MR. URBAN AND A CO UNTR Y HO USE. 257 



removal of partition walls as are surprising. The 

 ceilings, too, must needs show ugly patches, and it 

 would be wiser (the amiable mason suggests) to re- 

 plaster altogether. There must be new hearths too, 

 and in place of an awkward patched floor perhaps it 

 would be better to renew the flooring. This being 

 undertaken, it is found that the sleepers are awry, 

 and to make square work the carpenter suggests a 

 replacement of the flooring timber. This being 

 accomplished, it is hinted by the observant mistress 

 that the windows are hardly in keeping, and the 

 order is given for new frames and sashes. The 

 doors must needs match the windows ; and next- 

 there is a sly regret that the plain ceilings should not 

 have their fretting of a town cornice : and so the 

 poor old house is gradually dwarfed with a great 

 burden of pretentious modernisms that it can carry 

 with no grace. Even the mater familias has at last 

 her disappointments, and says quietly : " Sylvanus (it 

 is of Mr. Urban that I write), I think 'twould have 

 been perhaps better to build a new house." 

 Un qu estionably. 



Site and Material. 



BUT if new, what is to be said of site, of material, 

 of style? Not absolutely upon a hill-top, I 

 should say, unless there be some great flanking wood 



