Modern Broods | Page 6

slate, with a
narrow verandah in front, and creepers in bud covering it. Then came a
terrace just wide enough for a carriage to drive up; and below,
flower-beds bordered with stones found what vantage ground they
could between the steep slopes of grass that led almost precipitously
down to the stream, where the ground rose equally rapidly on the other
side. Moss, ivy, rhododendrons, primroses, anemones, and the promise
of ferns were there, and the adjacent beds had their full share of

hepaticas and all the early daffodil kinds. Behind and on the southern
side, lay the kitchen garden, also a succession of steps, and beyond as
the ravine widened were small meadows, each with a big stone in the
midst. The gulley, (or goyle) narrowed as it rose, and there was a
disused limestone quarry, all wreathed over with creeping plants, a
birch tree growing up all white and silvery in the middle, and above the
house and garden was wood, not of fine trees, and interspersed with
rocks, but giving shade and shelter. The opposite side had likewise
fields below, with one grey farm house peeping in sight, and red cattle
feeding in one, and above the same rocky woodland, meeting the other
at the quarry; and then after a little cascade had tumbled down from the
steeper ground, giving place to the heathery peaty moor, which ended,
more than two miles off in a torr like a small sphinx. This could not be
seen from Magdalen's territory, but from the highest walk in her
kitchen garden, she could see the square tower of Arnscombe, her
parish church; and on a clear day, the glittering water of Rockstone
bay.
To Magdalen it was a delightful view, and delightful too had been the
arranging of her house, and preparing for her sisters. All the furniture
and contents of the abode had been left to her. It was solid and
handsome of its kind, belonging to the days of the retired Q.C., and
some of it would have been displaced for what was more fresh and
tasteful if Magdalen had not consulted economy. So she depended on
basket-chairs, screens, brackets and drapery to enliven the ancient
mahagony and rosewood, and she had accumulated a good many water
colours, vases and knick-knacks. The old grand piano was found to be
past its work, so that she went the length of purchasing a cottage one
for the drawing-room, and another for the sitting-room that was to be
the girls' own property, and on which she expended much care and
contrivance. It opened into the drawing-room, and like it, had glass
doors into the verandah, as well as another door into the little hall. The
drawing-room had a bow window looking over the fields towards the
South, and this way too looked the dining-room, in which Magdalen
bestowed whatever was least interesting, such as the "Hume and
Smollett" and "Gibbon" of her grandfather's library and her own school
books, from which she hoped to teach Thekla.
Her upstairs arrangements had for the moment been rather disturbed by

Mrs. Best's wishing to come with her pupils; but she decided that
Agatha should at once take possession of her own pretty room, and the
two next sisters of theirs, while she herself would sleep in the dressing
room which she destined to Thekla, giving up her own chamber to Mrs.
Best for these few days, and sending Thekla's little bed to Agatha's
room.
And there she stood, on the little terrace, thinking how lovely the
purple light on the moor was, and how all the newcomers would enjoy
such a treat.
She had abstained from meeting them at the station, having respect to
the capacities of the horse, even upon his native hills, and she had hired
a farmer's cart to meet them and bring their luggage. Already she had a
glimpse of the carriage, toiling up one hill, then disappearing between
the hedges, and it was long before her gate, already open, was reached,
and at her own OWN door, she received her little sister, followed by
the others. And the first word she heard even before she had time to pay
the driver was, "My dear Magdalen, what a road!"
Poor Mrs. Best! as the payment was put into the man's hand, Magdalen
looked round and saw she looked quite worn out.
"Yes," said Paulina, "bumped to pieces and tired to death."
"I was afraid they had been mending the roads," said Magdalen.
"Mending! Strewing them with rocks, if you please," said Agatha.
"And such a distance!" added Paulina.
"Not quite three miles," replied Magdalen. "Here is some tea to repair
you."
"My dear Magdalen"--in a chorus--"that really is quite impossible. It
must be five, at least."
"Your nearest town ten miles off!" sighed