The Toy River 



drons to the left ; to the right, as a wall against 

 the green of the rest of the garden, were groups of 

 ribes, berberis, philadelphus and lilac. Along the 

 cherry walk, two steps down from the level of the 

 peat, grew in old days a hedge of Penzance sweet 

 brier. This was trimmed and bent to make a sort 

 of balustrade, low enough to give a free view down 

 into the croquet lawn, and not to hide the cherry 

 trees in blossom. 



Here and there were planted special standard 

 rhododendrons, a silver fir, a group of tree 

 lupins, a catalpa tree, andromeda, various kinds 

 of daphne, Japanese roses, and white broom. A 

 tulip tree was left over from the old regime, and 

 made the best he could of the new order, which 

 was new enough to revolt him. . . . Heather was 

 brought in from the glens and throve : all except 

 one clump of white heather, which exhausted itself 

 in trying to squeeze out enough good luck for such 

 a tremendous venture. He was the only clump for 

 miles around, and was grossly overworked in in- 

 fancy. . . . 



Just at this time the wave of energy which 

 cleared the old shrubbery and the useless lawn, 

 touched the male denizens of the estate, and the 

 visitors, and set them all felling trees, " seven at 

 a blow," like the little tailor of the tale. 



K 145 



