The lord and lady of the manor examined everything around their future residence, with curious eyes.  Jamie Allen, the Scotch mason mentioned, was standing in front of the house, to hear what might be said of his wall, while two or three other mechanics betrayed some such agitation as the tyro in literature manifests, ere he learns what the critics have said of his first work.  The exterior gave great satisfaction to the captain.  The wall was not only solid and secure, but it was really handsome.  This was in some measure owing to the quality of the stones, but quite as much to Jamie’s dexterity in using them.  The wall and chimneys, of the latter of which there were no less than six, were all laid in lime, too; it having been found necessary to burn some of the material to plaster the interior.  Then the gates were massive, being framed in oak, filled in with four-inch plank, and might have resisted a very formidable assault.  Their strong iron hinges were all in their places, but the heavy job of hanging had been deferred to a leisure moment, when all the strength of the manor might be collected for that purpose.  There they stood, inclining against the wall, one on each side of the gateway, like indolent sentinels on post, who felt too secure from attack to raise their eyes.

The different mechanics crowded round the captain, each eager to show his own portion of what had been done.  The winter had not been wasted, but, proper materials being in abundance, and on the spot, captain Willoughby had every reason to be satisfied with what he got for his money.  Completely shut out from the rest of the world, the men had worked cheerfully and with little interruption; for their labours composed their recreation.  Mrs. Willoughby found the cart of the building her family was to occupy, with the usual offices, done and furnished.  This comprised all the front on the-eastern side of the gateway, and most of the wing, in the same half, extending back to the cliff.  It is true, the finish was plain; but everything was comfortable.  The ceilings were only ten feet high certainly, but it was thought prodigious in the colony in that day; and then the plastering of Jamie was by no means as unexceptionable as his stone-work; still every room had its two coats, and white-wash gave them a clean and healthful aspect.  The end of the wing that came next the cliff was a laundry, and a pump was fitted, by means of which water was raised from the rivulet.  Next came the kitchen, a spacious and comfortable room of thirty by twenty feet; an upper-servant’s apartment succeeded; after which were the bed-rooms of the family a large parlour, and a library, or office, for the captain.  As the entire range, on this particular side of the house, extended near or quite two hundred and fifty feet, there was no want of space or accommodation.