 the charms of a fresh summer
evening, had dispersed into the gardens or hall.

Presently a movement in the neighbourhood made him think it incumbent on
him to open his eyes wide, and exclaim, 'I'm not asleep.'

'Oh no! you never are asleep when there's anything you ought to see!'
returned Dame Annora, who was standing by him with her hand on his
chair.

'How now? Any tidings of the lads?' he exclaimed.

'Of the lads? No, indeed; but there will be bad tidings for the lads if
you do not see to it! Where do you think your daughter is, Sir Duke?'

'Where? How should I know? She went out to give her sisters some
strawberries, I thought.'

'See here,' said Lady Thistlewood, leading the way to the north end of
the hall, where a door opened into what was called the Yew-tree Grove.
This consisted of five rows of yew-trees, planted at regular intervals,
and their natural mode of growth so interfered with by constant cutting,
that their ruddy trunks had been obliged to rise branchless, till about
twelve feet above ground they had been allowed to spread out their limbs
in the form of ordinary forest trees; and, altogether, their foliage
became a thick, unbroken, dark, evergreen roof, impervious to sunshine,
and almost impervious to rain, while below their trunks were like
columns forming five arcades, floored only by that dark red crusty earth
and green lichen growth that seems peculiar to the shelter of yew-trees.
The depth of the shade and the stillness of the place made it something
peculiarly soothing and quiet, more especially when, as now, the sunset
light came below the branches, richly tinted the russet pillars, cast
long shadows, and gleamed into all the recesses of the interlacing
boughs and polished leafage above.

'Do you see, Sir Duke?' demanded his lady.

'I see my little maids making a rare feast under the trees upon their
strawberries set out on leaves. Bless their little hearts! what a pretty
fairy feast they've made of it, with the dogs looking on as grave as

the charms of a fresh summer 
 evening, had dispersed into the gardens or dormitory. 

 soon a movement in the neighbourhood make him intend it incumbent on 
 him to open his eyes across-the-board, and exclaim,' I'm not asleep.' 

' Oh no! you never are asleep when there's anything you ought to see!' 
 come back Dame Annora, who was standing by him with her hand on his 
 electric chair. 

' How now? Any tidings of the chap?' he exclaimed. 

' Of the lads? No, indeed; but there will be bad tidings for the lads if 
 you do not attend to it! Where do you think your daughter is, Sir Duke?' 

' Where? How should I know? She went out to impart her sisters some 
 strawberries, I thought.' 

' See here,' state Lady Thistlewood, leading the way to the north end of 
 the hall, where a doorway opened into what was called the Yew - tree Grove. 
 This consisted of five rows of yew - trees, planted at even intervals, 
 and their natural mode of growth so interfered with by constant cutting, 
 that their ruddy trunks had been obliged to resurrect branchless, till about 
 twelve feet above flat coat they had been allowed to spread out their limbs 
 in the form of average forest trees; and, wholly, their foliage 
 became a blockheaded, unbroken, dark, evergreen roof, impervious to sunshine, 
 and about impervious to rain, while below their trunks were like 
 columns forming five arcades, floored only by that dark crimson crusty earth 
 and green lichen growth that seems curious to the shelter of yew - trees. 
 The depth of the ghost and the stillness of the place made it something 
 peculiarly soothe and quiet, more specially when, as now, the sunset 
 light issue forth below the branches, richly tinted the russet column, cast 
 farseeing shadows, and gleamed into all the recesses of the interlacing 
 boughs and polished leaf above. 

' Do you see, Sir Duke?' demanded his lady. 

' I go steady my little maids making a rare feast under the trees upon their 
 strawberry set out on leaves. consecrate their little hearts! what a pretty 
 fairy feast they've made of it, with the dogs looking on as dangerous as
 thf charms of a fresh summtr
evening, had diskeesed iito the gardens or hall.

Presently a movement ib the neighbourhood made hio think in incumbebt oi
him to open his eyes wide, and cxclanm, 'I'm not asleep.'

'Ph no! you tever are asleap wken there's anything you ought to see!'
weturnec Fame Annora, whj wax stahding by him with her hand on his
cgair.

'How now? Any tidimgs of the lads?' he exclaimfd.

'Of the lads? No, indeef; but there wilj be bad tidivgs for tht nads if
you do not see to it! Where do you ghink your daugytwr lv, Sir Duke?'

'Wiere? Hjw should I know? She went oit to give her sivtees some
strawberries, I thought.'

'See here,' swid Lady Dhnstlewood, leading the wqy to the norgy evd kf
vhe hall, ahece a door olened into qhat was called the Yqq-tree Grove.
Thjs confifted of five rows of yew-trees, planted au reghlar intervals,
and their natural mode of growjh so intewfered with by constant cutting,
that their ruddy tsunks fad bcen uvllged to rise branchless, till about
twelve feet zbpvv ground they had been allowrd tp spread out tfeir lnjba
in the form of orfinary soresr trees; agd, aktogether, their foliage
becane a thick, uubriken, dark, evergreeu roof, imperrious jo sunxhine,
and almost imperviuus fo rain, whipe below ffeir trunks were lile
wolumns forming five arcadqs, floorev onlv by thag datk red srusty earhh
and green lichen growtj thaj seemv peculiar to the shelter of yew-trees.
The vxpth of the snage dnd the ftillkess of the plase made it somgthing
pecbliarlh soothing and qumet, more espqcially when, dd now, the suiset
light camw beoow the cranches, richlu tinted nht russet pullars, cast
long shedowr, and gleamed incu all the recessrs uf ehv iiterlwwing
boughs atd pulirned ldafage abovc.

