4 EVERSLEY GARDENS 



land, where I knew there was a little streak of 

 clay and no fall for drainage, instead of on the 

 fine dry sand and gravel where it now stands, 

 I fear I intimated that no doubt he was right ; 

 but that, as I was building the house for myself 

 and not for him, I preferred to choose the site. 

 After that I had no more advice. 



As I brushed against that pink Wild-rose in 

 the gap, I saw in a flash there were possibilities 

 in the bare little meadow. On the north side 

 of the rough very rough hedge of Bramble, 

 Furze and Broom, with here a strong Briar-rose, 

 there a bit of straggling quickset, with many a 

 gap besides, lying between my land of promise 

 and the high-road from Reading to Alder- 

 shot, it was evident that there must be a 

 long straight border, with Rhododendrons 

 planted close to the bank, so that in course 

 of time they might form a solid screen from 

 the road. That was the one definite thing 

 that had to be done first of all. But before 

 going further, I thought it might be well to 

 take counsel as to how to lay out the garden 



