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 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。'
'ThenI 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 residenceAddress Messrs。 Nyttleton and Tayling；
solicitors； Lincoln's Inn Fields。'
A copy of each paper was sent to Miss Aldclyffe on the day of
publication。 The same evening she told Cytherea that she was
advertising for a steward； who would live at the old manor…house；
showing her the papers containing the announcement。
What was the drift of that remark？ thought the maiden； or was it
merely made to her in confidential intercourse； as other
arrangements were told her daily。 Yet it seemed to have more
meaning than common。 She remembered the conversation about
architects and surveyors； and her brother Owen。 Miss Aldclyffe knew
that his situation was precarious； that he was well educated and
practical； and was applying himself heart and soul to the details of
the profession and all connected with it。 Miss Aldclyffe might be
ready to take him if he could compete successfully with others who
would reply。 She hazarded a question：
'Would it be desirable for Owen to answer it？'
'Not at all；' said Miss Aldclyffe peremptorily。
A flat answer of this kind had ceased to alarm Cytherea。 Miss
Aldclyffe's blunt mood was not her worst。 Cytherea thought of
another man； whose name； in spite of resolves； tears； renunciations
and injured pride； lingered in her ears like an old familiar strain。
That man was qualified for a stewardship under a king。
'Would it be of any use if Edward Springrove were to answer it？' she
said； resolutely enunciating the name。
'None whatever；' replied Miss Aldclyffe； again in the same decided
tone。
'You are very unkind to speak in that way。'
'Now don't pout like a goosie； as you are。 I don't want men like
either of them； for； of course； I must look to the good of the
estate rather than to that of any individual。 The man I want must
have been more specially educated。 I have told you that we are
going to London next week； it is mostly on this account。'
Cytherea found that she had mistaken the drift of Miss Aldclyffe's
peculiar explicitness on the subject of advertising； and wrote to
tell her brother that if he saw the notice it would be useless to
reply。
3。 AUGUST THE TWENTY…FIFTH
Five days after the above…mentioned dialogue took place they went to
London； and； with scarcely a minute's pause； to the solicitors'
offices in Lincoln's Inn Fields。
They alighted opposite one of the characteristic entrances about the
placea gate which was never； and could never be； closed； flanked
by lamp…standards carrying no lamp。 Rust was the only active agent
to be seen there at this time of the day and year。 The palings
along the front were rusted away at their base to the thinness of
wires； and the successive coats of paint； with which they were
overlaid in bygone days； had been completely undermined by the same
insidious canker； which lifted off the paint in flakes； leaving the
raw surface of the iron on palings； standards； and gate hinges； of a
staring blood…red。
But once inside the railings the picture changed。 The court and
offices were a complete contrast to the grand ruin of the outwork
which enclosed them。 Well…painted respectability extended over；
within； and around the doorstep； and in the carefully swept yard not
a particle of dust was visible。
Mr。 Nyttleton； who had just come up from Margate； where he was
staying with his family； was standing at the top of his own
staircase as the pair ascended。 He politely took them inside。
'Is there a comfortable room in which this young lady can sit during
our interview？' said Miss Aldclyffe。
It was rather a favourite habit of hers to make much of Cytherea
when they were out； and snub her for it afterwards when they got
home。
'CertainlyMr。 Tayling's。' Cytherea was shown into an inner room。
Social definitions are all made relatively： an absolute datum is
only imagined。 The small gentry about Knapwater seemed unpractised
to Miss Aldclyffe； Miss Aldclyffe herself seemed unpractised to Mr。
Nyttleton's experienced old eyes。
'Now then；' the lady said； when she was alone with the lawyer； 'what
is the result of our advertisement？'
It was late summer； the estate…agency； building； engineering； and
surveying worlds were dull。 There were forty…five replies to the
advertisement。
Mr。 Nyttleton spread them one by one before Miss Aldclyffe。 'You
will probably like to read some of them yourself； madam？' he said。
'Yes； certainly；' said she。
'I will not trouble you with those which are from persons manifestly
unfit at first sight；' he continued； and began selecting from the
heap twos and threes which he had marked； collecting others into his
hand。
'The man we want lies among these； if my judgment doesn't deceive
me； and from them it would be advisable to select a certain number
to be communicated with。'
'I should like to see every oneonly just to glance them over
exactly as they came；' she said suasively。
He looked as if he thought this a waste of his time； but dismissing
his sentiment unfolded each singly and laid it before her。 As he
laid them out； it struck him that she studied them quite as rapidly
as he could spread them。 He slyly glanced up from the outer corner
of his eye to hers； and noticed th