Children, with cheeks as red as the apples in the orchards, bobbed curtsies to us at the cottage-doors.
Blue church spires rose here and there in the distance: and as the buxom gardener's wife opened the white gate at the Major's little ivy-covered lodge, and we drove through the neat plantations of firs and evergreens, up to the house, my bosom felt a joy and elation which I thought it was impossible to experience in the smoky atmosphere of a town.

'Here,' I mentally exclaimed, 'is all peace, plenty, happiness.

Here, I shall be rid of Snobs.

There can be none in this charming Arcadian spot.' Stripes, the Major's man (formerly corporal in his gallant corps), received my portmanteau, and an elegant little present, which I had brought from town as a peace-offering to Mrs.Ponto; viz., a cod and oysters from Grove's, in a hamper about the size of a coffin.
Ponto's house ('The Evergreens' Mrs.P.has christened it) is a perfect Paradise of a place.

It is all over creepers, and bow-windows, and verandahs.