th the gables and tiled
roofs--there, back on the slope.--Bagshaw, the Bond Street poulterer,
had it for years. His lease ran out in the spring, and happily he
didn't care to renew. Had bought himself an up-to-date, villa residence
somewhere in the suburbs--Chistlehurst, I believe. So I took the place
over. It will do for a beginning--the small end of the wedge of my
scavenger's business. There are over five acres of garden and orchard,
and plenty of rooms on each floor, which gives good range for the
disabled to move about in--and the stairs, only one flight, are easy.
One has to think of these details. And--well, the house commands a
magnificent view of Clerke's Green, and the geese on it, than which
nothing clearly can be more exciting!"

The groom rode forward and opened the gate. Before the square,
outstanding porch Richard drew up.

"I should like to come in with you," he said. "But you see it's rather
a business getting off one's horse, and I can't very well manage the
stairs. So I'll wait about till you are ready. Don't hurry. I want you
to see all the arrangements, if it doesn't bore you, and make
suggestions. The carpenters are there, doing overtime. They'll let you
through if the caretaker's out."

Thus admonished, Miss St. Quentin dismounted and made her way into the
house. A broad passage led straight through it. The open door at the
farther end disclosed a vista of box-edged paths and flower-borders
where, in gay ranks, stood tall sunflowers, hollyhocks,
Michaelmas-daisies, and such like. Beyond was orchard, the round-headed
apple-trees, bright with polished fruit, rising from a carpet of grass.
The rooms, to left and right of the passage, were pleasantly sun-warmed
and mellow of aspect, the ceilings of them crossed by massive beams.
Honoria visited them, dutifully observant. She encountered the head
carpenter, an acquaintance and ally during those four years so great
part of which she had spent at Brockhurst. She talked with him, making
inquiries concerning wife, children and trade, incident to such a
meeting, her face very serious all the while, the skirt of her habit
gathered up in one hand, her gait a trifle stiff and measured owing to
her high riding-boots. But, though she acquitted herself in all
kindliness of conversation, though she conscientiously inspected each
separate apartment, and noted the cheerful comeliness of orchard and
garden, it must be owned all these remained singularly distant fr