He said so, with an expression of surprise at the
beauty of the place, where the fern grew deep under giant oaks and
beeches, and where the mossy ground dipped suddenly down to a deep still
pool which reflected the sunlit sky through a break in the dark foliage
that sheltered it.
"What, have you never been here?" exclaimed the Captain; "then you have
never seen Heatherly, I suppose?"
"Never. By the way, is not that Sir David Forster's place?" asked
Gilbert, remembering John Saltram's promise.
He had seen very little more of his friend after that visit to
Rivercombe, and had half forgotten Mr. Saltram's talk of coming down to
this neighbourhood on purpose to be presented to Marian.
"Yes. It is something of a show-place, too; and we think a good deal of
it in these parts. There are some fine Sir Joshuas among the family
portraits, painted in the days when the Forsters were better off and of
more importance in the county than they are now. And there are a few
other good pictures--Dutch interiors, and some seascapes by Bakhuysen.
Decidedly you ought to see Heatherly. Shall we push on there this
afternoon?"
"Is it far from here?"
"Not much more than a mile. This wood joins the park, and there is a
public right of way across the park to the Lidford road, so the gate is
always open.
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