grand-uncle's estate, but the lie of the country around it. There are
many things on which we may seek--and perhaps find--enlightenment. The
more we know at the start, the more things which may come into our view
will develop themselves."




CHAPTER III--DIANA'S GROVE


Curiosity took Adam Salton out of bed in the early morning, but when he
had dressed and gone downstairs; he found that, early as he was, Sir
Nathaniel was ahead of him. The old gentleman was quite prepared for a
long walk, and they started at once.

Sir Nathaniel, without speaking, led the way to the east, down the hill.
When they had descended and risen again, they found themselves on the
eastern brink of a steep hill. It was of lesser height than that on
which the Castle was situated; but it was so placed that it commanded the
various hills that crowned the ridge. All along the ridge the rock
cropped out, bare and bleak, but broken in rough natural castellation.
The form of the ridge was a segment of a circle, with the higher points
inland to the west. In the centre rose the Castle, on the highest point
of all. Between the various rocky excrescences were groups of trees of
various sizes and heights, amongst some of which were what, in the early
morning light, looked like ruins. These--whatever they were--were of
massive grey stone, probably limestone rudely cut--if indeed they were
not shaped naturally. The fall of the ground was steep all along the
ridge, so steep that here and there both trees and rocks and buildings