Themanor-houseofFerndeanwasabuildingofsiderableantiquity,moderatesize,andnoarchitecturalpretensions,deepburiedinawood.Ihadheardofitbefore.Mr.Rochesteroftenspokeofit,andsometimeswentthere.Hisfatherhadpurchasedtheestateforthesakeofthegamecovers.Hewouldhaveletthehouse,butcouldfind,insequesineligibleandinsalubrioussite.Ferhenremaineduninhabitedandunfurnished,withtheexceptionofsometwoorthreeroomsfittedupfortheaodationofthesquirewhehereintheseasontoshoot.

    TothishouseIcamejusteredarkonaneveningmarkedbythecharacteristicsofsadsky,coldgale,andtinuedsmallpeingraimileIperformedonfoot,havingdismissedthechaiseanddriverwiththedoubleremuionIhadpromised.Evehinaveryshortdistahemanor-house,youcouldseenothingofit,sothiddarkgrewthetimberofthegloomywoodaboutit.Iroweengranitepillarsshowedmewheretoenter,andpassingthroughthem,Ifoundmyselfatohetwilightofclose-rarees.Therewasagrass-growntrackdesdingtheforestaislebetweenhoarandknottyshaftsandunderbranchedarches.Ifollowedit,expegsoohedwelling;butitstretchedonandon,itwouldfarandfarther:nosignofhabitatiroundswasvisible.

    IthoughtIhadtakenawrongdireandlostmyway.Thedarknessofnaturalaswellasofsylvanduskgatheredoverme.Ilookedroundinsearchofanotherroad.Therewasnone:allwasinterwovenstem,nartrunk,densesummerfoliage—noopeninganywhere.

    Iproceeded:atlastmyehetreesthinnedalittle;presentlyIbeheldarailing,thenthehouse—scarce,bythisdimlight,distinguishablefromthetrees;sodankandgreesdegwalls.Enteringaportal,fastenedonlybyalatch,Istoodamidstaspaceo