CURBED AMBITIONS 



on a Surrey Highland and encompass the antique peace of 

 a centuries-old Irish home. One must be reasonable as a 

 French governess of our youth used to say to us when 

 she began her most lengthy harangues. " Voyons de deux 

 choses I'une . . ." 



The park was typically Irish, and 

 possessed 

 some won- 

 derful trees. 

 Amongst 

 others a 

 chestnut, 

 four or five 

 immense 

 branches of 

 which, sweeping 

 to the ground, 

 had taken root again 

 and started fresh trees, form- 

 ing a singular tropical-looking grove. How children would 

 have delighted in such a leafy palace, roofed in and pillared 

 of its own stateliness ! 



Memories of laughter pursue us at every stage of those 

 weeks. There was the visit to a neighbouring castle/ a 

 genuine old castle this, but irretrievably " restored " in that 

 bygone period of history when Pugin reigned supreme. 

 It was Sunday, and we found the Chatelaine a little lady 

 renowned for her vivacity and charm out in the field with 

 her children and her lord, energetically teaching hockey to 



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