desperate remedies-第19章

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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　dialogue　took　place　they　went　to
London；　and；　with　scarcely　a　minute's　pause；　to　the　solicitors'
offices　in　Lincoln's　Inn　Fields。

They　alighted　opposite　one　of　the　characteristic　entrances　about　the
placea　gate　which　was　never；　and　could　never　be；　closed；　flanked
by　lamp…standards　carrying　no　lamp。　　Rust　was　the　only　active　agent
to　be　seen　there　at　this　time　of　the　day　and　year。　　The　palings
along　the　front　were　rusted　away　at　their　base　to　the　thinness　of
wires；　and　the　successive　coats　of　paint；　with　which　they　were
overlaid　in　bygone　days；　had　been　completely　undermined　by　the　same
insidious　canker；　which　lifted　off　the　paint　in　flakes；　leaving　the
raw　surface　of　the　iron　on　palings；　standards；　and　gate　hinges；　of　a
staring　blood…red。

But　once　inside　the　railings　the　picture　changed。　　The　court　and
offices　were　a　complete　contrast　to　the　grand　ruin　of　the　outwork
which　enclosed　them。　　Well…painted　respectability　extended　over；
within；　and　around　the　doorstep；　and　in　the　carefully　swept　yard　not
a　particle　of　dust　was　visible。

Mr。　Nyttleton；　who　had　just　come　up　from　Margate；　where　he　was
staying　with　his　family；　was　standing　at　the　top　of　his　own
staircase　as　the　pair　ascended。　　He　politely　took　them　inside。

'Is　there　a　comfortable　room　in　which　this　young　lady　can　sit　during
our　interview？'　said　Miss　Aldclyffe。

It　was　rather　a　favourite　habit　of　hers　to　make　much　of　Cytherea
when　they　were　out；　and　snub　her　for　it　afterwards　when　they　got
home。

'CertainlyMr。　Tayling's。'　　Cytherea　was　shown　into　an　inner　room。

Social　definitions　are　all　made　relatively：　　an　absolute　datum　is
only　imagined。　　The　small　gentry　about　Knapwater　seemed　unpractised
to　Miss　Aldclyffe；　Miss　Aldclyffe　herself　seemed　unpractised　to　Mr。
Nyttleton's　experienced　old　eyes。

'Now　then；'　the　lady　said；　when　she　was　alone　with　the　lawyer；　'what
is　the　result　of　our　advertisement？'

It　was　late　summer；　the　estate…agency；　building；　engineering；　and
surveying　worlds　were　dull。　　There　were　forty…five　re