He also wished to relive his anxiety, by inquiring concerning the state of things at the Castle, when he was surprised to hear, bursting from the taproom of the loyal old host, a well-known song of the Commonwealth time, which some puritanical wag had written in reprehension of the Cavaliers, and their dissolute courses, and in which his father came in for a lash of the satirist.
"Ye thought in the world there was no power to tame ye, So you tippled and drabb'd till the saints overcame ye; 'Forsooth,' and 'Ne'er stir,' sir, have vanquish'd 'G-- d--n me,' Which nobody can deny.
There was bluff old Sir Geoffrey loved brandy and mum well, And to see a beer-glass turned over the thumb well; But he fled like the wind, before Fairfax and Cromwell, Which nobody can deny." Some strange revolution, Julian was aware, must have taken place, both in the village and in the Castle, ere these sounds of unseemly insult could have been poured forth in the very inn which was decorated with the armorial bearings of his family; and not knowing how far it might be advisable to intrude on these unfriendly revellers, without the power of repelling or chastising their insolence, he led his horse to a back-door, which as he recollected, communicated with the landlord's apartment, having determined to make private inquiry of him concerning the state of matters at the Castle.

He knocked repeatedly, and as often called on Roger Raine with an earnest but stifled voice.

At length a female voice replied by the usual inquiry, "Who is there ?" "It is I, Dame Raine--I, Julian Peveril--tell your husband to come to me presently." "Alack, and a well-a-day, Master Julian, if it be really you--you are to know my poor goodman has gone where he can come to no one; but, doubtless, we shall all go to him, as Matthew Chamberlain says." "He is dead, then ?" said Julian.

"I am extremely sorry----" "Dead six months and more, Master Julian; and let me tell you, it is a long time for a lone woman, as Matt Chamberlain says." "Well, do you or your chamberlain undo the door.

I want a fresh horse; and I want to know how things are at the Castle." "The Castle--lack-a-day!--Chamberlain--Matthew Chamberlain--I say, Matt!" Matt Chamberlain apparently was at no great distance, for he presently answered her call; and Peveril, as he stood close to the door, could hear them whispering to each other, and distinguish in a great measure what they said.