I carried a meal-sack once, weighing eight stone." I burst out laughing, which maybe was what he wanted, and forthwith consented to assume the place of the meal-sack.

He took me on his back--what a strong fellow he was!--and fairly trotted with me down the garden walk.

We were both very merry; and though I was his senior I seemed with him, out of my great weakness and infirmity, to feel almost like a child.
"Please to take me to that clematis arbour; it looks over the Avon.
Now, how do you like our garden ?" "It's a nice place." He did not go into ecstasies, as I had half expected; but gazed about him observantly, while a quiet, intense satisfaction grew and diffused itself over his whole countenance.
"It's a VERY nice place." Certainly it was.

A large square, chiefly grass, level as a bowling-green, with borders round.

Beyond, divided by a low hedge, was the kitchen and fruit garden--my father's pride, as this old-fashioned pleasaunce was mine.