This
time, however, he heard the news gladly; and, carefully securing the
three notes by pinning them inside his pocket, he set out for his ten
miles walk across the tableland to the other side of the mountains, where
Danesford lay. His nearest way led straight by Fern's Hollow, and he saw
that already upon the old site the foundation was laid for a new house
containing three rooms. In everything else the aspect of the place
remained unchanged; there still hung the creaking wicket, where little
Nan had been wont to look for his coming home, until she could run with
outstretched arms to meet him. The beehives stood yet beneath the hedge,
and the bees were flying to and fro, seeking out the few flowers of the
autumn upon the hillside. The fern upon the uplands, just behind the
hollow, was beginning to die, and its rich red-brown hue showed that it
was ready to be cut and carried away for fodder; but a squatter from some
other hill-hut had trespassed upon Stephen's old domain. Except this one
man, the whole tableland was deserted; and so silent was it that the
rustle of his own feet through the fading ferns sounded like other
footsteps following him closely.
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