"Thou see'st, reverend sir," began the old servant, trembling. "Avaunt, caitiff! dost thou _thou_ me? 'I am come of good kin,' as the old morality saith," cried Joram; "fetch me a pint of sack posset, dashed with ginger, and a white loaf, while breakfast is preparing; and if you would save your back from my riding-rod, and your master's mansion from the flames, see that our repast be such as not even Heliogabalus could find a fault with." "And bring me a wassail bowl of spiced ale," said Finland. "And me a stoup of brandy, master butler," added Sergeant Wemyss. "And me the same," chorussed Hab Elshender and the soldiers at the lower end of the hall; while his Reverence the chaplain, stretching himself before the ruddy flames, began the old ditty of the Cavaliers of Fortune. "Now all you brave lads that would hazard for honour, Hark! how Bellona her trumpet doth blow; Mars, with many a warlike banner, Bravely displayed, invites you to goe! Germani, Denmark, and Sweden, are smoking, With a band of brave sworders each other provoking, Marching in their armour bright, Summonis you to glory's fight, Sing tan ta, ra, ra, ra, ra, ra!" As his Reverence concluded, he drained the sack posset, which the white-haired butler placed obsequiously before him. "Many a time and oft have I heard my father chant that old Swedish war-song," said Finland. "He commanded a regiment of Ruyters under Gustavus." "O Vivat! Gustavus Adolphus, we cry, With thee all must either win honour or die! Tan, ta ra, ra, ra, ra, ra!" sang the chaplain; "O 'tis a jolly anthem. Heres to his memory--Gustavus Adolphus, the friend of the soldier of fortune--the Cæsar of Sweden--the Star of the North! I perceive, gentlemen," continued the divine, "that there are virginals and music in yonder oriel window. What say ye--shall we summon the rosy English dame, whose dainty fingers I doubt not, press those ivory keys, that she may sing us some of the merry southern madrigals King Charles loved so well?" "Nay, Doctor, by Heaven!" said Walter, as the thought of his absent Lilian (for whose sake all the sex were dear to him) flashed upon his mind. "If there are ladies here, no man shall molest them while I can hold a rapier." "Hear this young cock o' the game," said Joram, angrily; "he cocks his beaver like a mohock already." "Well spoken, young comrade," said Finland; "our clerical friend hath mistaken his avocation. Instead of entering holy orders, he should have been purveyor to old Dalyel's Red Cossacks." "'Sdeath! gentlemen," said the divine, colouring; "I only jested, and you turn on me like so many harpies. But as for you, Mr. Fenton, my pretty cavaliero, _who_ proposed burning the mansion to the ground-stone?" "I knew not that it contained ladies." "My lady comes of an old cavalier family, noble sirs," said the old butler, with great perturbation; "and would herself appear to greet you, but illness----"