The English Library No. 156 THE CUCKOO IN THE NEST BY MRS. OLIPHANT _IN TWO VOLUMES_ _OTHER VOLUMES BY THE SAME AUTHOR PUBLISHED IN_ The English Library 77. 78. THE RAILWAY MAN AND HIS CHILDREN 2 Vols. 95. 96. THE MARRIAGE OF ELINOR 2 Vols. (_In the Press_) THE VICTORIAN AGE OF ENGLISH LITERATURE. DIANA. _Copyright Edition_ THE CUCKOO IN THE NEST BY MRS. OLIPHANT AUTHOR OF “_WITHIN THE PRECINCTS_,” “_THE RAILWAY MAN AND HIS CHILDREN_,” “_AT HIS GATES_,” “_THE MARRIAGE OF ELINOR_,” _ETC._ _IN TWO VOLUMES_ VOLUME I. LEIPZIG HEINEMANN AND BALESTIER _LIMITED, LONDON_ 1892 THE CUCKOO IN THE NEST CHAPTER I. The Seven Thorns was rather an imposing place for a little country inn. It was a long house, not very high, yet containing some good-sized bedrooms on the upper storey, and rooms below calculated for the entertainment of a much greater company than ever appeared now upon the deserted highroad. It had been an old coaching road, and there were stables at the Seven Thorns which could take in half the horses in the county; but that, of course, was all over now. The greater part of these stables were shut up and falling into decay. So was the large dining-room and half of the extensive accommodation downstairs. The great kitchen, and a little room on the other side of the doorway, which was called the parlour, were all that was ever wanted now in the Seven Thorns. Sometimes there would come some excursion parties from the neighbouring town in summer, and then a large table was placed outside, or, on the emergency of a wet day, in the kitchen. This was the only event which ever broke the quiet in these degenerate days.