Itwassurroundedbyaquadrangularwall，abouttenfeetinheight，withasquaretowerateachcorner。AtfirstIcoulddiscovernoentrance；walkinground，however，tothenorthernside，Ifoundawideandloftygatewaywithatoweraboveit，similartothoseattheanglesofthewall；onthissidethegroundslopedgentlydowntowardsthebog，whichwashereskirtedbyanabundantgrowthofcopse-woodandafewevergreenoaks。Ipassedthroughthegateway，andfoundmyselfwithinasquareinclosureofabouttwoacres。Ononesiderosearoundandloftykeep，ordonjon，withaconicalroof，partofwhichhadfallendown，strewingthesquarewithitsruins。Closetothekeep，ontheotherside，stoodtheremainsofanoblonghouse，builtsomethinginthemodernstyle，withvariouswindow-holes；nothingremainedbutthebarewallsandafewprojectingstumpsofbeams，whichseemedtohavebeenhalfburnt。
Theinteriorofthewallswasblackened，asifbyfire；firealsoappearedatonetimetohaveragedoutofthewindow-holes，fortheoutsideaboutthemwasblack，portentouslyso。’Iwonderwhathasbeengoingonhere？’Iexclaimed。
TherewereechoesamongthewallsasIwalkedaboutthecourt。I
enteredthekeepbyalowandfrowningdoorway：thelowerfloorconsistedofalargedungeon-likeroom，withavaultedroof；onthelefthandwasawindingstaircaseinthethicknessofthewall；itlookedanythingbutinviting；yetIstolesoftlyup，myheartbeating。Onthetopofthefirstflightofstairswasanarcheddoorway，totheleftwasadarkpassage，totheright，stairsleadingstillhigher。Isteppedunderthearchandfoundmyselfinanapartmentsomewhatsimilartotheonebelow，buthigher。Therewasanobjectatthefartherend。
Anoldwoman，atleasteighty，wasseatedonastone，coweringoverafewsticksburningfeeblyonwhathadoncebeenarightnobleandcheerfulhearth；herside-glancewastowardsthedoorwayasI