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DUTY AND INCLINATION.
205


"Me know it," exclaimed he, brightening as he spoke.

"Well, then, you shall stay: your presence will cheer me; and you shall go once a day to Kennington, either to escort your mistress here, or to bring me back accounts of her."

Having thus settled the point, De Brooke allowed himself to look to the future with less dismay; hope, seldom long a stranger to his bosom, began to resume its seat. His eye glanced around his chamber; it was confined in space, but it was not destitute of comfort. The walls were clean, and free from damp: on each side of a small grate were two recesses, containing closets; the one might serve for his linen, the other for his simple fare. In the two further corners stood the two chest beds, which, when opened, transformed his little parlour into the accommodation of a bed-room: half a dozen wicker chairs and a table composed the rest of his furniture. His window overlooked the court destined for the use of the prisoners, and exactly faced that ponderous portal constantly opening and shutting to give entrance, as new victims were added to that gloomy mansion; the thick and lofty walls surrounding it spiked at their top, and bidding defiance to escape. Nevertheless, even this restraint, so ignominious and irksome to