It was within easy reach of the fields and the mountains.

For an adventurous spirit the sea was not at an insuperable distance.

Indeed, but for the high wall of the school playground, the lovely line of mountains had been well in view.

As it was, many a day in summer Mary would carry off her train of children to the fields, with a humble refection of bread and butter and jam, and milk for their mid-day meal; and these occasions allowed Mrs.Gray a few hours of peace that were like a foretaste of Paradise.
She never grumbled, poor little woman, because her husband shared his thoughts with Mary and not with her.

Whatever ambitions she had had to rise to her Walter's level--she had an immense opinion of his learning--had long been extinguished under the accumulation of toils and burdens that made up her daily life.