You see, before the troubles seven years ago broke out, there was a view from the windows on this side of the house over the park and shrubberies; but at that time my father thought it necessary to provide against sudden attacks, and therefore, before he went away to the war, he had this wall with its flanking towers erected.

All the tenants came in and helped, and it was built in five weeks time.

It has, as you see, made the place safe from a sudden attack, for on the other three sides the old defences remain unaltered.

It was on this side, only, that my grandfather had the house modernized, believing that the days of civil war were at an end.
"You see, this new wall forms a large quadrangle.

We call it the countess's garden, and my mother has done her best, by planting it with shrubs and fast-growing trees, to make up for the loss of the view she formerly had from the windows.
"Along one side you see there are storehouses, which are screened from view by that bank of turf.