I saw my long ladder of ropes suspended from the opening at the top, and thus comprehended how my sons had penetrated into this recess, which it was impossible to suspect the existence of from the outside.

But how had they discovered it?
and what were they making of it?
These were my two questions.

Ernest replied at once to the last.

"I wished," said he, "to make a resting-place for my mother, when she came to her garden.

My brothers have each built some place for her, and called it by their name.