “I will first carry all my points with these saucy boys, and oblige them to do you justice. “

“You have already done that, ” said Edmund; and I will not suffer any of your Lordship’ s blood to undergo any farther humiliation upon my account. I think, with humble submission to your better judgment, the sooner I go hence the better. “

While they were speaking, Oswald came to them, and said, that the young men had absolutely refused to dine at the table, if Edmund was present. ”’ Tis well, ” said the Baron; “I shall find a way to punish their contumacy hereafter; I will make them know that I am the master here. Edmund and you, Oswald, shall spend the day in my apartment above stairs. William shall dine with me alone; and I will acquaint him with our determination; my son Robert, and his cabal, shall be prisoners in the great parlour. Edmund shall, according to his own desire, spend this and the following night in the haunted apartment; and this for his sake, and my own; for if I should now contradict my former orders, it would subject us both to their impertinent reflections. “

He then took Oswald aside, and charged him not to let Edmund go out of his sight; for if he should come in the way of those implacable enemies, he trembled for the consequences. He then walked back to the stables, and the two friends returned into the house.

They had a long conversation on various subjects; in the course of it, Edmund acquainted Oswald with all that had passed between him and Joseph the preceding night, the curiosity he had raised in him, and his promise to gratify it the night following.

“I wish, ” said Oswald, “you would permit me to be one of your party. ” “How can that be? ” said Edmund; “we shall be watched, perhaps; and, if discovered, what excuse can you make for coming there? Beside, if it were known, I shall be branded with the imputation of cowardice; and, though I have borne much, I will not promise to bear that patiently. “

“Never fear, ” replied Oswald, “I will speak to Joseph about it; and, after prayers are over and the family gone to bed, I will steal away from my own chamber and come to you. I am strongly interested in your affairs; and I cannot be easy unless you will receive me into your company; I will bind myself to secrecy in any manner you shall enjoin. “

“Your word is sufficient, ” said Edmund; “I have as much reason to trust you, father, as any man living; I should be ungrateful to refuse you any thing in my power to grant; But suppose the apartment should really be haunted, would you have resolution enough to pursue the adventure to a discovery? “

“I hope so, ” said Oswald; “but have you any reason to believe it is?”

“I have, ” said Edmund; “but I have not opened my lips upon this subject to any creature but yourself. This night I purpose, if Heaven permit, to go all over the rooms; and, though I had formed this design, I will confess that your company will strengthen my resolution. I will have no reserves to you in any respect; but I must put a seal upon your lips. “

Oswald swore secrecy till he should be permitted to disclose the mysteries of that apartment; and both of them waited, in solemn expectation, the event of the approaching night.

In the afternoon Mr. William was allowed to visit his friend. An affecting interview passed between them. He lamented the necessity of Edmund’ s departure; and they took a solemn leave of each other, as if they foreboded it would be long ere they should meet again.

About the same hour as the preceding evening, Joseph came to conduct Edmund to his apartment.

“You will find better accommodations than you had last night, ” said he, “and all by my lord’ s own order. ” “I every hour receive some new proof of his goodness, ” said Edmund.

When they arrived, he found a good fire in the chamber, and a table covered with cold meats, and a flagon of strong beer.

“Sit down and get your supper, my dear Master, ” said Joseph: “I must attend my Lord; but as soon as the family are gone to bed, I will visit you again. “

“Do so, ” said Edmund; “but first, see Father Oswald; he has something to say to you. You may trust him, for I have no reserves to him.