They halted often, and, with much observation of the defences, held earnest talk together, sometimes eagerly contending rather than disputing, but far more often mutually suggesting and agreeing.

At length one of them, whom the others called Caspar, retired, and the earl was left with his son Edward, lord Herbert, the only person in the castle who had gone to neither window nor door to delight himself with the discomfiture of the parliamentary commissioners.
They entered the long picture gallery, faintly lighted from its large windows to the court, but chiefly from the oriel which formed the northern end of it, where they now sat down, the earl being, for the second time that night, weary.

Behind them was a long dim line of portraits, broken only by the great chimney-piece supported by human figures, all of carved stone, and before them, nearly as dim, was the moon-massed landscape--a lovely view of the woodland, pasture, and red tilth to the northward of the castle.
They sat silent for a while, and the younger said: 'I fear you are fatigued, my lord.

It is late for you to be out of bed; nature is mortal.' 'Thou sayest well; nature is mortal, my son.

But therein lies the comfort--it cannot last.