8o THE FERN PARADISE. 



Arrived at the top of the hill, you have in front 

 a park gate, leading to somebody's mansion, and 

 two turnings for choice, one directly to the right, 

 the other directly to the left. Both are charming, 

 but the one to the right is irresistible. The left 

 turning is a road ; the right one is a lane. No 

 fern-hunter who might reach this turning-point, 

 when out for a saunter, would hesitate for one 

 moment. The " lane " at its entrance is wider than 

 the "road." On the left a grassy hedge-bank, 

 over-topped by arching trees, which grow out of 

 it, and bending forward, fling their green tops 

 across the whole width of the pathway. On the 

 right also a grassy hedge-bank topped by bushes 

 stunted but picturesque growths of the elder, the 

 hawthorn, and the elm. A grassy carpeting under 

 our feet, except where sacrilegious carts have 

 made "ruts," and occasional foot-passengers have 

 worn a narrow path. Moss-covered tree trunks, 

 and inviting forms of fern-life, which crowd the 

 hedge-banks ; but ferns which are tender in 

 growth, and small in size. From the hedge-banks 

 shoot out the splendid flowers of the fox-glove, 



