Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/109

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ROMANCE AND REALITY.
103

and in the knowledge that the noble race have borne, and will bear, the glory of England round the world. It may sound like the after-dinner patriotism of the Freemasons' Tavern; but surely the heart does beat somewhat high beneath the shadow of an old oak.

Beside these were numerous ashes; the light and the graceful, the weeping cypress of England, through whose slight boughs the sunshine falls like rain, beloved of the bee, and beneath which the violet grows best. I scarcely ever saw an ash whose roots were not covered with these treasurers of the Spring's perfume. Far as the eye could reach stretched away young plantations; and if Art had refined upon Nature, clothed the hill side with young plants, shut out a level flat, or opened a luxuriant vista, she had done it with veiled face, and unsandalled foot.

Lord Morton's news and Lorraine's novelties were interrupted by the dashing forward of a carriage, over whose horses the coachman had evidently lost all control. Fortunately, the road was narrow; and with too little risk to enable them to display much heroism, our gentlemen secured the reins, and aided the ladies to alight. From its depths emerged the black