Sentence:  Pretty soon I struck into a sort of path [...]. It twisted and turned,...and opened out into a big clear space like a <WSD>lawn</WSD>. And, back of the <WSD>lawn</WSD>, was a big, old-fashioned house, with piazzas stretching in front of it, and all blazing with lights. 'Twas the house I'd seen the roof of from the beach. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  Ground (generally in front of or around a house) covered with grass kept closely mown.