But lo! the duck knew its benefactor; and whenever my father appeared outside his door, it would catch sight of him, flap from the pond, gain the lawn, and hobble after him (for it never quite recovered the use of its left leg) till it reached the walk by the peaches; and there sometimes it would sit, gravely watching its master's deambulations, sometimes stroll by his side, and, at all events, never leave him till, at his return home, he fed it with his own hands; and, quacking her peaceful adieus, the nymph then retired to her natural element.
With the exception of my mother's favorite morning-room, the principal sitting-rooms--that is, the study, the diningroom, and what was emphatically called "the best drawing-room," which was only occupied on great occasions--looked south.

Tall beeches, firs, poplars, and a few oaks backed the house, and indeed surrounded it on all sides but the south; so that it was well sheltered from the winter cold and the summer heat.

Our principal domestic, in dignity and station, was Mrs.Primmins, who was waiting gentlewoman, housekeeper, and tyrannical dictatrix of the whole establishment.

Two other maids, a gardener, and a footman, composed the rest of the serving household.

Save a few pasture-fields, which he let, my father was not troubled with land.