Chapter I

fa?adeofCourtLeysinastraightlinetothegates,hadbeenonceratheranimposingsight,butnowannouncedclearlytheruinofanancienthouse.Hereandthereatreehaddiedandfallen,leavinganunsightlygap,andonehugetrunkstilllayuponthegroundafteraterrificstormoftheprecedingyear,lefttheretorotintheindifferenceofbailiffsandoftenants.Oneithersideoftheelmswasabroadstripofmeadowwhichoncehadbeenawell-keptlawn,butnowwasfoulwithdocksandrankweedsafewsheepnibbledthegrasswhereacenturyagofineladiesinhoopsandgentlemenwithperiwigshadsauntered,discussingthewarsandthelastvolumesofMr.Richardson.Beyondwasanill-trimmedhedge,andthenthebroadfieldsoftheLeyestate....Berthawalkeddown,lookingatthehighwaybeyondthegate.ItwasarelieftofeelnolongerMissLey’scoldeyesfixeduponhershehademotionsenoughinherbreast,theybeatagainstoneanotherlikebirdsinanetstrugglingtogetfreebutnotforworldswouldBerthahavebiddenanyonelookinherheartfullofexpectation,oflongings,ofahundredstrangedesires.ShewentoutonthehighroadthatledfromBlackstabletoTercanbury,shelookedupanddownwithatremor,andaquickbeatingoftheheart.Buttheroadwasempty,sweptbythewinterwind,andshealmostsobbedwithdisappointment. Shecouldnotreturntothehousearoofjustthenwouldstifleher,andthewallsseemedlikeaprison:therewasacertainpleasureinthebitingwindthatblewthroughherclothesandchilledhertothebone.Thewaitingwasterrible.Sheenteredthegroundsandlookedupthecarriage-drivetothebigwhitehousewhichwashers.Theveryroadwaywasinneedofrepair,andthedeadleavesthatnonetroubledaboutrustledhitherandthitherinthegustsofwind.Thehousestoodinitssquarenesswithoutrelationtoanyenvironment:builtinthereignofGeorgeII.,itseemedtohaveacquirednoholduponthelandwhichboreit.Withitsplainfrontandmanywindows,theDoricporticoexactlyinthemiddle,itlookedasifitweremerelyplaceduponthegroundasahouseofcardsisbuiltuponthefloor,withnofoundations.Thepassingyearshadgivenitnobeauty,anditstoodnowasformorethanacenturyithadstood,ablotuponthelandscape,vulgarandnew.Surroundedbythefields,ithadnogardenbutforafewbedsplantedaboutitsfeet,andinthesetheflowers,uncaredfor,hadgrownwildorwitheredaway. Thedaywasdecliningandtheloweringcloudsseemedtoshutoutthelight.Berthagaveuphop