He was kindly received by the
servants, among whom Eppy was not present; and Mrs. Brookes, who had
a genuine respect for the cobbler, soon came to greet him. She told
him she knew no reason why Eppy had not gone to inquire after them
as usual: she would send for her, she said, and left the kitchen.
Eppy was not at the moment to be found, but Donal, whom mistress
Brookes had gone herself to seek, went at once to the kitchen.
"Will you come out a bit, Andrew," he said, "--if you're not tired?
It's a fine night, and it's easy to talk in the gloamin'!"
Andrew consented with alacrity.
On the side of the castle away from the town, the descent was at
first by a succession of terraces with steps from the one to the
other, the terraces themselves being little flower-gardens. At the
bottom of the last of these terraces and parallel with them, was a
double row of trees, forming a long narrow avenue between two little
doors in two walls at opposite ends of the castle. One of these led
to some of the offices; the other admitted to a fruit garden which
turned the western shoulder of the hill, and found for the greater
part a nearly southern exposure. At this time of the year it was a
lonely enough place, and at this time of the day more than likely to
be altogether deserted: thither Donal would lead his friend. Going
out therefore by the kitchen-door, they went first into a
stable-yard, from which descended steps to the castle-well, on the
level of the second terrace.
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