SuchweretheguestswhomoldJohnWillet，withafixedandleadeneye，surveyedahundredtimes，andtowhomhenowadvancedwithastatecandlestickineachhand，beseechingthemtofollowhimintoaworthierchamber。’Formylord，’saidJohn——itisoddenough，butcertainpeopleseemtohaveasgreatapleasureinpronouncingtitlesastheirownershaveinwearingthem——’thisroom，mylord，isn’tatallthesortofplaceforyourlordship，andIhavetobegyourlordship’spardonforkeepingyouhere，mylord，oneminute。’
Withthisaddress，Johnusheredthemupstairsintothestateapartment，which，likemanyotherthingsofstate，wascoldandcomfortless。Theirownfootsteps，reverberatingthroughthespaciousroom，struckupontheirhearingwithahollowsound;anditsdampandchillyatmospherewasrendereddoublycheerlessbycontrastwiththehomelywarmththeyhaddeserted。
Itwasofnouse，however，toproposeareturntotheplacetheyhadquitted，forthepreparationswentonsobrisklythattherewasnotimetostopthem。John，withthetallcandlesticksinhishands，bowedthemuptothefireplace;Hugh，stridinginwithalightedbrandandpileoffirewood，castitdownuponthehearth，andsetitinablaze;JohnGruebywhohadagreatbluecockadeinhishat，whichheappearedtodespisemightilybroughtintheportmanteauhehadcarriedonhishorse，andplaceditonthefloor;andpresentlyallthreewerebusilyengagedindrawingoutthescreen，layingthecloth，inspectingthebeds，lightingfiresinthebedrooms，expeditingthesupper，andmakingeverythingascosyandassnugasmightbe，onsoshortanotice。Inlessthananhour’stime，supperhadbeenserved，andate，andclearedaway;
andLordGeorgeandhissecretary，withslipperedfeet，andlegsstretchedoutbeforethefire，satoversomehotmulledwinetogether。
’Soends，mylord，’saidGashford，fillinghisglasswithgreatcomplacency，’theblessedworkofamostblessedday。’