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IT was a lovely afternoon on the last day of May。 The sea and all the
toil and travail belonging to it was overpass； and Judge Rawdon； Ruth and
Ethel were driving in lazy； blissful contentment through one of the lovely
roads of the West Riding。 On either hand the beautifully cut hedges were
white and sweet； and a caress of scentthe soul of the hawthorne flower
enfolded them。 Robins were singing on the topmost sprays； and the linnet's
sweet babbling was heard from the happy nests in its secret places； while
from some unseen steeple the joyful sound of chiming bells made music
between heaven and earth fit for bands of traveling angels。
They had dined at a wayside inn on jugged hare； roast beef； and
Yorkshire pudding； clotted cream and haver （oaten） bread； and the careless
stillness of physical well…being and of minds at ease needed no speech； but
the mutual smiling nod of intimate sympathy。 For the sense of joy and
beauty which makes us eloquent is far inferior to that sense which makes
us silent。
This exquisite pause in life was suddenly ended by an exclamation
from the Judge。 They were at the great iron gates of Rawdon Park； and
soon were slowly traversing its woody solitudes。 The soft light； the
unspeakable green of the turf； the voice of ancient days murmuring in the
great oak trees； the deer asleep among the ferns； the stillness of the
summer afternoon filling the air with drowsy peace this was the
atmosphere into which they entered。 Their road through this grand park of
three hundred acres was a wide； straight avenue shaded with beech trees。
The green turf on either hand was starred with primroses。 In the deep
undergrowth； ferns waved and fanned each other； and the scent of hidden
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violets saluted as they passed。 Drowsily； as if half asleep； the blackbirds
whistled their couplets； and in the thickest hedges the little brown thrushes
sang softly to their brooding mates。 For half an hour they kept this
heavenly path； and then a sudden turn brought them their first sight of the
old home。
It was a stately； irregular building of red brick； sandaled and veiled in
ivy。 The nu… merous windows were all latticed； the chimneys in
picturesque stacks； the sloping roof made of flags of sandstone。 It stood in
the center of a large garden； at the bottom of which ran a babbling little
rivera cheerful tongue of life in the sweet； silent place。 They crossed it
by a pretty bridge； and in a few minutes stood at the great door of the
mansion。 It was wide open； and the Squire； with outstretched hands； rose
to meet them。 While yet upon the threshold he kissed both Ethel and Ruth；
and； clasping the Judge's hand； gazed at him with such a piercing； kindly
look that the eyes of both men filled with tears。
He led them into the hall； and standing there he seemed almost a part
of it。 In his youth he had been a son of Anak； and his great size had been
matched by his great strength。 His stature was still large； his face broad
and massive； and an abundance of snow…white hair emphasized the dignity
of a countenance which age had made nobler。 The generations of eight
hundred years were crystallized in this benignant old man； looking with
such eager interest into the faces of his strange kindred from a far…off land。
In the evening they sat together in the old hall talking of the Rawdons。
〃There is great family of us； living and dead；〃 said the Squire； 〃and I count
them all my friends。 Bare is the back that has no kin behind it。 That is not
our case。 Eight hundred years ago there was a Rawdon in Rawdon； and
one has never been wanting since。 Saxon； Danish； Norman； and Stuart
kings have been and gone their way； and we remain； and I can tell you
every Rawdon born since the House of Hanover came to England。 We
have had our share in all England's strife and glory； for if there was ever a
fight going on anywhere Rawdon was never far off。 Yes； we can string the
centuries together in the battle flags we have won。 See there！〃 he cried；
pointing to two standards interwoven above the central chimney…piece；
〃one was taken from the Paynim in the first Crusade； and the other my
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grandson took in Africa。 It seems but yesterday； and Queen Victoria gave
him the Cross for it。 Poor lad； he had it on when he died。 It went to the
grave with him。 I wouldn't have it touched。 I fancy the Rawdons would
know it。 No one dare say they don't。 I think they meddle a good deal more
with this life than we count on。〃
The days that followed were days in The House Wonderful。 It held the
treasure…trove of centuries； all its rooms were full of secrets。 Even the
common sitting…room had an antique homeliness that provoked questions
as to the dates of its furniture and the whereabouts of its wall cupboards
and hidden recesses。 Its china had the marks of forgotten makers； its silver
was puzzling with half… obliterated names and dates； its sideboard of oak
was black with age and full of table accessories； the very names of which
were forgotten。 For this house had not been built in the ordinary sense； it
had grown through centuries； grown out of desire and necessity； just as a
tree grows； and was therefore fit and beautiful。 And it was no wonder that
about every room floated the perfume of ancient things and the peculiar
family aura that had saturated all the inanimate objects around them。
In a few days； life settled itself to orderly occupations。 The Squire was
a late riser； the Judge and his family breakfasted very early。 Then the two
women had a ride in the park； or wandered in the garden； or sat reading； or
sewing； or writing in some of the sweet； fair rooms。 Many visitors soon
appeared； and there were calls to return and courtesies to accept。 Among
these visitors the Tyrrel… Rawdons were the earliest。 The representatives of
that family were Nicholas Rawdon and his wife Lydia。 Nicholas Rawdon
was a large； stout man； very arrogant； very complete； very alert for this
world； and not caring much about the other。 He was not pleased at Judge
Rawdon's visit； but thought it best to be cousinly until his cousin interfered
with his plan