Notes in England and Italy . me ; then again to woodlands. We went on andon, I looking, at first, to see the towers of the Abbeyon some eminence, forgetting that religious- houseswere always hidden in vales,—indeed forgetting thatiSTewstead Abbey ever was a religious house, till I wagreminded. Presently a light gig came up behind us,with a lady and gentleman and little boy. We wereastonished at this, because we had been led to sup-pose that no vehicle was allowed to approach inthat way. They passed us; but stopped at an in-ner gate, which w^e now saw ahead, and the ladyalighted, and the gentle
Notes in England and Italy . me ; then again to woodlands. We went on andon, I looking, at first, to see the towers of the Abbeyon some eminence, forgetting that religious- houseswere always hidden in vales,—indeed forgetting thatiSTewstead Abbey ever was a religious house, till I wagreminded. Presently a light gig came up behind us,with a lady and gentleman and little boy. We wereastonished at this, because we had been led to sup-pose that no vehicle was allowed to approach inthat way. They passed us; but stopped at an in-ner gate, which w^e now saw ahead, and the ladyalighted, and the gentleman and boy returned. Thelady climbed up a steep path on the left, evidentlyto obtain a view of the place, and we entered thegate, trusting now that we were near, for I was foot-weary. Soon we saw a gleam of water, and a small flagflying from a tower. This is a sign always in Eng-land that the family is at home. When we arrivedat the lawn before the front, I was surprised thatthe Abbey was not much larger. I had imagined a. NEWSTEAD ABBEY. 9i very extensive range of buiklmgs, and a hroaclj giit-teiino- lake before tliem. But a wkle lawn inter-venes between tlie house and a small lake, nearwhich are the stables, a row of low, stone, castel-lated edifices. On the lawn we met an old man,who said we had only to ring at the porch-bell, andsome one would admit us. A small footman wel-comed US with a smile and cordial O jes whenwe requested entrance, so that it was plain what themasters spirit was about receiving guests. We en-tered a low gallery, with a groined stone roof, risingfrom thick pillars, like the columns and arches of acrypt. There was a boat of light material and con-struction on the pavement, and I meant to ask whatits history was, but entirely forgot it. Heavy oak-carved chairs stood against one side, and everythingwas scrupulously exact and ordered. After the boyleft us, it was some time before we saw any one, buta,t last a highly respectable dame appeared, andafter
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookidnotesinengla, bookyear1875
