called him so yourself!"

"Yes, ride forward," said Sophie, smiling. "By that means you will
oblige my sister. She might otherwise be quite frightened, did she
see such a mighty caravan approach the house, did she had not
properly prepared the dinner-table."

"As my gracious young lady commands!" said the rider, and sprang
forward.

The country became more woody; the road passed various small lakes,
almost overgrown with water-lilies and shaded by old trees; the
old-fashioned, indented gable-ends of the hall now peeped forth.
They drove through an avenue of wild chestnut-trees; the stone
pavement here threatened to smash the carriage axles. On the right
lay the forge, through the open door of which flew the sparks. A
little girl, with bare feet, opened a gate, and they now found
themselves in a large open space before the red-painted out-buildings.
The ground was covered with straw, and all the cows of the farm were
collected here for milking. Here they were obliged to drive, step
by step, until by the gateway they reached the larger courtyard,
which was inclosed by the barns and the principal building itself.
This was surrounded by broad ditches, almost grown over with reeds.
Over a solid bridge, resting upon pillars of masonry, and through
a principal wing which bore the armorial bearings and initials of
the old possessor, they arrived in the innermost court, which was
shut in by three wings, the antique one already mentioned, and two
others: the fourth side was inclosed by a low trellis-work which
adjoined the garden, where the canals lost themselves in a small lake.