134 Studies in Rat Catching, [ch. viii. 



sea, is a tiny village of some ten cottages, 

 all different, all neat and snug-looking, each 

 in its own garden. There is a stand of bee- 

 hives in one, a honeysuckle-covered porch to 

 another, and, though it is mid-winter, there is a 

 warm home-like look about all. Then there is 

 the one farm-house, well kept and well cared 

 for, but old and belonging to other days, as its 

 gables and low windows denote ; and from 

 our high hill we look over the house into a 

 garden and orchard beyond, both enclosed 

 by grey lichen-covered walls. On either side 

 in front of the house are the farm buildings, 

 all, from the big barn to the row of pigsties, 

 thatched with long reeds, which give the 

 whole a pleasant English home appearance. 



There are big yards filled with red and 

 white cattle up to their middle in straw, 

 others full of horses or young calves ; cocks 

 and hens are everywhere, ducks and geese 

 swim in the big pond by the side of the road, 



