Thensadrelief！fromthebleakcoastthathearsTheGermanOceanroar，deep-blooming，strong，Andyellowhair’d，theblue-eyedSaxoncame。
Thomson’s_Liberty_。
Inahall，theheightofwhichwasgreatlydisproportionedtoitsextremelengthandwidth，alongoakentable，formedofplanksrough-hewnfromtheforest，andwhichhadscarcelyreceivedanypolish，stoodreadypreparedfortheeveningmealofCedrictheSaxon。Theroof，composedofbeamsandrafters，hadnothingtodividetheapartmentfromtheskyexceptingtheplankingandthatch；therewasahugefireplaceateitherendofthehall，butasthechimneyswereconstructedinaveryclumsymanner，atleastasmuchofthesmokefounditswayintotheapartmentasescapedbythepropervent。Theconstantvapourwhichthisoccasioned，hadpolishedtheraftersandbeamsofthelow-browedhall，byencrustingthemwithablackvarnishofsoot。Onthesidesoftheapartmenthungimplementsofwarandofthechase，andtherewereateachcornerfoldingdoors，whichgaveaccesstootherpartsoftheextensivebuilding。
TheotherappointmentsofthemansionpartookoftherudesimplicityoftheSaxonperiod，whichCedricpiquedhimselfuponmaintaining。Thefloorwascomposedofearthmixedwithlime，troddenintoahardsubstance，suchasisoftenemployedinflooringourmodernbarns。Foraboutonequarterofthelengthoftheapartment，thefloorwasraisedbyastep，andthisspace，whichwascalledthedais，wasoccupiedonlybytheprincipalmembersofthefamily，andvisitorsofdistinction。Forthispurpose，atablerichlycoveredwithscarletclothwasplacedtransverselyacrosstheplatform，fromthemiddleofwhichranthelongerandlowerboard，atwhichthedomesticsandinferiorpersonsfed，downtowardsthebottomofthehall。ThewholeresembledtheformoftheletterT，orsomeofthoseancientdinner-tables，which，arrangedonthesameprinciples，maybestillseenintheantiqueCollegesofOxfordorCambridge。Massivechairsandsettlesofcarvedoakwereplaceduponthedais，andovertheseseatsandthemoreelevatedtablewasfastenedacanopyofcloth，whichservedinsomedegreetoprotectthedignitarieswhooccupiedthatdistinguishedstationfromtheweather，andespeciallyfromtherain，whichinsomeplacesfounditswaythroughtheill-constructedroof。
Thewallsofthisupperendofthehall，asfarasthedaisextended，werecoveredwithhangingsorcurtains，anduponthefloortherewasacarpet，bothofwhichwereadornedwithsomeattemptsattapestry，orembroidery，executedwithbrilliantorrathergaudycolouring。Overthelowerrangeoftable，theroof，aswehavenoticed，hadnocovering；