r HE 1RR1 GA TION AGE. 317 



when the mare was in foal. She was tied up by the bridle to the or- 

 chard rails, while old Darnell went in for "mammit" or lunch. A 

 maid was at the cow-house door looking out on the field of young ap- 

 proaching corn, shown by the level rows of bright green shoots. 



In the middle of the fifld was the scare-crow, or the stakes that 

 formed its anatomy, with some of the tatters still on it. By it was a 

 sturdy young tramp, partly undressed, making an exchange of gar- 

 ments to suit his taste. Both the scare-crow and tramp being shirt- 

 less, this garment was omitted from the al fresco toilet. 



A militiaman's old coat and a wideawake hat, were engaging the 

 tramp's attention at the moment the artist caught sight of the main 

 character of his painting. 



Unlike some of George Morland's pictures, this one was finished 

 in all details, and in as good order as when it was first painted at the 

 little secluded cottage farm. 



Naturally, I longed to become the owner of this unique painting, 

 and made a substantial bid for it; but to no purpose, except to create 

 an unfavorable impression in the old landlord's mind that I wanted it 

 cheap, so I decided to talk about it later on. In the morning we ar- 

 ranged to explore the old inn thoroughly with a couple of companions 



whom I will introduce. 



* * * * 



Before descending, Alton had full view of the roofs of Langloline, 

 and noticed in the valley between the ridges it showed to be larger at 

 deepest parts of roof: the water- outlet end of valley, with three gutter- 

 holes. Yet the roof ridges> were horizontal, and though the fall of 

 gutter was more than usual in pitch to carry off water, there seemed a 

 double purpose to get snow water off and cover up double walls. 



"Does the width of the kitchen contract at one end, so as to give 

 that valley wider outlet for water, " asked Alton. 



"Yes" said Mr. Clifton, "the kitchen is nearly three feet narrower 

 at one end; that allows the roof-plates to be parted three feet at lower 

 end of valley formed by the adjacent high-pitched roof, so that snow 

 that fills it when it thaws, settles without checking flow of snow-water, 

 so that there is none kept back to soak under the tiles to rot the tim- 

 bers, and snow- boards on tiles are not used, they, often, being another 

 source of decay to a roof. 



Alton admired the plan, which he had never before seen on any of 

 the many old or modern churches or buildings with ridge and valley 

 roofs. While on the roof Alton resolved to examine the internal con- 

 struction of the kitchen-roof timbers, and sprang, like a squirrel, from 

 the ladder- way on to the tie-beam over the oak partition and crawled 

 along it to the central ribs, or braces, which sprang from the middle 

 of beam like two spreading horns, reaching out to the junction of 

 collar-braces and partitions. 



He saw that these substitutes for king and queen posts had been 



