You must have been at it a very long time." I was surprised at the effect of my words.

The old man turned partly aside and looked for a moment along the proud and flaunting embattlements of the green marvel before us.

Then he said in a moderate voice: "It's a putty good hedge, a putty good hedge." "I've got him," I thought exultantly, "I've got him!" "How long ago did you start it ?" I pursued my advantage eagerly.
"Thirty-two years come spring," said he.
"Thirty-two years!" I repeated; "you've been at it a long time." With that I plied him with questions in the liveliest manner, and in five minutes I had the gruff old fellow stumping along at my side and pointing out the various notable-features of his wonderful creation.
His suppressed excitement was quite wonderful to see.

He would point his hickory stick with a poking motion, and, when he looked up, instead of throwing back his big, rough head, he bent at the hips, thus imparting an impression of astonishing solidity.
"It took me all o' ten years to get that bell right," he said, and, "Take a look at that arch: now what is your opinion o' that ?" Once, in the midst of our conversation, he checked himself abruptly and looked around at me with a sudden dark expression of suspicion.

I saw exactly what lay in his mind, but I continued my questioning as though I perceived no change in him.