SOLVED. Magic House Green Knowe-ish Running Through Mirrors Representing Life Choices/Life Journey Two Children Archaeologist Aunt Possibly a Giant Somewhere [s]

[Estencele]

It was a juvenile book, probably written in the 1950's.

It was a "magic house" book, very similar to how I remembered Green Knowe. I believe it had a garden with a gazing-ball, possibly a giant, and perhaps a river close by, although I could be wrong about the river...

A brother and sister go to live with an archaeologist aunt, who is (renting?) an old, historic house. The aunt is (working on a book?) or doing something else that keeps her preoccupied, leaving the two children to their adventures.

I remember two scenes in the book:

1) They are in a (corridor?) with mirrors. There's a reflection of the girl and boy, a little bit older than they currently are, in each mirror. The first time they pass through the mirrors, they're preoccupied with (an argument? chasing something?) and don't pay attention to which set of mirrors they go through. They get quite a ways into this series of mirrors when they stop and look at the reflections, and find themselves looking very elderly and disagreeable. They realize that the mirrors represent their day-to-day life choices, and if they run through life carelessly without paying attention to how they live, they won't necessarily end up as particularly agreeable individuals. They backtrack to the beginning and re-walk the mirrors, this time paying close attention to what's depicted in the different reflections, and end up as much kinder-looking elderly individuals at the end.

2) They have (a rock? a fossil? something?) that is rather small and can be held in the hand, and they want their aunt to find it, because it's (important to her work?). Their aunt is in the habit of walking down a garden path, thinking her thoughts about (her work? her book?), so they put this object right in the middle of the path where she's sure to see it. Then they hide in the bushes to watch her discover it. She walks down the path a few times, and doesn't notice the item at all. Once, when she is walking, she actually kicks it off the path into the grass at the side, without even noticing. On her next pass by, however, she notices it laying hidden in the grass--- showing that sometimes, we just don't notice the things that are right in front of our faces.

There was probably a gazing-ball in the garden and a giant somewhere on the grounds as well.

[Tab]

I think the Hall children live with their aunt in The Diamond in the Window . I'm not sure if the other elements fit.
It's a series. Was your book part of a series?

[Estencele]

It might be! I checked a review, and came across this snippet: "For instance, when the children find themselves in a hall of mirrors reflecting their possible future selves, Edward sees himself as a scientist, a mathematician, a professor, a lawyer, an explorer and the President. Eleanor however gets the choice of artist, mother, teacher or "lady-doctor". Oh dear!"

I had no idea it was part of a series... off to ILL it to be sure, and will move it to "solved". Thank you very much!

[Estencele]

Following up-- I had a chance to read "The Diamond in the Window." The giant, river, and the archaeologist aunt were a different book, but "The Diamond in the Window" had the hall of mirrors, Walden Pond, and the gazing-ball in the garden. The mirrors represented the Transcendentalist theory of the infinitude of the private man. :) The whole book (set in Concord) was fantasy crossed with Emerson and Thoreau. It reminded me a bit of how CS Lewis used fantasy to convey theological points. Highly recommended!

Thanks for everyone's help! Will update again if I come across the book with the giant and the archaeologist. :)