Even Charlotte, with all her prudence, had little to urge against this.  There had been, indeed, a previous intention of selling the farm.  The Captain was ready immediately with a plan for breaking up the ground into small portions among the peasantry of the forest.  Edward, however, had a simpler and shorter way of managing it.  His present steward had already proposed to take it off his hands—­he was to pay for it by instalments—­and so, gradually, as the money came in, they would get their work forward from point to point.

So reasonable and prudent a scheme was sure of universal approbation, and already, in prospect, they began to see their new walk winding along its way, and to imagine the many beautiful views and charming spots which they hoped to discover in its neighborhood.

To bring it all before themselves with greater fulness of detail, in the evening they produced the new chart.  With the help of this they went over again the way that they had come, and found various places where the walk might take a rather different direction with advantage.  Their other scheme was now once more talked through, and connected with the fresh design.  The site for the new house in the park, opposite the castle, was a second time examined into and approved, and fixed upon for the termination of the intended circuit.

Ottilie had said nothing all this time.  At length Edward pushed the chart, which had hitherto been lying before Charlotte, across to her, begging her to give her opinion; she still hesitated for a moment.  Edward in his gentlest way again pressed her to let them know what she thought—­nothing had as yet been settled—­it was all as yet in embryo.

“I would have the house built here,” she said, as she pointed with her finger to the highest point of the slope on the hill.  “It is true you cannot see the castle from thence, for it is hidden by the wood; but for that very reason you find yourself in another quite new world; you lose village and houses and all at the same time.  The view of the ponds with the mill, and the hills and mountains in the distance, is singularly beautiful—­I have often observed it when I have been there.”

“She is right,” Edward cried; “how could we have overlooked it.  This is what you mean, Ottilie, is it not?” He took a lead pencil, and drew a great black rectangular figure on the summit of the hill.

It went through the Captain’s soul to see his carefully and clearly-drawn chart disfigured in such a way.  He collected himself, however, after a slight expression of his disapproval and went into the idea.  “Ottilie is right,” he said; “we are ready enough to walk any distance to drink tea or eat fish, because they would not have tasted as well at home—­we require change of scene and change of objects.  Your ancestors showed their judgment in the spot which they chose for the castle; for it is sheltered from the wind, with the conveniences of life close at hand.  A place, on the contrary, which is more for pleasure parties than for a regular residence, may be very well yonder there, and in the fair time of year the most agreeable hours may be spent there.”