House and Garden 
WINDOW IN THE ENTRANCE HALL CLAYDON HOUSE 
fact that both hold to their primitive sites. 
In spite of Lord Fermanagh’s new pur¬ 
chases, the old house at Middle Claydon 
still remained the family seat. In that all 
their memories centered. To it the sons ot 
the house brought their new-made brides. 
Amongst its pleasant gardens played succes¬ 
sive generations of the Verney children. 
Under its kindly rooftree gathered friends 
and kinsfolk, who never ceased to think of 
the Claydon hospitality as men think of the 
fire in winter. There, too, dependent rela¬ 
tives found a home full ot affection, and 
void of any shadow of patronage. Such was 
Doll Leake, a poor cousin of Sir Ralph’s, a 
good maid and a merry. There, too, tell 
on the family the solemnities of death, when 
the still form laid out on the great state bed 
with its black hangings, became the center 
of the household’s thoughts. This funereal 
