It was situated beside a small clump of old beeches, that sheltered it from the north--to the front lay, at a few miles distance, a range of fine mountains--and between them stretched as rich a valley, both in fertility and beauty, as the eye of man could rest upon.

The ground before the door fell by an easy and gradual descent, until a little further down it reached a green expanse of level meadow, through which a clear river wound its lingering course, as if loth to pass away from between the rich and grassy banks that enclosed it.

It was, in fact, a spot of that calm and perfectly rural character which draws the heart unconsciously to the secret charm that rests upon it, and which even the casual traveler leaves behind him with regret.

Some improvements were at the present time in an incipient state--such as plantations--garden walls--and what seemed the lines of an avenue, or approach to the house, which, by the way, stood in the centre of a farm that consisted of about eighty Irish acres.
At length a single knock came, which was given by O'Drive, for Hanlon, who was his assistant, durst not attempt such a thing in his presence; and if ever a knock conveyed the duplicity of the man who gave it, that did.

Though, as we said, but a single one, yet there was no mistaking its double meaning.