Butnatureisnotsounfairtohonestmenastogivewisdomtothecunning。RarelydoesreasonprevailagainstpassioninsuchamindasSeverne\'s。Itended，asmighthavebeenexpected，inhisgoingdowntoVizardCourtwithZoe。
AnexpresstrainsoonwhirledthemdowntoTaddington，inBarfordshire。
TherewasHarris，withthreeservants，waitingforthem，onewithalightcartfortheirluggage，andtwowithanopencarriageandtwospankingbays，whosecoatsshonelikesatin。Theservants，liveried，andtop-booted，andbuckskin-gloved，andspruceasifjustoutofabandbox，wereallsmartnessandrespectfulzeal。Theygottheluggageoutinatrice，withHarris\'sassistance。Mr。Harristhendroveawaylikethewindinhisdog-cart；thetravelingpartyweresooninthebarouche。Itglidedaway，andtheyrolledoneasyspringsattherateoftwelvemilesanhourtilltheycametothelodge-gate。Itwasopenedattheirapproach，andtheydrovefullhalfamileoverabroadgravelpath，withrichgrassoneachside，andgrandoldpatriarchs，oakandbeech，standinghereandthere，anddappleddeer，grazingorlying，inmottledgroups，tilltheycametoanobleavenueofloftylime-trees，withstemsofraresizeandsmoothness，andtoweringpilesonpilesoftranslucentleaves，thatglowedinthesunlikeflakesofgold。
Attheendofthisavenuewasseenanoldmansion，builtofthatbeautifulcleanredbrick——whichseemstohavediedout——andwhite-stonefacingsandmullions，withgablesandorielwindowsbythedozen；butbetweentheavenueandthehousewasalargeovalplotofturf，withabroadgravelroadrunningroundit；andattachedtothehouse，butthrownalittleback，werethestables，whichformedthreesidesofagood-sizedquadrangle，withanenormousclockinthecenter。Thelawn，kitchen-garden，ice-houses，pineries，greenhouses，revealedthemselvesonlyinpeepsasthecarriagesweptroundthespaciousplotanddrewupatthehalldoor。
Noringingofbellsnorknocking。Evenasthecoachmantightenedhisreins，thegreathalldoorwasswungopen，andtwofootmenappeared。