On the strips of rough turf before the gate and within it bloomed the spring flowers, white and blue.

A hound lay stretched in the sunshine on the hall steps; twitching his ears to keep off a persistent fly.

You would have sworn that his was the only intelligence in the place.

Yet at the sound of the iron latch of the gate and the squire's footsteps on the stones, the place, so to say, became alive, though in a furtive and secret manner.

Over the half door of the stable entrance on the left two faces appeared--one, which was Dick's, sullen and angry, the other, that of a stable-boy, inquiring and frankly interested.