THE LIME-PIT WORKERS 29 



lower the stakes that were hammered into the 

 ground to indicate the lines of future surprise 

 gardens, terraces, or shadow walks. They took 

 such an interest in their work, and sometimes, after 

 an interval of a year or so, would come and revisit 

 the special piece of ground they had helped to 

 create, so as to see how the plants and shrubs that 

 had meanwhile grown up had improved it. One of 

 them evinced concern because the tall blue painted 

 uprights that supported some treillage had been 

 slightly blown from an upright position to one 

 side. He deplored that, owing to our impatience 

 in completing the work, we had not waited long 

 enough for the terrace itself to settle, and that 

 consequently, when autumn rains came and were 

 followed by a strong gale, the tall posts were blown 

 slightly out of the perpendicular. 



I was often struck by the accuracy of eye with 

 which these men judge a level. It is but seldom 

 necessary to use a spirit level, for their work is 

 unerringly correct ; moreover, owing to their 

 work in the chalk-pits, their knowledge of the effect 

 of weather upon rock and the different values of 

 various soils is surprising. For making a garden 

 upon a steep chalk slope I was fortunate to have 

 such workers. 



Just now any defects caused by rough and hurried 

 labour, which, after all, tell a tale of interest to 

 those who love one small piece of land, are hardly 

 noticeable . It is the gold and silver of trees, shrubs, 

 and flowers that make the centre of the ground, the 

 pleasure garden, pretty. Groups of birches, horse- 

 chestnuts, and poplars are all golden, and as they 



