of the road.

But, although reluctant to break the silence, at last interest in the
scene made Molly ask:

"Do you know the date?"

"Oh, Norman undoubtedly," said Mrs. Delaport Green; "the round towers,
you know. Round towers go back to almost any date."

Molly was dissatisfied. "You don't know what reign it was built in?"

"Some time soon after the Conqueror; I think Tim did tell me all about
it. He looked it up in some book last night."

As a matter of fact, the present Castle had been built under George
III., and the towers would have betrayed the fact to more educated
observers; while even Molly could see when they came close to the great
mass of building that the windows and, indeed, all the decoration was of
an inferior type of revived Gothic. But, however an architect might
shake his head at Groombridge, it was really a striking building,
massive and very well disposed, and in an astonishingly fine position,
commanding an immense view of a great plain on nearly three sides, while
to the east was stretched the rest of the range of splendidly-wooded
hills on the westerly point of which it was situated. In the sweet, soft
air many delicate trees and shrubs were developed as well as if they had
been in quite a sheltered place.

Lady Groombridge was giving tea to the first arrivals when Mrs. Delaport
Green and Molly were shown into the big hall of the Castle.