Kings & rulers > Kenilworth > Volume 1

KENILWORTH.
without risk. But here we are, and we must
make the best on’t.”
While he thus spoke, they had entered a large
orchard, which surrounded the house on two
sides, though the trees, abandoned by the care
of man, were overgrown and mossy, and seemed
to bear little fruit. Those which had been for¬
merly trained as espaliers, had now resumed
their natural mode of growing, and exhibited
grotesque forms, partaking of the original train¬
ing which they had received. The greater part
of the ground, which had once been parterres
and flower-gardens, was suffered in like manner
to run to waste, excepting a few patches, which
had been dug up, and planted with ordinary pot¬
herbs. Some statues, which had ornamented the
garden in its days of splendour, were now thrown
down from their pedestals and broken in pieces,
and a large summer-house, having a heavy stone
front, decorated with carving, representing the
life and actions of Sampson, was in the same di¬
lapidated condition.
They had just traversed this garden of the
sluggard, and were within a few steps of the
door of the mansion, when Lambourne had ceased
speaking; a circumstance very agreeable to Tres-
silian, as it saved him the embarrassment of either
commenting upon or replying to the frank avowal
which his companion had just made of the sen¬
timents and views which induced him to come
hither. Lambourne knocked roundly and boldly
at the huge door of the mansion, observing, at
the same time, he had seen a less strong one upon
a county jail. It was not until they had knocked
more than once, that an aged, sour-visaged do¬
mestic reconnoitred them through a small square
hole in the door, well-secured with bars of iron,
and demanded what they wanted.
vox,, i. 5