It had been built by his grandfather on the female side,--a country gentleman who had actually been in Italy (a journey rare enough to boast of in those days), and who, on his return home, had attempted a miniature imitation of an Italian villa.

He left an only daughter and sole heiress, who married Squire Hazeldean's father; and since that time, the house, abandoned by its proprietors for the larger residence of the Hazeldeans, had been uninhabited and neglected.

Several tenants, indeed, had offered themselves; but your true country squire is slow in admitting upon his own property a rival neighbour.

Some wanted shooting.

"That," said the Hazeldeans, who were great sportsmen and strict preservers, "was quite out of the question." Others were fine folks from London.