Hendon was touched. The water welled to his eyes, yet at the same time the

Grisly humor of the situation and circumstances so undermined his gravity

That it was all he could do to keep some sign of his inward mirth from showing

Outside. To be suddenly hoisted, naked and gory, from the common stocks to

The Alpine altitude and splendor of an earldom, seemed to him the last

possibility in the line of the grotesque. He said to himself, 'Now am I finely

tinseled, indeed! The specter-knight of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows

is become a specter-earl! — a dizzy flight for a callow wing! An this go on, I

Shall presently be hung like a very May-pole with fantastic gauds and make-

Believe honors. But I shall value them, all valueless as they are, for the love

That doth bestow them. Better these poor mock dignities of mine, that come

Unasked from a clean hand and a right spirit, than real ones bought by

servility from grudging and interested power.'

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The dreaded Sir Hugh wheeled his horse about, and, as he spurred away, the

Living wall divided silently to let him pass, and as silently closed together

Again. And so remained; nobody went so far as to venture a remark in favor

Of the prisoner, or in compliment to him; but no matter, the absence of abuse