crossing the stream by a foot-bridge, and leading across the fields
towards Dillsborough. This bridge is, perhaps, the prettiest spot
in Bragton, or, for that matter, anywhere in the county round; but.
even here there is not much of beauty to be praised. It is here, on
the side of the river away from the house, that the home meet of
the hounds used to be held; and still the meet at Bragton Bridge is
popular in the county.



CHAPTER III

The Masters Family


At six o'clock one November morning, Mr. Masters, the attorney, was
sitting at home with his family in the large parlour of his house,
his office being on the other side of the passage which cut the
house in two and was formally called the hall. Upstairs, over the
parlour, was a drawing-room; but this chamber, which was supposed
to be elegantly furnished, was very rarely used. Mr. and Mrs.
Masters did not see much company, and for family purposes the
elegance of the drawing-room made it unfit. It added, however, not
a little to the glory of Mrs. Masters' life. The house itself was a
low brick building in the High Street, at the corner where the High
Street runs into the market-place, and therefore, nearly opposite
to the Bush. It had none of the elaborate grandeur of the inn nor
of the simple stateliness of Hoppet Hall, but, nevertheless, it
maintained the character of the town and was old, substantial,
respectable, and dark.