He told the story of the haunted apartment, and all
the consequences of it; how he and Oswald conveyed the youth away from
the Castle, no more to return till he came as master of it. He closed
the tale with praise to Heaven for the happy discovery, that gave such
an heir to the house of Lovel; to his dependants such a Lord and
Master; to mankind a friend and benefactor. There was truly a house of
joy; not that false kind, in the midst of which there is heaviness, but
that of rational creatures, grateful to the Supreme Benefactor, raising
their minds by a due enjoyment of earthly blessings to a preparation
for a more perfect state hereafter.
A few days after the wedding, the Lord Fitz-Owen began to prepare for
his journey to the north. He gave to Edmund the plate, linen, and
furniture of the Castle, the farming stock and utensils; he would have
added a sum of money, but Sir Philip stopped his hand.
"We do not forget," said he, "that you have other children, we will not
suffer you to injure them; give us your blessing and paternal
affection, and we have nothing more to ask. I told you,
my Lord, that you and I should one day be sincere friends."
"We must be so," answered the Baron; "it is impossible to be long your
enemy. We are brothers, and shall be to our lives' end."
They regulated the young man's household; the Baron gave leave to the
servants to choose their master; the elder ones followed him (except
Joseph, who desired to live with Edmund, as the chief happiness of his
life); most of the younger ones chose the service of the youthful pair.
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