I have made use of all I know or can surmise logically
regarding this strange race. With such strange compelling qualities, is
it any wonder that there is abroad an idea that in the race there is some
demoniac possession, which tends to a more definite belief that certain
individuals have in the past sold themselves to the Devil? "But I think we had better go to bed now. We have a lot to get through
to-morrow, and I want you to have your brain clear, and all your
susceptibilities fresh. Moreover, I want you to come with me for an
early walk, during which we may notice, whilst the matter is fresh in our
minds, the peculiar disposition of this place--not merely your
grand-uncle's estate, but the lie of the country around it. There are
many things on which we may seek--and perhaps find--enlightenment. The
more we know at the start, the more things which may come into our view
will develop themselves." CHAPTER III--DIANA'S GROVE


Curiosity took Adam Salton out of bed in the early morning, but when he
had dressed and gone downstairs; he found that, early as he was, Sir
Nathaniel was ahead of him. The old gentleman was quite prepared for a
long walk, and they started at once. Sir Nathaniel, without speaking, led the way to the east, down the hill. When they had descended and risen again, they found themselves on the
eastern brink of a steep hill. It was of lesser height than that on
which the Castle was situated; but it was so placed that it commanded the
various hills that crowned the ridge. All along the ridge the rock
cropped out, bare and bleak, but broken in rough natural castellation. The form of the ridge was a segment of a circle, with the higher points
inland to the west. In the centre rose the Castle, on the highest point
of all. Between the various rocky excrescences were groups of trees of
various sizes and heights, amongst some of which were what, in the early
morning light, looked like ruins. These--whatever they were--were of
massive grey stone, probably limestone rudely cut--if indeed they were
not shaped naturally. The fall of the ground was steep all along the
ridge, so steep that here and there both trees and rocks and buildings
seemed to overhang the plain far below, through which ran many streams. Sir Nathaniel stopped and looked around, as though to lose nothing of the
effect. The sun had climbed the eastern sky and was making all details
clear. He pointed with a sweeping gesture, as though calling Adam's
attention to the extent of the view. Having done so, he covered the
ground more slowly, as though inviting attention to detail. Adam was a
willing and attentive pupil, and followed his motions exactly, missing--or
trying to miss--nothing. "I have brought you here, Adam, because it seems to me that this is the
spot on which to begin our investigations. You have now in front of you
almost the whole of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. In fact, we see the
whole of it except that furthest part, which is covered by the Welsh
Marches and those parts which are hidden from where we stand by the high
ground of the immediate west. We can see--theoretically--the whole of
the eastern bound of the kingdom, which ran south from the Humber to the
Wash. I want you to bear in mind the trend of the ground, for some time,
sooner or later, we shall do well to have it in our mind's eye when we
are considering the ancient traditions and superstitions, and are trying
to find the _rationale_ of them. Each legend, each superstition which we
receive, will help in the understanding and possible elucidation of the
others. And as all such have a local basis, we can come closer to the
truth--or the probability--by knowing the local conditions as we go
along. It will help us to bring to our aid such geological truth as we
may have between us. For instance, the building materials used in
various ages can afford their own lessons to understanding eyes. The
very heights and shapes and materials of these hills--nay, even of the
wide plain that lies between us and the sea--have in themselves the
materials of enlightening books." "For instance, sir?" said Adam, venturing a question. "Well, look at those hills which surround the main one where the site for
the Castle was wisely chosen--on the highest ground. Take the others. There is something ostensible in each of them, and in all probability
something unseen and unproved, but to be imagined, also." "For instance?" continued Adam. "Let us take them _seriatim_. That to the east, where the trees are,
lower down--that was once the location of a Roman temple, possibly
founded on a pre-existing Druidical one. Its name implies the former,
and the grove of ancient oaks suggests the latter." "Please explain." "The old name translated means 'Diana's Grove.' Then the next one higher
than it, but just beyond it, is called '_Mercy_'--in all probability a
corruption or familiarisation of the word _Mercia_, with a Roman pun
included. We learn from early manuscripts that the place was called
_Vilula Misericordiae_. It was originally a nunnery, founded by Queen
Bertha, but done away with by King Penda, the reactionary to Paganism
after St. Augustine. Then comes your uncle's place--Lesser Hill. Though
it is so close to the Castle, it is not connected with it. It is a
freehold, and, so far as we know, of equal age. It has always belonged
to your family." "Then there only remains the Castle!" "That is all; but its history contains the histories of all the others--in
fact, the whole history of early England." Sir Nathaniel, seeing the
expectant look on Adam's face, went on:

"The history of the Castle has no beginning so far as we know. The
furthest records or surmises or inferences simply accept it as existing. Some of these--guesses, let us call them--seem to show that there was
some sort of structure there when the Romans came, therefore it must have
been a place of importance in Druid times--if indeed that was the
beginning. Naturally the Romans accepted it, as they did everything of
the kind that was, or might be, useful. The change is shown or inferred
in the name Castra. It was the highest protected ground, and so
naturally became the most important of their camps. A study of the map
will show you that it must have been a most important centre. It both
protected the advances already made to the north, and helped to dominate
the sea coast. It sheltered the western marches, beyond which lay savage
Wales--and danger. It provided a means of getting to the Severn, round
which lay the great Roman roads then coming into existence, and made
possible the great waterway to the heart of England--through the Severn
and its tributaries. It brought the east and the west together by the
swiftest and easiest ways known to those times. And, finally, it
provided means of descent on London and all the expanse of country
watered by the Thames.