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greatest depression； which was also the lowest ground in the whole
grove。
The trees here were so interlaced； and hung their branches so near
the ground； that a whole summer's day was scarcely long enough to
change the air pervading the spot from its normal state of coolness
to even a temporary warmth。 The unvarying freshness was helped by
the nearness of the ground to the level of the springs； and by the
presence of a deep； sluggish stream close by； equally well shaded by
bushes and a high wall。 Following the road； which now ran along at
the margin of the stream； she came to an opening in the wall； on the
other side of the water； revealing a large rectangular nook from
which the stream proceeded； covered with froth； and accompanied by a
dull roar。 Two more steps； and she was opposite the nook； in full
view of the cascade forming its further boundary。 Over the top
could be seen the bright outer sky in the form of a crescent； caused
by the curve of a bridge across the rapids； and the trees above。
Beautiful as was the scene she did not look in that direction。 The
same standing…ground afforded another prospect； straight in the
front； less sombre than the water on the right or the trees all
around。 The avenue and grove which flanked it abruptly terminated a
few yards ahead； where the ground began to rise； and on the remote
edge of the greensward thus laid open； stood all that remained of
the original manor…house； to which the dark margin…line of the trees
in the avenue formed an adequate and well…fitting frame。 It was the
picture thus presented that was now interesting Miss Aldclyffenot
artistically or historically； but practicallyas regarded its
fitness for adaptation to modern requirements。
In front； detached from everything else； rose the most ancient
portion of the structurean old arched gateway； flanked by the
bases of two small towers； and nearly covered with creepers； which
had clambered over the eaves of the sinking roof； and up the gable
to the crest of the Aldclyffe family perched on the apex。 Behind
this； at a distance of ten or twenty yards； came the only portion of
the main building that still existedan Elizabethan fragment；
consisting of as much as could be contained under three gables and a
cross roof behind。 Against the wall could be seen ragged lines
indicating the form of other destroyed gables which had once joined
it there。 The mullioned and transomed windows； containing five or
six lights； were mostly bricked up to the extent of two or three；
and the remaining portion fitted with cottage window…frames
carelessly inserted； to suit the purpose to which the old place was
now applied； it being partitioned out into small rooms downstairs to
form cottages for two labourers and their families； the upper
portion was arranged as a storehouse for divers kinds of roots and
fruit。
The owner of the picturesque spot； after her survey from this point；
went up to the walls and walked into the old court； where the
paving…stones were pushed sideways and upwards by the thrust of the
grasses between them。 Two or three little children； with their
fingers in their mouths； came out to look at her； and then ran in to
tell their mothers in loud tones of secrecy that Miss Aldclyffe was
coming。 Miss Aldclyffe； however； did not come in。 She concluded
her survey of the exterior by making a complete circuit of the
building； then turned into a nook a short distance off where round
and square timber； a saw…pit； planks； grindstones； heaps of building
stone and brick； explained that the spot was the centre of
operations for the building work done on the estate。
She paused； and looked around。 A man who had seen her from the
window of the workshops behind； came out and respectfully lifted his
hat to her。 It was the first time she had been seen walking outside
the house since her father's death。
'Strooden； could the Old House be made a decent residence of；
without much trouble？' she inquired。
The mechanic considered； and spoke as each consideration completed
itself。
'You don't forget； ma'am； that two…thirds of the place is already
pulled down； or gone to ruin？'
'Yes； I know。'
'And that what's left may almost as well be； ma'am。'
'Why may it？'
''Twas so cut up inside when they made it into cottages； that the
whole carcase is full of cracks。'
'Still by pulling down the inserted partitions； and adding a little
outside； it could be made to answer the purpose of an ordinary six
or eight…roomed house？'
'Yes； ma'am。'
