Againandagainhehadbroughtruintoahousehold，againandagainhisadroittongueandhiscunningwithadinsomefashionsavedhimfromthepunishmentofhisdeeds。Hisfamilywasgreatinthecounty，andhiskinsmenheldfavorwiththeKing，sothathisneighborsfearedtopushthingstoofaragainsthim。Suchwastheman，malignantandravenous，whohadstoopedlikesomefoulnight-hawkandborneawaytohisevilnestthegoldenbeautyofCosford。Nigelsaidlittleashelistened，butheraisedhishunting-daggertohistightenedlips，andthricehekissedthecrossofitshandle。
TheyhadpassedoverthemoorsandthroughthevillageofMilfordandthelittletownshipofGodalming，untiltheirpathturnedsouthwardoverthePeasemarshandcrossedthemeadowsofShalford。Thereonthedarkhillsideglowedtheredpointsoflightwhichmarkedthewindowsofthehousewhichtheysought。A
somberarchedavenueofoak-treesleduptoit，andthentheywereinthemoon-silveredclearinginfront。
>Fromtheshadowofthearcheddoortheresprangtworoughserving-men，beardedandgruff，greatcudgelsintheirhands，toaskthemwhotheywereandwhattheirerrand。TheLadyMaryhadslippedfromherhorseandwasadvancingtothedoor，buttheyrudelybarredherway。
“Nay，nay，ourmasterneedsnomore！”criedone，withahoarselaugh。”Standback，mistress，whoeveryoube！，Thehouseisshut，andourlordseesnogueststo-night。”