Mr. Marsham senior had apparently laid out
his park and grounds on the same principles as those on which he had
built his house. Everything was large and expensive. The woods and
plantations were kept to a nicety; not a twig was out of place. Enormous
cost had been incurred in the planting of rare evergreens; full-grown
trees had been transplanted wholesale from a distance, and still wore in
many cases a sickly and invalided air; and elaborate contrasts in dark
and light foliage had been arranged by the landscape-gardener employed.
Dark plantations had a light border--light plantations a dark one. A
lake or large pond, with concrete banks and two artificial islands, held
the centre of the park, and on the monotonous stretches of immaculate
grass there were deer to be seen wherever anybody could reasonably
expect them.
Diana surveyed it all with a lively dislike. She pitied Lady Lucy and
Mr. Marsham because they must live in such a place. Especially, surely,
must it be hampering and disconcerting to a man, preaching the
democratic gospel, and looking forward to the democratic millennium, to
be burdened with a house and estate which could offer so few excuses for
the wealth of which they made an arrogant and uninviting display.
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