s about six feet in height. Its straight surface did not
offer any foothold. For some distance they wandered along, rather
discouraged, but at last an overhanging tree seemed to promise hope.
Lenox lifted up Diana till she could catch hold of a branch, then, with
considerable boosting and scrambling, she swung herself over. Lenox
dropped after her directly, and the adventurous pair stood within the
park.

So far, so good. They were certainly trespassing, but they considered
that their errand justified the deed. Lenox had brought his hand camera,
and hoped to get a snap-shot of the old place to take back to America to
show his father. He had ascertained that no picture post cards of it
were obtainable in the village. They could see the twisted chimneys
rising over the top of a thick grove of trees and shrubs, so they turned
their steps in that direction. Over some grassy park-like land they
tramped, where rabbits were still scuttling about, and a few tame deer
were grazing; then through a thicket of trees and under a belt of
ornamental shrubs. All at once, as they scrambled from the shade of some
rhododendrons, they caught their first view of the Manor. It was a
glorious old mansion, built partly in half-timber and partly in grey
stone, with an embattled tower for entrance, and a stone bridge crossing
the moat that encircled the walls. The morning sun shone direct on its
mullioned, diamond-paned windows, its twisted chimney stalks, ivy-clad
walls, and smooth, green stretch of water. Nothing could have been more
charming for a photograph, and, to make the picture absolutely perfect,
a pair of stately swans came sailing along the moat. Lenox pulled his
camera from its case, ventured forth from the cover of the bushes, and
began to focus. Diana followed closely at his elbow. They were brimful
of excitement. Here they were actually facing the "ancestral home" of
the Clifford family.

"Don't you wish you lived here?" sighed Diana.

"Rather! But no such luck!"

"If the old lady has no children perhaps you'll turn out to be the
heir," said Diana wistfully.

"She has nephews," said Lenox, dashing her hopes. "Besides, we must be a
very far-off branch of the family tree. It's a hundred years since we
settled in America. Now don't nudge me. I've just got the thing
focused--swans and all."

Lenox pressed the button, and turned the film on to No. 2, then looked
about him.

"I'm going to take the whole half-dozen," he announc