Though  the  spirit  of  antiquarianism  is  seldom  associated
with  the  swelling  affections  of  the  heart  that  is  dedicated
to  Momus,  old  Innerkepple  had,  notwithstanding,  been
able  to  combine  the  two  qualities  or  powers.  Sitting  in
his  old  wainscotted  hall,  over  a  goblet  of  spiced  Tokay,
there  were  three  old  subjects  he  loved  to  speculate  upon ;
and  these  were — his  old  castle,  with  its  chronicled  wounds,
where  the  Genius  of  War  sat  alongside  of  the  "  auld  carle"
Time,  in  grim  companionship ;  secondly,  the  family  tree  of
the  Innerkepples — with  himself,  a  good  old  branch,  kept
green  by  good  humour  and  Tokay,  at  the  further  verge ;
and  a  small  green  twig,  as  slender  as  a  lily  stalk,  issuing
from  the  old  branch — no  other  than  the  daughter  of  Inner-
kepple, the  fair  Kate  Kennedy,  a  buxom  damsel,  of  goodly
proportions,  and  as  merry,  with  the  aid  of  health  and
young  sparkling  blood,  as  the  old  baron  was  with  the  spiced
wine  of  Tokay  ;  and,  in  the  third  place,  there  was  the  true


52  TALES   OF  TIIE   BOKDEKS.
legitimate  study  of  the  antiquary,  the  ancient  wine  itself,
the  mortal  years  of  which  he  counted  with  an  eye  as
bright  as  Cocker's  over  a  triumphant  solution.  As  this
last  subject  grew  upon  him,  he  became  inspired,  like  the
old  poet  of  Teos,  and  the  rafters  of  Innerkepple  rang  to
the  sound  of  his  voice,  tuned  to  the  air  of  "  Tne  Guidwife
o'  Tullybody,"  and  fraught  with  the  deeds,  active  and
passive,  of  the  barons  of  Innerkepple  and  their  castle.
