All the house told of wealth--wealth which had accumulated for generations, and which was shown in a sort of comfortable, grand, unostentatious way.

Mr.
Buxton's ancestors had been yeomen; but, two or three generations back, they might, if ambitious, have taken their place as country gentry, so much had the value of their property increased, and so great had been the amount of their savings.

They, however, continued to live in the old farm till Mr.
Buxton's grandfather built the house in Combehurst of which I am speaking, and then he felt rather ashamed of what he had done; it seemed like stepping out of his position.

He and his wife always sat in the best kitchen; and it was only after his son's marriage that the entertaining rooms were furnished.

Even then they were kept with closed shutters and bagged-up furniture during the lifetime of the old couple, who, nevertheless, took a pride in adding to the rich-fashioned ornaments and grand old china of the apartments.