6 History of Guitta-Percha Willie.

 

the mould had gathered. For many years bushes
and flowers had grown upon them, and you might
dig a good way without coming to the stones,
though come to them you must at last. The
walks wound about between the heaps, and through
the thick walls of the ruin, overgrown-with lichens
and mosses, now and then passing through an
arched door or window of the ancient building. It
was a generous garden in old-fashioned flowers and
vegetables. There were a few apple and pear trees
also on a wall that faced the south, which were re-
garded by Willie with mingled respect and desire,
for he was not allowed to touch them, while of the
gooseberries he was allowed to eat as many as he
pleased when they were ripe, and of the currants
too, after his mother had had as many as she
wanted for preserves.

Some spots were much too shady to allow either
fruit or flowers to grow in them, so high and close
were the walls. But I need not say more about
the garden now, for I shall have occasion to refer
to it again and again, and I must not tell all I know
at once, else how should I make a story of it?