therewasagreattree，withabenchallroundthetrunk，midwaybetweenthechurchgatesandthelittleinn。Thewoodenstockswereclosetothegates。Mollyhadlongpassedthelimitofherrides，butsheknewthismustbethevillageofHamley，andtheymustbeveryneartothehall。Theyswunginatthegatesoftheparkinafewminutes，anddroveupthroughmeadow—grass，ripeningforhay，—itwasnograndaristocraticdeer—parkthis—totheoldred—brickhall；notthreehundredyardsfromthehigh—road。
Therehadbeennofootmansentwiththecarriage，butarespectableservantstoodatthedoor，evenbeforetheydrewup，readytoreceivetheexpectedvisitor，andtakeherintothedrawing—roomwherehismistresslayawaitingher。MrsHamleyrosefromhersofatogiveMollyagentlewelcome；shekeptthegirl’shandinhersaftershehadfinishedspeaking，lookingintoherface，asifstudyingit，andunconsciousofthefaintblushshecalledupontheotherwisecolourlesscheeks。’Ithinkweshallbegreatfriends，’saidshe，atlength。’Ilikeyourface，andIamalwaysguidedbyfirstimpressions。Givemeakiss，mydear。’Itwasfareasiertobeactivethanpassiveduringthisprocessof’swearingeternalfriendship，’andMollywillinglykissedthesweetpalefacehelduptoher。’Imeanttohavegoneandfetchedyoumyself；buttheheatoppressesme，andIdidnotfeeluptotheexertion。Ihopeyouhadapleasantdrive？’’Very，’saidMolly，withshyconciseness。’AndnowIwilltakeyoutoyourroom；Ihavehadyouputclosetome；
Ithoughtyouwouldlikeitbetter，eventhoughitwasasmallerroomthantheother。’Sheroselanguidly，andwrappingherlightshawlroundheryetelegantfigure，ledthewayupstairs。Molly’sbedroomopenedoutofMrsHamley’sprivatesitting—room；ontheothersideofwhichwasherownbedroom。SheshowedMollythiseasymeansofcommunication，andthen，tellinghervisitorshewouldawaitherinthesitting—room，sheclosedthedoor，andMollywasleftatleisuretomakeacquaintancewithhersurroundings。Firstofall，shewenttothewindowtoseewhatwastobeseen。Aflower—gardenrightbelow；ameadowofripegrassjustbeyond，changingcolourinlongsweeps，asthesoftwindblewoverit；greatoldforest—treesalittleononeside；and，beyondthemagain，tobeseenonlybystandingveryclosetothesideofthewindow—sill，orbyputtingherheadout，ifthewindowwasopen，thesilvershimmerofamere，aboutaquarterofamileoff。
Ontheoppositesidetothetreesandthemere，thelook—outwasboundedbytheoldwallsandhigh—peakedroofsoftheextensivefarm—buildings。
Thedeliciousnessoftheearlysummersilencewasonlybrokenbythesongofthebirds，andthenearerhumofbees。Listeningtothesesounds，whichenhancedtheexquisitesenseofstillness，andpuzzlingoutobjectsobscuredbydistanceorshadow，Mollyforgotherself，andwassuddenlystartledintoasenseofthepresentbyasoundofvoicesinthenextroom—someservantorotherspeakingtoMrsHamley。Mollyhurriedtounpackherbox，andarrangeherfewclothesintheprettyold—fashionedchestofdrawers，whichwastoserveherasdressing—tableaswell。Allthefurnitureintheroomwasasold—fashionedandaswell—preservedasitcouldbe。ThechintzcurtainswereIndiancalicoofthelastcentury—thecoloursalmostwashedout，butthestuffitselfexquisitelyclean。Therewasalittlestripofbedsidecarpeting，butthewoodenflooring，thusliberallydisplayed，wasoffinely—grainedoak，sofirmlyjoined，planktoplank，thatnograinofdustcouldmakeitswayintotheinterstices。Therewerenoneoftheluxuriesofmoderndays；nowriting—table，orsofa，orpier—glass。Inonecornerofthewallswasabracket，holdinganIndianjarfilledwithpot—pourri；