42 
THE FERN PARADISE. 
Bridgetown, to the top of the town,” and you will 
say that Totnes is built on a steep hill. But just 
climb through the delightful lanes which mount to 
Totnes Down Hill, and look at the lovely little 
town ! It appears to nestle in the extreme depth 
of a valley. But the explanation is here: Totnes 
is built on the hillocks, and the hills soar above it. 
And these hillocks are charming, small as they 
look when viewed from the heights above. 
Imagine a series of little hills, or rather 
a mingling of little hills and little valleys ! 
Imagine a cluster of houses built upon this com- 
bination of hill and valley ! Imagine an inter- 
mingling of paved streets and green lanes, of 
houses, delightful villas and fruit-gardens ! 
Imagine walking out of old-fashioned streets 
filled with old-fashioned houses, into paved ways 
which seem to go everywhere, up hill and down 
dale, between high walls covered with wall-ferns, 
wall-flowers, and mosses ! Imagine yourself walk- 
ing along all sorts of terraced roads at every con- 
ceivable height above the river level — houses being 
above you, beneath you, around you ! Imagine 
