CHAPTEH IX. 



BACHELOR S HALL 



Its quaint Interior — An Old Friend's Memory — Crabbe's Peter at 

 Ilford Hall — Singular Time-pieces — ^A Meet at Hangster's Gate 

 — Jolly Doings — Dibdin at Dinner — Broseley Pipes — Parson 

 Stephens in his Shirt — The Parson's Song. 



We have already described the exterior of the Hall 

 and its approaches. In the interior of the building 

 the same air of antiquity reigned. Its capacious 

 chimney-pieces, and rooms wainscoted with oak to 

 the ceiling, are familiar from the descriptions of an 

 old friend, whose memory was still fresh and green 

 as regards events and scenes of the time when the 

 Hall stood entire, and who when a boy was not an 

 unfrequent visitor. Like Crabbe's Peter among the 

 rooms and galleries of Ilford Hall, 



" His vast delight was mixed with equal awe, 

 There was such magic in the things he saw ; 

 Portraits he passed, admiring, but with pain 

 Turned from some objects, nor would look again." 



