The Eldest Son

the Clintons of Kencote, had an air slightly depressing as Dick and the twins came to it through the yew-enclosed garden at the back. White bli

all, had died at a great age a few months before, and Aunt Laura, the youngest, who was now seventy-eight, had removed herself and her belongings to a smaller house in the village. Neither Dick nor, of course, the twins had ever known the dower-house unassociated with the quiet lives of the old ladies, and they

e and refurnished later still, in the reign of Queen Victoria. Nor had the beautiful things of which the dower-house was full been valued in the least by their owners until long after the six maiden aunts had gone to live there. They had been simply old-fashioned in the eyes of the Squire, their owner, and were so still

to live in i

kies, let's play a game. Supposing I ever got married, I shou

abelled. It seemed, however, that Dick was prepared to play the game seriously, for after they had fixed the dining-room, drawing-room, morning-room, and smoking-room, and a tiny oak parlour which the aunts

nd come and live here?" asked Joan, as he be

is than meets the e

," replied Dick. "But I'll tell you exactly how i

er not,"

e all agog,"

l, then, it must be done up, eh? And if I come and live in it some day, I don

Joan; "but it's a l

aid Nancy, "but I still think ther

d kitchen, which still retained its

er place for cooking. The cellar's all right, so is the pantry-and big enough for two. We'll divide it up, eh

k!"' observed Nancy. "Where are the maids to brush

o stay must expect some inconveniences. I don't see any place for a

when he planned them. He had certainly wasted a great deal of room. The main corridor opened out here and there into broad spaces, where there was perhaps a bookcase, or a low seat under a latticed window, or only the rich emptiness of the square of oak panelling, the poli

panels of linen pattern, with a plastered frieze and an oak-beamed ceiling. There was also a heavy carved oak bed, in which Aunt Ellen had re

he trees cut down," said Dick. "The place is like a family vault.

carved panelling, dark with age, ought to remain as it was. Nancy felt so still more strongly. "It would be wi

one of Nancy's rhapsodies, Dick?"

room. Her pretty, mischievous face was framed in the thick fall of her fair hair and the fur round her throat. She wore a little fur cap and a red coat, and a big muff hung from her shoulders. Dick, always

pleasure in having such a jolly house to live in with her they loved best in the world. A few years would pass and the rooms would echo with the voices and steps of little children, and all would be gaiety and mirth. Then a change would come over the spirit of the scene. The young couple would go with their family to the great house, and in their stead would come a sad-faced figure in

my word!" in

which has its roots far back in history, and has been distinguished for many things, but not particularly for brains, as far as I can make out from my recent researches. But at last there has arisen one who wil

pple of laughter, s

go and look at the stables. Is it true that you suddenly find yo

he has been talking about nothing but her brains for the la

to write books when I get a little older. But of course I must be properly educated firs

ugh I don't admire your way of describing

you object to, I learnt it from you,

ke that do, but they're all on the slant. We'd better beg

house," said Joan. "I say, Dick, there is somethi

isn't bad," he said. "Harness-room wants refurnis

ase. "Dick, will you persuade fa

is would be all right f

ver had anything to ride

don't know whether you want a pig-stye, by any chance. I'll give you this one if you do-ridiculous place to put it! This is where

. "I don't know why you want to go putting your oar in abou

"Look here! that's not the way t

ancy. I feel that I'm trembling un

she only meant that I betted her four weeks' pocket-mo

ut you've done it

body to look after you," said Dick. "Who on ea

and he betted us a shilling each that he would bring down the

bet again, but he

eculation which we shall proba

are not to bet with each other, you two. And that bet about the p

bediently. "But what does a b

me as hedging

your arranging with each other to get things out of the governor, either-or anybody else.

I think we might be allowed to ride now. Of course, we didn't mean a pony, really. We

e of study," said Nancy, "and horse exercis

a lot of money making those links in the park,

help us about ri

d for hunting, and I'm not going to advi

d. "You don't know how to treat a man. You must never blurt thin

asking father, Dick, w

"And remember what I told you about being on the make. You're nice

she's got a hard row to hoe. I can't

, with a square, brick-walled garden behind it. The agent had occupied it bef

day, but a visit from the Squire or one of his sons, and especially Dick, was an honour which never failed mildly to excite her. She was now in a flurry, and told the elderly maid who had shown her visitors in t

nd were hung with coloured prints. A recessed cupboard was full of beautiful old china; but there was nothing else of much value in the room, which was furnished with a Victorian drawing-room suite and a round rosewood table. The old lady had a pretty modern French tabl

ed. The dower-house was a very dear home to us, and we were greatly attached to it, but in the winter it was dark, and this is much more cheerful. It is cold to-day,

e you wanted to make you comfor

y years. But your dear father has been kindness itself, as he always is, and allowed me to have all my bedroom furniture brought here, so that in my room upstairs I feel quite at home. And for the downstairs rooms he told me that any pictures or china and so forth that I had a fancy for

t in the way of furniture, Aunt Laura," he said, "anything you've got atta

ch worn, as you see, and was never a very good one, but I have half formed a plan of going over to Bathgate when the spring comes and seeing if I can get one something after the pattern of that in the morning-room at the dower-house, which your aunts and I used much to admire. It was old and somewhat faded, but its

it sent down for Aunt Laura's use, but he immediately did so, and the old lady's gratitude

ep our few business papers-for there was a very good lock-not that there was any necessity to lock things up at the dower-house, for everything was under Hannah's charge, and, although she is apt to be a little flighty in her dress, and your dear Aunt Ellen sometimes rebuked her for that, but always kindly, she w

it was a very fine specimen of Dutch marquetry, and the piece of furniture that had struck him as the most desirable of all he had just seen in the do

re, and I shall think upon them with very great pleasure. I'm sure I cannot thank you enough, dear Dick, for your kindness. It is of a piece with all the rest. Why, I do not believe you have yet seen my beautiful table. Children dear, see here! Is it not convenient? I can place my favourite book here by my side, and when I am

aura," said Joan. "W

. No, I am telling you a story. It was Thursday afte

, Aunt Laura?" a

table as this, which I admit I did say I should like to possess, but certainly with no idea that he would purchase one for me. But there! all you dear boys and girls

dy for luncheon Joan said, "I wonder why Humphre

y. "Did you notice how surprised Dick looked when

cause he asked me to open a tailor's bill that came for him and tell him the 'demnition total,' as he was afraid to do it

an, do you think he is making up to Aunt La

. "Of course, none of the boys would do a thing li

reflectively. "I expect father give

ch her father had left to her and her sisters, and she had, besides,