Robin Hood's Barn 



sign language, we planted vines about our porch. 

 And how lavish we were with our offer, much 

 as if the Chinaman had repeated his symbol down 

 the length of an interminable page to catch first, 

 not the understanding, but the eye. At one end 

 it took the form of a pipe vine, its great leaves 

 a flat curtain against the sun. In front, of ram- 

 bler roses whose comfortable crotches could not 

 be missed ; and over them to eke out the foliage, 

 the akebia twined its dehcate five-fingered leaves. 

 At the other end were tangles of soft clematis 

 and a wistaria to furnish stiff support. Was it 

 any wonder that those who flew might read? 



Such an offer we should never have extended 

 to human beings. We live in a churlish fashion 

 back from the road and talk a great deal of our 

 privacy and the length of our approach. We like 

 people to come when invited. We do not like 

 them to drop in. But let there be a flicker from 

 an early redbreast and there is a supply of string 

 already cut. In a moment it is strewn about the 

 grass where a quick eye may see it. Let the 

 chipmunk scamper across the lawn. He will 

 hardly have assumed his pauper's attitude and 

 [2S2] 



