'The Park' 107 



so much from home that their existence was almost 

 forgotten, and they were spoken of vaguely as ' on the 

 Continent.' There was, in fact, a lack of ready-money, 

 perhaps from the accumulation of settlements, that 

 reduced the nominal income of the head to a tithe of 

 what it should have been. 



Yet they were too proud to have in the modern 

 builder, the modern upholsterer, and, most dreadful 

 of all, the modern * gardener,' to put in French sashes, 

 gilding and mirrors, and to root up the fine old yew 

 hedges and level the grand old trees. Such is the 

 usual preparation before an advertisement appears 

 that a mansion of ' historic association,' and ' replete 

 with every modern convenience,' is to let, with some 

 thousand of acres of shooting, &c. 



They still kept up an establishment of servants — 

 after a fashion — who did much as they pleased. 

 Dickon was a great favourite. As for myself, a mere 

 dreamy lad, I could go into the woods and wander as 

 I liked, which was sufficient. But I recollect the 

 immense kitchen very well, and the polished relics of 

 the ancient turnspit machinery. There was a door 

 from it opening on a square stone-flagged court with 

 a vertical sun-dial on the wall ; and beyond that 

 ranges of disused coach-houses — all cloudy, as it were, 

 with cobwebs hanging on old-fashioned post-chaises. 



