346 THE HOME OF A NATURALIST. 



She found herself trembling whenever she tried to 

 open one of the long-closed doors, and a thousand 

 excuses came to prevent her from doing that which 

 makes a thing half done. 



Day followed on day, and still Miss Ingath had not 

 set to her task, and old papers, rusty weapons, broken 

 toys, faded dresses, cracked china, family portraits 

 remained untouched. 



One morning Miss Halcro was roused early by a 

 great commotion, and presently her maid burst in with 

 intelligence. A number of workmen had arrived, and 

 had been set to work by Mr. Nemo. 



They were repairing stone fences, planting bushes, 

 and weeding fields. They had brought cart-loads of 

 furniture, and had been to some of the empty rooms 

 planning what was to be done to them. 



Orgert was indeed to be renewed with the new owner, 

 and it was high time that the old order gave place. 



" I must begin now," Miss Ingath told herself sternly ; 

 and straightway she went to what was known as the 

 Yarl's counting-room, where the greater part of the 

 family documents were kept. 



With her lips hard set together, spinster Miss 

 Ingath, aged thirty-five, dignified, beyond the age of 

 romance, never touched by that keen sympathy which 

 keeps a heart young for ever, hardened by poverty, 

 made selfish by loneliness — seated herself before the 

 bureau which had been her father's desk, and his 

 father's and grandfather's, and so on back to the time 

 of Odin, if you please to believe it. 



