There were but half a dozen cottages, and just ahead of them, abutting on the road, appeared the front of a beautiful simple house of some considerable size, with a large embowered garden behind it bordering on the river; Howard was astonished to see what a large and ancient building it was.  The part on the road was blank of windows, with the exception of a dignified projecting oriel; close to which was a high Tudor archway, with big oak doors standing open.  There were some plants growing on the coping—­snapdragon and valerian—­which gave it a look of age and settled use.  The carriage drove in under the arch, and a small courtyard appeared.  There was a stable on the right, with a leaded cupola; the house itself was very plain and stately, with two great traceried windows which seemed to belong to a hall, and a finely carved outstanding porch.  The whole was built out of the same orange stone of which the churches were built, stone-tiled, all entirely homelike and solid.

He got down at the door, which stood open.  An old man-servant appeared, and he found himself in a flagged passage, with a plain wooden screen on his left, opening into the hall.  It had a collegiate air which he liked.  Then he was led out at the opposite end of the vestibule, the servant saying, “Mrs. Graves is in the garden, sir.”  He stepped out on to a lawn bordered with trees; opposite him was a stone-built Jacobean garden-house, with stone balls on the balustraded coping.  Two ladies were walking on the gravel path; the older of the two, who walked with a stick, came up to him, put her hand on his shoulder, and gave him a kiss in a simple and motherly way, saying, “So here you actually are, my dear boy, and very much welcome.”  She then presented the other lady, a small, snub-nosed, middle-aged woman, saying, “This is Miss Merry, who lives with me, and keeps me more or less in order; she is quite excited at meeting a don; she has a respect for learning and talent, which is unhappily rare nowadays.”  Miss Merry shook hands as a spaniel might give its paw, and looked reverentially at Howard.  His aunt put her hand through his arm, and said, “Let us walk about a little.  I live by rule, you must know—­that is, by Miss Merry’s rule; and we shall have tea in a few minutes.”

She pointed out one or two of the features of the house, and said, in answer to Howard’s loudly expressed admiration, “Yes, it is a nice old house.  Your uncle had a great taste for such things in days when people did not care much about them.  He bought this very cheap, I believe, and was much attached to it; but he did not live long to enjoy it, you know.  He died nearly thirty years ago.  I meant to sell it, but somehow I did not, and now I hope to end my days here.  It is not nearly as big as it looks, and a good deal of it consists of unused granaries and farm buildings.  I sometimes think it is selfish of me to go on occupying it—­it’s a house that wants children; but one isn’t very consistent; and somehow the house is used to me, and I to it; and, after all, it is only waiting, which isn’t the worst thing in the world!”