Although many of the county families and leading people of the neighbourhood were away in London or abroad when Miss Winter took possession of her inheritance, a goodly number still remained who were not long in making their way to Heron Dyke to pay their respects to its mistress. More carriages passed through the lodge-gates during the first few weeks after Squire Denison's death than had been seen there for a dozen years before. Everybody was anxious to court the heiress; some, who did not know her previously, to make her acquaintance. Ella had not bargained to have her privacy thus speedily invaded by a mob of fine people; but Mrs. Carlyon told her with a smile that she was now one of the magnates of the county, and that having accepted the position she must take the responsibilities with it. "You can make your escape whenever you please, by coming to me in London, you know, Ella," she said: and said it rather frequently. The world seemed to take it for granted that Miss Winter would marry. As yet there was no rumour of her being engaged, but as there were several eligible men, bachelors, in the neighbourhood, speculators were much exercised in their minds as to the chances of this, that, or the other one becoming the favoured individual. They all fervently hoped that Mrs. Carlyon would not drag her niece away to London, as she seemed to wish to do, or else there would be no knowing what might become of her. It would be dreadful for such a prize to fall to the lot of a stranger. Ella bore quietly on her way, never dreaming of the social machinations of which she was the central figure. At present she scarcely went anywhere; her loss was too recent; and she thought she might be spared a little time before plunging into the vortex of that social power, called Society. Meanwhile the grand old house began to put on a different appearance. Whether Ella would have entered on desirable improvements so soon, cannot be told, but Mrs. Carlyon urged it. Painters and paperhangers took possession. Rooms were unlocked and thrown open to the daylight that had been shut up for years. Not the north wing. Some feeling, of which she did not speak, caused Ella to leave that untouched. New furniture, sober in look and in keeping with the old mansion, but very handsome withal, was ordered down from London. Inside and out, the Hall was renovated and put in thorough repair. The green baize doors, that had caused so much speculation, were taken away. The garden-paths were regravelled, and new flower-beds laid out. John Tilney was more busy than he had ever been before, although he had two men under him now. Two or three servants were added to those indoors, much to the indignation of Aaron Stone, and also of his wife, Dorothy, who could only think with and be led by her husband. They would have preferred that the old state of things should go on for ever; Aaron, in his mind, resenting it as a personal insult that they did not.