“Here we are!” exclaimed the stranger in green, looking about at the naked walls, which were formed of such small and irregular stones as to give the building the appearance of dangerous frailty, “with good oaken plank for our deck, as you would say, and the sky for our roof, as we call the upper part of a house at the universities.  Now let us speak of things on the lower world.  A—­a—­; I forget what you said was your usual appellation—­”

“That might depend on circumstances.  I have been known by different names in different situations However, if you call me Wilder, I shall not fail to answer.”

“Wilder!” a good name; though, I dare say, it would have been as true were it Wildone.  You young ship-boys have the character of being a little erratic in your humours at times.  How many tender hearts have you left to sigh for your errors, amid shady bowers, while you have been ploughing—­that is the word, I believe—­ploughing the salt-sea ocean?”

“Few sigh for me,” returned Wilder, thoughtfully, though he evidently began to chafe a little under this free sort of catechism.  “Let us now return to our study of the tower.  What think you has been its object?”

“Its present use is plain, and its former use can be no great mystery.  It holds at this moment two light hearts; and, if I am not mistaken, as many light heads, not overstocked with the stores of wisdom.  Formerly it had its granaries of corn, at least, and, I doubt not, certain little quadrupeds, who were quite as light of fingers as we are of head and heart.  In plain English, it has been a mill”

“There are those who think it had been a fortress.”

“Hum!  The place might do, at need,” returned he in green, casting a rapid and peculiar glance around him.  “But mill it has been, notwithstanding one might wish it a nobler origin.  The windy situation the pillars to keep off the invading vermin, the shape, the air, the very complexion, prove it.  Whir-r-r, whir-r-r; there has been clatter enough here in time past, I warrant you.  Hist!  It is not done yet!”

Stepping lightly to one of the little perforations which had once served as windows to the tower, he cautiously thrust his head through the opening; and, after gazing there half a minute, he withdrew it again, making a gesture to the attentive Wilder to be silent.  The latter complied; nor was it long before the nature of the interruption was sufficiently explained.

The silvery voice of woman was first heard at a little distance; and then, as the speakers drew nigher the sounds arose directly from beneath, within the very shadow of the tower.  By a sort of tacit consent, Wilder and the barrister chose spots favourable to the execution of such a purpose; and each continued, during the time the visiters remained near the ruin, examining their persons, unseen themselves, and we are sorry we must do so much violence to the breeding of two such important characters in our legend, amused and attentive listeners also to their conversation.