Have I brought no fresher feeling out of my fair village-green?
Would it not be sweet to work for her, and rise in life, with her by my side?
And these girls of the city, so prim and so brainless!--as well marry a painted puppet.

Sibyll! Am I dement?
Stark wode?
What have I to do with girls and marriage?
Humph! I marvel what Marmaduke still thinks of her,--and she of him." While Alwyn thus soliloquized, the Nevile having hastily arranged his dress, and laden himself with the moneys his mails contained, summoned old Madge to receive his largess, and to conduct him to Warner's chamber, in order to proffer his farewell.
With somewhat of a timid step he followed the old woman (who kept muttering thanks and benedicites as she eyed the coin in her palm) up the ragged stairs, and for the first time knocked at the door of the student's sanctuary.

No answer came.

"Eh, sir! you must enter," said Madge; "an' you fired a bombard under his ear he would not heed you." So, suiting the action to the word, she threw open the door, and closed it behind him, as Marmaduke entered.
The room was filled with smoke, through which mirky atmosphere the clear red light of the burning charcoal peered out steadily like a Cyclop's eye.

A small, but heaving, regular, labouring, continuous sound, as of a fairy hammer, smote the young man's ear.