登陆注册
4708300000038

第38章

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 Aldclyffe--not artistically or historically, but practically--as regarded its fitness for adaptation to modern requirements.

In front, detached from everything else, rose the most ancient portion of the structure--an 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 existed--an 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.'

'Then--I 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 residence--Address Messrs. Nyttleton and Tayling, solicitors, Lincoln's Inn Fields.'

同类推荐
  • 近思录集注

    近思录集注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天地八阳神咒经

    天地八阳神咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 往生礼赞偈

    往生礼赞偈

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 桐花阁词钞

    桐花阁词钞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 秋暮八月十五夜与王

    秋暮八月十五夜与王

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我为你而来

    我为你而来

    维安,唯安就好,就像这个名字一样,她贪图安逸,从小到大的生活普通到有些倒霉,人人都说宁当鸡头不做凤尾,可她一直是凤尾女孩,在最好的学校里考最后一名,爱上最帅的男孩成为人人耻笑的对象,她只有在日记中才敢大吐心声“除非我十年后的老公站在我面前,证明他不是乔御,否则我非乔御不嫁”。
  • 古文小品咀华

    古文小品咀华

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中国古代画论类编

    中国古代画论类编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 极限惊寒

    极限惊寒

    旧生命的终结意味着新生命的开始,或者更有力,或者更聪慧,或者更敏捷,一切都只是未知。赵乾被挑选进入圣神空间中历练,一个又一个的恐怖片带来的不只是死亡的威胁,还有真正的希望!
  • 独步剑尊

    独步剑尊

    【精品玄幻】神玄大陆,宗门林立,武道为尊,遵从弱肉强食法则。少年叶枫,自鸿云国踏出,一路上,遍地杀机,腥风血雨,为红颜、为母亲,历尽艰辛,夺天地造化,闻名古风域,傲视东洲万域,威震大陆五洲四海。推荐新书《重生之漫步青春》
  • 小小种花女

    小小种花女

    死的理所当然,穿越的莫名其妙;K市K大历史系20岁的高材生,一朝穿越竟然成了九岁的小屁孩!细手细脚,打是打不过,权利宠爱什么都没有,还是个傻子失心疯,这注定了她一生凄凄惨惨戚戚?穿越而来,自己院子里的板凳都还没有坐热就被继母送到了后院,从此生活水深火热、饥寒交迫、食不果腹、箪瓢屡空,还要一路忍受刁奴的压迫和打压,继母的算计和阴狠;木青表示,这样的生活,如果不挣扎一下,究竟要怎么活?她练太极,躲阴谋,学文字,利用现代知识的强大力量,加上前世具备的超然才华,顺利的夺得了万人的瞩目!这个时候却在偶然间发现,自己的身世,貌似不是那么简单!我木青,究竟是谁?
  • 超级殖民系统

    超级殖民系统

    跨越时间的界限,来到另一个空间。主角将会在这里建立起他的帝国。
  • 倒影

    倒影

    除夕的夜晚天地一片昏暗,往年这个季节江南少有的雾气,此刻正酽酽地弥漫在枫陵江两岸以及整个枫陵城。宋大伟站在临江的露台上,独自望着江两岸此起彼落的烟花出神。虽然雾气是少有的浓重,但那些烟花依然在雾气里发着倔强的光。静静地看了一会,宋大伟忽然想,他自己不就像这雾气里挣扎着发出一些倔强光来的烟花吗?这样想着,一种久违的踌躇又慢慢浮上心来。当初宋大伟买临江的这套住宅时,老婆和朋友是竭力反对的。原因十分简单,住在自己开发的房子中,今后左邻右舍有个漏雨、沉降或裂纹、渗水的,他宋大伟不是明摆着的摆子吗?
  • 锦带书

    锦带书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 烈焰之誓

    烈焰之誓

    从诸神末日的神话,到魔法文明的璀璨。从人族的黑暗时代,到帝国的横扫八荒。“如今,千载帝国褪去繁华外衣露出了腐朽和虚弱。”“历史的车轮把人族的命运拉入了深渊。”“北地绝境的蛮人。”“南域荒原的兽人。”“西方大漠走出了死人军团。”“东方海族掀起了滔天巨浪。”这是末法时代的最后绝唱,这是世界史诗的伟大节点。这是一个英雄的故事。“我是索伦。”“我将恪守我的誓言。”PS:本书慢热,之后节奏会慢慢起来。读者老爷们可以先收藏肥后再宰。