It had been decided that they should dine early, and then ramble out, when the evening would be less hot than the day had been, to a spot called Niddon Park.

This was nearly three miles from Nuncombe, and was a beautiful wild slope of ground, full of ancient, blighted, blasted, but still half-living oaks,--oaks that still brought forth leaves,--overlooking a bend of the river Teign.

Park, in the usual sense of the word, there was none, nor did they who lived round Nuncombe Putney know whether Niddon Park had ever been enclosed.

But of all the spots in that lovely neighbourhood, Priscilla Stanbury swore that it was the loveliest; and, as it had never yet been seen by Mrs.Trevelyan or her sister, it was determined that they would walk there on this August afternoon.

There were four of them,--and, as was natural, they fell into parties of two and two.