n, finding that it was still only just one o'clock,
he started for a walk. He was careful not to go out of Allington by
the road he had entered it, as he had no wish to encounter Grace and
her friend on their return into the village; so he crossed a little
brook which runs at the bottom of the hill on which the chief street
of Allington is built, and turned into a field-path to the left as
soon as he had got beyond the houses. Not knowing the geography of
the place he did not understand that by taking that path he was
making his way back to the squire's house; but it was so; and after
sauntering on for about a mile and crossing back again over the
stream, of which he took no notice, he found himself leaning across a
gate, and looking into a paddock on the other side of which was the
high wall of a gentleman's garden. To avoid this he went on a little
further and found himself on a farm road, and before he could retrace
his steps so as not to be seen, he met a gentleman whom he presumed
to be the owner of the house. It was the squire surveying his home
farm, as was his daily custom; but Major Grantly had not perceived
that the house must of necessity be Allington House, having been
aware that he had passed the entrance to the place, as he entered
the village on the other side. "I'm afraid I'm intruding," he said,
lifting his hat. "I came up the path yonder, not knowing that it
would lead me so close to a gentleman's house."

"There is a right of way through the fields on to the Guestwick
road," said the squire, "and therefore you are not trespassing in any
sense; but we are not particular about such things down here, and you
would be very welcome if there were no right of way. If you are a
stranger, perhaps you would like to see the outside of the old house.
People think it picturesque."

Then Major Grantly became aware that this must be the squire, and
he was annoyed with himself for his own awkwardness in having thus
come upon the house. He would have wished to keep himself altogether
unseen if it had been possible,--and especially unseen by this old
gentleman, to whom, now that he had met him, he was almost bound to
introduce himself. But he was not absolutely bound to do so, and he
determined that he would still keep his peace. Even if the squire
should afterwards hear of his having been there, what would it
matter? But to proclaim himself at the present moment would be
disagreeable to him. He permitted the squire,