Excerpt: ...'May I be admitted?' he asked ceremoniously. I made a sign to him to ride round to the door, for I could not speak aloud: it would have been rude to the memories that haunted the silent house. 'May I come in for a few minutes, Mr Cumbermede?' he asked again, already at the door by the time I had opened it. 'By all means, Mr Coningham, ' I replied. 'Only you must tie your horse to this ring, for we-I-have no stable here.' 'I've done this before, ' he answered, as he made the animal fast. 'I know the ways of the place well enough. But surely you're not here in absolute solitude?' 'Yes, I am. I prefer being alone at present.' 'Very unhealthy, I must say! You will grow hypochondriacal if you mope in this fashion, ' he returned, following me up-stairs to my room. 'A day or two of solitude now and then would, I suspect, do most people more good than harm, ' I answered. 'But you must not think I intend leading a hermit's life. Have you heard that my aunt-?' 'Yes, yes.-You are left alone in the world. But relations are not a man's only friends-and certainly not always his best friends.' I made no reply, thinking of my uncle. 'I did not know you were down, ' he resumed. 'I was calling at my father's, and seeing your light across the park, thought it possible you might be here, and rode over to see. May I take the liberty of asking what your plans are?' he added, seating himself by the fire. 'I have hardly had time to form new ones; but I mean to stick to my work, anyhow.' 'You mean your profession?' 'Yes, if you will allow me to call it such. I have had success enough already to justify me in going on.' 'I am more pleased than surprised to hear it, ' he answered. 'But what will you do with the old nest?' 'Let the old nest wait for the old bird, Mr Coningham-keep it to die in.' 'I don't like to hear a young fellow talking that way, ' he remonstrated. 'You've got a long life to live yet-at least I hope so. But if you leave the house untenanted till the...