ON SURREY HILLS. 



feels eerie. It impresses me the more because the 

 last time I was here I heard the history of this spot, 

 and stories of its people, from one of the old lord's 

 own retainers. I saw the noble mansion too, then — 

 one of the finest brick houses I have ever seen, or 

 ever shall see. Its roof showed from the fine park 

 two miles below us. Both inside and out it was 

 familiar enough to me, for I have worked on it my- 

 self Directly you entered the long stone pas- 

 sage, from a side or business entrance leading from 

 the park, you felt you were in one of the famous 

 mansions of a past age. Everything, from basement 

 to roof, was on a grand scale. Massive woodwork in 

 profusion showed everywhere. The doorways had 

 each of them nearly enough timber for the building 

 of what is nowadays considered a good room. Fluted 

 and carved, the work was a perfect mine of wealth so 

 far as skilled labour was concerned. All was good 

 and thorough — doubtless a source of lifelong satis- 

 faction to both owner and builder. To myself it was 

 always a joy to be there, and my business made me 

 intimately acquainted with it and all its surroundings. 

 The hall was grand : a carriage and pair might have 

 driven in and out of it. As to the art treasures con- 



