"And what do you think?"

"Oh, I agree with her, of course; his family dates back ages and
ages before the Conqueror, and he has two or three estates besides
Selwyn Park, and one in Scotland."

"Do you know, Lisbeth, that reminds me of another house - not at
all big or splendid, but of great age; a house which stands not far
from the village of Down, in Kent; a house which is going to rack
and ruin for want of a mistress. Sometimes, just as evening comes
on, I think it must dream of the light feet and gentle hands it has
known so many years ago, and feels its loneliness more than ever."

"Poor old house!" said Lisbeth softly.

"Yes, a house is very human, Lisbeth, especially an old one, and
feels the need of that loving care which only a woman can bestow,
just as we do ourselves."

"Dear old house 1" said Lisbeth, more softly than before.

"How much longer must it wait - when will you come and care for it,
Lisbeth?"

She started, and I thought her cheeks seemed a trifle pinker than
usual as her eyes met mine.

"Dick," she said wistfully, "I do wish you would get the ladder;
it's horribly uncomfortable to sit in a tree for hours and - "