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hopping of the smallest songster over the dead leaves reached
his ear from behind the undergrowth。 The track had originally
been a well…kept winding drive； but a deep carpet of moss and
leaves overlaid it now； though the general outline still
remained to show that its curves had been set out with as much
care as those of a lawn walk； and the gradient made easy for
carriages where the natural slopes were great。 Felled trunks
occasionally lay across it； and alongside were the hollow and
fungous boles of trees sawn down in long past years。
After a walk of three…quarters of an hour he came to another
gate； where the letters 'P。 P。' again supplanted the
historical 'W。 De S。' Climbing over this； he found himself on
a highway which presently dipped down towards the town of
Markton； a place he had never yet seen。 It appeared in the
distance as a quiet little borough of a few thousand
inhabitants； and； without the town boundary on the side he was
approaching； stood half…a…dozen genteel and modern houses； of
the detached kind usually found in such suburbs。 On inquiry；
Sir William De Stancy's residence was indicated as one of
these。
It was almost new； of streaked brick； having a central door；
and a small bay window on each side to light the two front
parlours。 A little lawn spread its green surface in front；
divided from the road by iron railings； the low line of shrubs
immediately within them being coated with pallid dust from the
highway。 On the neat piers of the neat entrance gate were
chiselled the words 'Myrtle Villa。' Genuine roadside
respectability sat smiling on every brick of the eligible
dwelling。
Perhaps that which impressed Somerset more than the mushroom
modernism of Sir William De Stancy's house was the air of
healthful cheerfulness which pervaded it。 He was shown in by
a neat maidservant in black gown and white apron； a canary
singing a welcome from a cage in the shadow of the window； the
voices of crowing cocks coming over the chimneys from
somewhere behind； and the sun and air riddling the house
everywhere。
A dwelling of those well…known and popular dimensions which
allow the proceedings in the kitchen to be distinctly heard in
the parlours； it was so planned that a raking view might be
obtained through it from the front door to the end of the back
garden。 The drawing…room furniture was comfortable； in the
walnut…and…green…rep style of some years ago。 Somerset had
expected to find his friends living in an old house with
remnants of their own antique furniture； and he hardly knew
whether he ought to meet them with a smile or a gaze of
condolence。 His doubt was terminated； however； by the
cheerful and tripping entry of Miss De Stancy； who had
returned from her drive to Markton； and in a few more moments
Sir William came in from the garden。
He was an old man of tall and spare build； with a considerable
stoop； his glasses dangling against his waistcoat…buttons； and
the front corners of his coat…tails hanging lower than the
hinderparts； so that they swayed right and left as he walked。
He nervously apologized to his visitor for having kept him
waiting。
'I am so glad to see you；' he said； with a mild benevolence of
tone； as he retained Somerset's hand for a moment or two；
'partly for your father's sake； whom I met more than once in
my younger days； before he became so well…known； and also
because I learn that you were a friend of my poor nephew John
Ravensbury。' He looked over his shoulder to see if his
daughter were within hearing； and； with the impulse of the
solitary to make a confidence； continued in a low tone： 'She；
poor girl； was to have married John： his death was a sad blow
to her and to all of us。Pray take a seat； Mr。 Somerset。'
The reverses of fortune which had brought Sir William De
Stancy to this comfortable cottage awakened in Somerset a
warmer emotion than curiosity； and he sat down with a heart as
responsive to each speech uttered as if it had seriously
concerned himself； while his host gave some words of
information to his daughter on the trifling events that had
marked the morning just passed； such as that the cow had got
out of the paddock into Miss Power's field； that the smith who
had promised to come and look at the kitchen range had not
arrived； that two wasps' nests had been discovered in the
garden bank； and that Nick Jones's baby had fallen downstairs。
Sir William had large cavernous arches to his eye…sockets；
reminding the beholder of the vaults in the castle he once had
owned。 His hands were long and almost fleshless； each knuckle
showing like a bamboo…joint from beneath his coat…sleeves；
which were small at the elbow and large at the wrist。 All the
colour had gone from his beard and locks； except in the case
of a few isolated hairs of the former； which retained dashes
of their original shade at sudden points in their length；
revealing that all had once been raven black。
But to study a man to his face for long is a species of ill…
nature which requires a colder temperament； or at least an
older heart； than the architect's was at that time。 Incurious
unobservance is the true attitude of cordiality； and Somerset
blamed himself for having fallen into an act of inspection
even briefly。 He would wait for his host's conversation；
which would doubtless be of the essence of historical romance。
'The favourable Bank…returns have made the money…market much
easier to…day； as I learn？' said Sir William。
'O； have they？' said Somerset。 'Yes； I suppose they have。'
'And something is meant by this unusual quietness in Foreign
stocks since the late remarkable fluctuations；' insisted the
old man。 'Is the current of speculation quite arrested； or is
it but a temporary lull？'
Somerset said he was afraid he could not give an opinion； and
entered very lamely into the subject； but Sir William seemed
to find sufficient interest in his own thoughts to do away
with the necessity of acquiring fresh impressions from other
people's replies； for often after putting a question he looked
on the floor； as if the subject were at an end。 Lunch was now
ready； and when they were in the dining…room Miss De Stancy；
to introduce a topic of more general interest； asked Somerset
if he had noticed the myrtle on the lawn？
Somerset had noticed it； and thought he had never seen such a
full…blown one in the open air before。 His eyes were；
however； resting at the moment on the only objects at all out
of the common that the dining…room contained。 One was a
singular glass case over the fireplace； within which were some
large mediaeval door…keys； black with rust and age； and the
others were two full…length oil portraits in the costume of
the end of the last centuryso out of all proportion to the
size of the room they occupied that they almost reached to the
floor。
'Those originally belonged to the castle yonder；' said Miss De
Stancy； or Charlotte； as her father called her； noticing
Somerset's glance at the keys。 'They used to unlock the
principal entrance…doors； which were knocked to pieces in the
civil wars。 New doors were placed afterwards； but the old
keys were never given up； a