She had reached a point at which she had felt she could bear them no longer.

Here, at all events, there would be green trees and clear air, and no landlady.

With no rent to pay, there would be freedom from one torment at least.
She had not expected much more than this freedom, however.

It had seemed highly probable that there might be discomforts in an ancient farmhouse of the kind likely to be lent to impecunious relatives.
But before they crossed the threshold it was plain to her that, for some reason, they had been given more.

The old garden had been put in order--a picturesque and sweet disorderly order, which had allowed creepers to luxuriate and toss, and flowers to spring out of crannies, and clumps of things to mass themselves without restraint.
The girl's wretched heart lifted itself as they drove up to the venerable brick porch which had somewhat the air of a little church vestibule.