"The fishing's quite good in season. Mr. Glenarm
used to take great pleasure in it. Bass,-yes, sir. Mr.
Glenarm held there was nothing quite equal to a black
bass."
I liked the way the fellow spoke of my grandfather.
He was evidently a loyal retainer. No doubt he could
summon from the past many pictures of my grandfather,
and I determined to encourage his confidence.
Any resentment I felt on first hearing the terms of
my grandfather's will had passed. He had treated me
as well as I deserved, and the least I could do was to
accept the penalty he had laid upon me in a sane and
amiable spirit. This train of thought occupied me as
we tramped along the highway. The road now led away
from the lake and through a heavy wood. Presently, on
the right loomed a dark barrier, and I put out my hand
and touched a wall of rough stone that rose to a height
of about eight feet.
"What is this, Bates?" I asked.
"This is Glenarm land, sir. The wall was one of
your grandfather's ideas. It's a quarter of a mile long
and cost him a pretty penny, I warrant you. The road
turns off from the lake now, but the Glenarm property
is all lake front."
So there was a wall about my prison house! I grinned
cheerfully to myself. When, a few moments later, my
guide paused at an arched gateway in the long wall,
drew from his overcoat a bunch of keys and fumbled at
the lock of an iron gate, I felt the spirit of adventure
quicken within me.
The gate clicked behind us and Bates found a lantern
and lighted it with the ease of custom.
"I use this gate because it's nearer. The regular entrance
is farther down the road. Keep close, sir, as the
timber isn't much cleared."
The undergrowth was indeed heavy, and I followed
the lantern of my guide with difficulty. In the darkness
the place seemed as wild and rough as a tropical wilderness.
"Only a little farther," rose Bates' voice ahead of
me; and then: "There's the light, sir,"-and, lifting
my eyes, as I stumbled over the roots of a great tree, I
saw for the first time the dark outlines of Glenarm
House.
"Here we are, sir!" exclaimed Bates, stamping his
feet upon a walk. I followed him to what I assumed to
be the front door of the house, where a lamp shone
brightly at either side of a massive entrance. Bates
flung it open without ado, and I stepped quickly into
a great hall that was lighted dimly by candles fastened
into brackets on the walls.
"I hope you've not expected too much, Mr. Glenarm,"
said Bates, with a tone of mild apology. "It's very incomplete
for living purposes."