I was anxious for you to be here when a rather important phase of our local history occurred." "What is that, if I may ask, sir ?" "Certainly.

The principal landowner of our part of the county is on his way home, and there will be a great home-coming, which you may care to see.

The fact is, for more than a century the various owners in the succession here, with the exception of a short time, have lived abroad." "How is that, sir, if I may ask ?" "The great house and estate in our part of the world is Castra Regis, the family seat of the Caswall family.

The last owner who lived here was Edgar Caswall, grandfather of the man who is coming here--and he was the only one who stayed even a short time.

This man's grandfather, also named Edgar--they keep the tradition of the family Christian name--quarrelled with his family and went to live abroad, not keeping up any intercourse, good or bad, with his relatives, although this particular Edgar, as I told you, did visit his family estate, yet his son was born and lived and died abroad, while his grandson, the latest inheritor, was also born and lived abroad till he was over thirty--his present age.