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and thought of somebody else who was likewise。
'Yes！ that's why I asked you。 What are the different kinds of work
comprised in an architect's practice？ They lay out estates； and
superintend the various works done upon them； I should think； among
other things？'
'Those are； more properly； a land or building steward's dutiesat
least I have always imagined so。 Country architects include those
things in their practice； city architects don't。'
'I know that； child。 But a steward's is an indefinite fast and
loose profession； it seems to me。 Shouldn't you think that a man
who had been brought up as an architect would do for a steward？'
Cytherea had doubts whether an architect pure would do。
The chief pleasure connected with asking an opinion lies in not
adopting it。 Miss Aldclyffe replied decisively
'Nonsense； of course he would。 Your brother Owen makes plans for
country buildingssuch as cottages； stables； homesteads； and so
on？'
'Yes； he does。'
'And superintends the building of them？'
'Yes； he will soon。'
'And he surveys land？'
'O yes。'
'And he knows about hedges and ditcheshow wide they ought to be；
boundaries； levelling； planting trees to keep away the winds；
measuring timber； houses for ninety…nine years； and such things？'
'I have never heard him say that； but I think Mr。 Gradfield does
those things。 Owen； I am afraid； is inexperienced as yet。'
'Yes； your brother is not old enough for such a post yet； of course。
And then there are rent…days； the audit and winding up of
tradesmen's accounts。 I am afraid； Cytherea； you don't know much
more about the matter than I do myself。 。 。 。 I am going out just
now；' she continued。 'I shall not want you to walk with me to…day。
Run away till dinner…time。'
Miss Aldclyffe went out of doors； and down the steps to the lawn：
then turning to the left； through a shrubbery； she opened a wicket
and passed into a neglected and leafy carriage…drive； leading down
the hill。 This she followed till she reached the point of its
greatest depression； which was also the lowest ground in the whole
grove。
The trees here were so interlaced； and hung their branches so near
the ground； that a whole summer's day was scarcely long enough to
change the air pervading the spot from its normal state of coolness
to even a temporary warmth。 The unvarying freshness was helped by
the nearness of the ground to the level of the springs； and by the
presence of a deep； sluggish stream close by； equally well shaded by
bushes and a high wall。 Following the road； which now ran along at
the margin of the stream； she came to an opening in the wall； on the
other side of the water； revealing a large rectangular nook from
which the stream proceeded； covered with froth； and accompanied by a
dull roar。 Two more steps； and she was opposite the nook； in full
view of the cascade forming its further boundary。 Over the top
could be seen the bright outer sky in the form of a crescent； caused
by the curve of a bridge across the rapids； and the trees above。
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 Aldclyffenot
artistically or historically； but practicallyas regarded its
fitness for adaptation to modern requirements。
In front； detached from everything else； rose the most ancient
portion of the structurean 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 existedan 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 managemen