secret to the rest of the village;
Mr. Jones, before he commenced this mysterious business, having informed the
schoolmaster, to the great delight of the white-headed flock he governed, that
there could be no school that day. Marmaduke was apprized of all these
preparations, by letter, and it was especially arranged, that he and Elizabeth
should arrive in season, to participate in the solemnities of the evening.
    After this digression, we shall return to our narrative.
 

                                   Chapter IX

 »Now all admire, in each high-flavour'd dish,
 The capabilities of flesh - fowl - fish;
 In order due each guest assumes his station,
 Throbs high his breast with fond anticipation,
 And prelibates the joys of mastication.«
                                                                  Heliogabaliad.
 
The apartment to which Monsieur Le Quoi handed Elizabeth, communicated with the
hall, through the door that led under the urn which was supposed to contain the
ashes of Dido. The room was spacious, and of very just proportions; but in its
ornaments and furniture, the same diversity of taste, and imperfection of
execution, were to be observed, as existed in the hall. Of furniture, there were
a dozen green, wooden arm-chairs, with cushions of moreen, taken from the same
piece as the petticoat of Remarkable. The tables were spread, and their
materials and workmanship could not be seen; but they were heavy, and of great
size. An enormous mirror, in a gilt frame, hung against the wall, and a cheerful
fire, of the hard or sugar-maple, was burning on the hearth. The latter was the
first object that struck the attention of the Judge, who, on beholding it,
exclaimed, rather angrily, to Richard -
    »How often have I forbidden the use of the sugar-maple, in my dwelling. The
sight of that sap, as it exudes with the heat, is painful to me, Richard.
Really, it behooves the owner of woods so extensive as mine, to be cautious what
example he sets his people, who are already felling the forests, as if no end
could be found to their treasures, nor any limits to their extent. If we go on
in this way, twenty years hence, we shall want fuel.«
    »Fuel in these hills, cousin 'duke!« exclaimed Richard, in derision - »fuel!
why, you might as well predict, that the fish will die, for the want of water in
the lake, because I intend, when the frost gets out of the ground, to lead one
or two of the