KENILWORTH - Penn State University

Kenilworthtalisman did ever Afrite change his horrid frown into a lookof smooth submission more suddenly than the gigantic porterof Kenilworth relaxed the terrors of his looks at the instantFlibbertigibbet’s whisper reached his ears. He flung hisclub upon the ground, and caught up Dickie Sludge, raisinghim to such a distance from the earth as might have provedperilous had he chanced to let him slip.“It is even so,” he said, with a thundering sound of exultation—”it is even so, my little dandieprat. But who the devilcould teach it thee?”“Do not thou care about that,” said Flibbertigibbet—“but—” he looked at Wayland and the lady, and then sunkwhat he had to say in a whisper, which needed not be a loudone, as the giant held him for his convenience close to his ear.The porter then gave Dickie a warm caress, and set him onthe ground with the same care which a careful housewife usesin replacing a cracked china cup upon her mantelpiece, callingout at the same time to Wayland and the lady, “In with you—in with you! and take heed how you come too late anotherday when I chance to be porter.”“Ay, ay, in with you,” added Flibbertigibbet; “I must stay ashort space with mine honest Philistine, my Goliath of Gathhere; but I will be with you anon, and at the bottom of all yoursecrets, were they as deep and dark as the Castle dungeon.”“I do believe thou wouldst,” said Wayland; “but I trust thesecret will be soon out of my keeping, and then I shall carethe less whether thou or any one knows it.”They now crossed the entrance tower, which obtained thename of the Gallery-tower, from the following circumstance:The whole bridge, extending from the entrance to anothertower on the opposite side of the lake, called Mortimer’sTower, was so disposed as to make a spacious tilt-yard, aboutone hundred and thirty yards in length, and ten in breadth,strewed with the finest sand, and defended on either side bystrong and high palisades. The broad and fair gallery, destinedfor the ladies who were to witness the feats of chivalry presentedon this area, was erected on the northern side of theouter tower, to which it gave name. Our travellers passedslowly along the bridge or tilt-yard, and arrived at Mortimer’sTower, at its farthest extremity, through which the approachled into the outer or base-court of the Castle. Mortimer’sTower bore on its front the scutcheon of the Earl of March,310