AndthenhediscourseduponhispresentpositionasostlerattheRoseandCrown，andhowgreatlysuperioritwastohisformerone，incomfortandfreedom，thoughinferiorinoutwardrespectability；andenteredintovariousdetailsrespectingthedomesticeconomyattheGrove，andthecharactersofMrs。Hargraveandherson，——towhichIgavenoheed，beingtoomuchoccupiedwithmyownanxious，flutteringanticipationsandwiththecharacterofthecountrythroughwhichwepassed，that，inspiteoftheleaflesstreesandsnowyground，hadforsometimebeguntomanifestunequivocalsignsoftheapproachtoagentleman’scountryseat。`Arewenotnearthehouse？’saidI，interruptinghiminthemiddleofhisdiscourse。`Yes，sir；yond’sthepark。’Myheartsankwithinmetobeholdthatstatelymansioninthemidstofitsexpansivegrounds-heparkasbeautifulnow，initswintrygarb，asitcouldbeinitssummerglory；themajesticsweep，theundulatingswellandfall，displayedtofulladvantageinthatrobeofdazzlingpurity，stainlessandprintless——saveonelong，windingtrackleftbythetroopingdeer——thestatelytimber-treeswiththeirheavyladenbranchesgleamingwhiteagainstthedull，greysky；thedeep，encirclingwoods；thebroadexpanseofwatersleepinginfrozenquiet；andtheweepingashandwillowdroopingtheirsnowcladboughsaboveit——allpresentedapicture，striking，indeed，andpleasingtoanunencumberedmind，butbynomeansencouragingtome。Therewasonecomforthowever，-allthiswasentaileduponlittleArthur，andcouldnotunderanycircumstances，strictlyspeaking，behismother’s。Buthowwasshesituated？Overcomingwithasuddeneffortmyrepugnancetomentionhernametomygarrulouscompanion，Iaskedhimifheknewwhetherherlatehusbandhadleftawill，andhowthepropertyhadbeendisposedof。Oh，yes，heknewallaboutit；andI
wasquicklyinformedthattoherhadbeenleftthefullcontrolandmanagementoftheestateduringherson’sminority，besidestheabsolute，unconditionalpossessionofherownfortunebutIknewherfatherhadnotgivenhermuch，andthesmalladditionalsumthathadbeensettleduponherbeforemarriage。
Beforethecloseoftheexplanation，wedrewupattheparkgates。
Nowforthetrial——ifIshouldfindherwithin——butalas！shemightbestillatStaningley：herbrotherhadgivenmenointimationtothecontrary。
Ienquiredattheporter’slodgeifMrs。Huntingdonwereathome。No，shewaswithherauntin——hire，butwasexpectedtoreturnbeforeChristmas。