'About what would it cost？' was the question which had invariably
come next in every communication of this kind to which the
superintending workman had been a party during his whole experience。
To his surprise； Miss Aldclyffe did not put it。 The man thought her
object in altering an old house must have been an unusually
absorbing one not to prompt what was so instinctive in owners as
hardly to require any prompting at all。
'Thank you： that's sufficient； Strooden；' she said。 'You will
understand that it is not unlikely some alteration may be made here
in a short time； with reference to the management of the affairs。'
Strooden said 'Yes；' in a complex voice； and looked uneasy。
'During the life of Captain Aldclyffe； with you as the foreman of
works； and he himself as his own steward； everything worked well。
But now it may be necessary to have a steward； whose management will
encroach further upon things which have hitherto been left in your
hands than did your late master's。 What I mean is； that he will
directly and in detail superintend all。'
'ThenI shall not be wanted； ma'am？' he faltered。
'O yes； if you like to stay on as foreman in the yard and workshops
only。 I should be sorry to lose you。 However； you had better
consider。 I will send for you in a few days。'
Leaving him to suspense； and all the ills that came in its train
distracted application to his duties； and an undefined number of
sleepless nights and untasted dinners； Miss Aldclyffe looked at her
watch and returned to the House。 She was about to keep an
appointment with her solicitor； Mr。 Nyttleton； who had been to
Budmouth； and was coming to Knapwater on his way back to London。
2。 AUGUST THE TWENTIETH
On the Saturday subsequent to Mr。 Nyttleton's visit to Knapwater
House； the subjoined advertisement appeared in the Field and the
Builder newspapers：
'LAND STEWARD。
'A gentleman of integrity and professional skill is required
immediately for the MANAGEMENT of an ESTATE； containing about 1000
acres； upon which agricultural improvements and the erection of
buildings are contemplated。 He must be a man of superior education；
unmarried； and not more than thirty years of age。 Considerable
preference will be shown for one who possesses an artistic as well
as a practical knowledge of planning and laying out。 The
remuneration will consist of a salary of 22O pounds； with the old
manor…house as a residenceAddress Messrs。 Nyttleton and Tayling；
solicitors； Lincoln's Inn Fields。'
A copy of each paper was sent to Miss Aldclyffe on the day of
publication。 The same evening she told Cytherea that she was
advertising for a steward； who would live at the old manor…house；
showing her the papers containing the announcement。
What was the drift of that remark？ thought the maiden； or was it
merely made to her in confidential intercourse； as other
arrangements were told her daily。 Yet it seemed to have more
meaning than common。 She remembered the conversation about
architects and surveyors； and her brother Owen。 Miss Aldclyffe knew
that his situation was precarious； that he was well educated and
practical； and was applying himself heart and soul to the details of
the profession and all connected with it。 Miss Aldclyffe might be
ready to take him if he could compete successfully with others who
would reply。 She hazarded a question：
'Would it be desirable for Owen to answer it？'
'Not at all；' said Miss Aldclyffe peremptorily。
A flat answer of this kind had ceased to alarm Cytherea。 Miss
Aldclyffe's blunt mood was not her worst。 Cytherea thought of
another man； whose name； in spite of resolves； tears； renunciations
and injured pride； lingered in her ears like an old familiar strain。
That man was qualified for a stewardship under a king。
'Would it be of any use if Edward Springrove were to answer it？' she
said； resolutely enunciating the name。
'None whatever；' replied Miss Aldclyffe； again in the same decided
tone。
'You are very unkind to speak in that way。'
'Now don't pout like a goosie； as you are。 I don't want men like
either of them； for； of course； I must look to the good of the
estate rather than to that of any individual。 The man I want must
have been more specially educated。 I have told you that we are
going to London next week； it is mostly on this account。'
Cytherea found that she had mistaken the drift of Miss Aldclyffe's
peculiar explicitness on the subject of advertising； and wrote to
tell her brother that if he saw the notice it would be useless to
reply。
3。 AUGUST THE TWENTY…FIFTH
Five days after the above…mentioned dialo