34 HOW THE GARDEN WAS MADE 



the gardeners from the heat of the sun. Formerly, 

 owing to the exposed, open position and dazzling 

 glare of light upon the white chalk land, the summer 

 noontime was very trying. Relief from it could 

 only be obtained by adopting Italian methods and 

 having rooms kept dark by wooden shutters, where 

 cool, dim light could occasionally be sought. 



Another comfort came with the London paving- 

 stones — fine, irregular-shaped pieces of York slab — 

 which form the " Piazza," where we sit in shadow, 

 and the walk that opens from it and goes round the 

 house. Until they were put down, dust blew con- 

 tinually in at the windows, for the rock plants that 

 now creep firmly between the paving-stones and 

 cover all bare earth were at first too small to clothe 

 the ground, and consequently dust was everywhere. 

 It returned tenaciously to tables and chairs in- 

 doors, thus being an hourly trial to the housekeeper. 



How the Channel wind used to rage, too, before 

 the raised banks had been formed to act as barriers 1 

 Frame-lights, house shutters, even windows have 

 been known to be caught in a whirlwind and 

 hurled down the hill. The gale raged so fiercely 

 one day that it upset the nerves of a Frenchman 

 and his wife who for some time looked after my 

 small house. This menage was so alarmed that 

 they hardly left me alone while it lasted, and 

 seemed astonished at my being able to continue 

 uninterruptedly my writing. At each shock of 

 the angry wind, Alphonse would exclaim, " Ah, 

 c'est la fin de tout! " But like a strong, well-built 

 little ship, the house weathered those first trying 

 years, and now, with increased size and a projecting 



