That is done for the sake of society, for a good many people can dwell in such houses, as the country dwellers are not necessarily husbandmen; though they almost all help in such work at times.

The life that goes on in these big dwellings in the country is very pleasant, especially as some of the most studious men of our time live in them, and altogether there is a great variety of mind and mood to be found in them which brightens and quickens the society there." "I am rather surprised," said I, "by all this, for it seems to me that after all the country must be tolerably populous." "Certainly," said he; "the population is pretty much the same as it was at the end of the nineteenth century; we have spread it, that is all.

Of course, also, we have helped to populate other countries--where we were wanted and were called for." Said I: "One thing, it seems to me, does not go with your word of 'garden' for the country.

You have spoken of wastes and forests, and I myself have seen the beginning of your Middlesex and Essex forest.

Why do you keep such things in a garden?
and isn't it very wasteful to do so ?" "My friend," he said, "we like these pieces of wild nature, and can afford them, so we have them; let alone that as to the forests, we need a great deal of timber, and suppose that our sons and sons' sons will do the like.