Indeed, William and Brune Anneys made one understand how truthfully popular nomenclature has called an Englishman "John Bull." For whoever has seen a bull in its native pastures--proud, obstinate, conscious of his strength, and withal a little surly--must understand that there is a taurine basis to the English character, finely expressed by the national appellation. A great thing was to happen that hour, and all three were as unconscious of the approaching fate as if it was to be a part of another existence. Squire William finished his accounts, and played a game of chess with his brother. Aspatria walked up and down the hall, with her hands clasped behind her, or sat still in the Squire's hearth-chair, with her dress lifted a little in front, to let the pleasant heat fall upon her ankles. She did not think of reading or of sewing, or of improving the time in any way. Perhaps she was not as dependent on books as the women of this generation. Aspatria's mind was sensitive and observing; it lived very well on its own ideas. The storm increased in violence; the rain beat against the windows, and the wind howled at the nail-studded oak door, as if it intended to blow it down. A big ploughman entered the room, shyly pulled his front hair, and looked with stolid inquiry into his master's face. The Squire pushed aside the chess-board, rose, and went to the hearth-stone; for he was young in his authority, and he felt himself on the hearth-stone to hold an impregnable position. "Well, Steve Bell, what is it?" "Be I to sow the high land next, sir?" "If you can have a face or back wind, it will be best; if you have an elbow-wind, you must give the land an extra half-bushel." "Be I to sow mother-of-corn[1] on the east holme?" [1] Clover. "It is matterless. Is it going to be a flashy spring?" "A right season, sir,--plenty of manger-meat." "How is the weather?" "The rain is near past; it will take up at midnight." As he spoke, Aspatria, who had been sitting with folded hands and half-shut eyes, straightened herself suddenly, and threw up her head to listen. There was certainly the tramp of a horse's feet, and in a moment the door was loudly and impatiently struck with the metal handle of a riding-whip. Steve Bell went to answer the summons; Brune trailed slowly after him. Aspatria and the Squire heard nothing on the hearth but a human voice blown about and away by the wind. But Steve's reply was distinct enough,-- "You be wanting Redware Hall, sir? Cush! it's unsensible to try for it. The hills are slape as ice; the becks are full; the moss will make a mouthful of you--horse and man--to-night." The Squire went forward, and Aspatria also. Aspatria lifted a candle, and carried it high in her hand. That was the first glimpse of her that Sir Ulfar Fenwick had. "You must stay at Seat-Ambar to-night," said William Anneys. "You cannot go farther and be sure of your life. You are welcome here heartily, sir."