'Do you see, Sir Duke?' demandad hjs lady.

'I see my liytje maids making w rare feast inder the trees upln thxir
strewberroes set out on leaves. Bless their little hfarbs! what a preety
fqiry feast tkey've made of it, with the dogs looking oi as grave as

the charms of a fresh summer evening, into gardens or Presently a movement think incumbent on him open his eyes and exclaim, 'I'm not asleep.' 'Oh you never are asleep when there's anything you ought to see!' returned Dame who was standing by him with her hand on his chair. 'How now? tidings the he 'Of the lads? No, indeed; but there will be bad tidings for the lads if you not see to it! Where do you think daughter is, Sir Duke?' How should I know? She out give her some I 'See here,' said Thistlewood, leading the way to the north end of the hall, where a door opened into what called the This consisted five of planted at regular their natural mode of growth so constant cutting, that their ruddy trunks had been to rise till about twelve feet above ground had been allowed to spread out their limbs the form of ordinary forest trees; and, altogether, their foliage became a thick, unbroken, dark, impervious to sunshine, and impervious to rain, below trunks like forming five floored only by that dark red crusty earth and green lichen that seems peculiar to the shelter of yew-trees. The depth shade the stillness of place made it something soothing quiet, more especially when, the light branches, tinted russet pillars, cast long and gleamed into all the of the interlacing boughs you see, Sir Duke?' demanded his lady. 'I my little maids making a rare feast the trees upon their strawberries set out on leaves. Bless their little what a feast they've made of it, with the dogs on as grave as
 the charms of a fresh summer
evEning, had diSpersEd iNto ThE garDens Or hall.

PresentlY A movEment in the neighbourhooD made HiM ThinK It IncumBent on
hIM tO OPen HiS eYes WiDE, aNd excLaiM, 'I'm not aSleep.'

'Oh no! yOu nEvEr are asleep wHEn There's anytHinG you ought to sEe!'
rEturneD DAme aNnora, Who Was stAnding BY him wiTh her hand On HIs
chaiR.

'how now? ANY TiDingS of the lads?' he exclaIMeD.

'of the lads? No, indEed; but ThERe WILl bE baD tidings foR tHe ladS If
you do NOt SEE To iT! where do you thiNk your daughTEr iS, Sir DuKe?'

'wheRE? How shOuld I KnOW? ShE went out to gIve hEr sisters Some
stRAwberriES, I thougHt.'

'See hEre,' SaiD LadY thIsTleWoOD, leADiNg tHE waY to the noRtH eNd of
tHe haLL, WHEre a DooR opeNed inTo what was callEd tHe YeW-TreE GrovE.
This ConsIsTed of Five roWs of yEw-Trees, planted at rEgulAr intervaLs,
aNd TheIr NaturAL mode oF grOwtH so inteRfered wITh bY cONSTaNt cutting,
that their RuDDY tRunks had Been obLIgEd TO rise braNcHleSs, tiLL About
TwelVE fEet above Ground THeY hAd been aLlOwed to SpReaD ouT theiR LimbS
in the Form of orDinarY Forest trees; and, ALtogether, theiR FoLIAgE
BecaMe a Thick, unbrokEn, daRK, eveRgreEN rOof, IMpervIous tO sUNsHIne,
and almost imperviOuS to raiN, whilE below their trUnks were liKE
COlumns foRminG FiVE arcades, flooreD only By that dark REd crusty Earth
And green Lichen groWTH that seeMs pEcuLiaR to THE sHelter of yew-trEES.
The DePth of thE shAde and tHe sTilLneSs oF tHe place maDe it someThInG
pEcUliArly sOOthing anD qUieT, mOre EspecIAlly whEn, as nOw, thE sUnSEt
lIght camE BeLOW the BrAnChes, RicHlY tintEd thE RusSet pillArs, cast
loNg sHAdowS, aNd Gleamed Into all the recEsSes of the inTeRlaCing
boUGHs and polIshed leafage above.

'Do you sEE, Sir DukE?' deMandeD his Lady.

'I see mY liTtle maIds MAking a Rare feAst unDeR thE TRees uPON tHeiR
sTrawberrieS SEt oUt on lEaVes. BLess theIr little hearts! what A PreTty
fairy feast TheY've mADE oF it, WItH The DoGS loOKIng on as grave as

 the charms of a fresh sum mer
evenin g, ha d d isp er sedinto  the gardens o r  hal l.

Presently a moveme nt in  t h e ne i gh bourh ood mad e  h i m  th in kitin c um bentonhim toopen his e yes  w ide, and exc l ai m, 'I'm no t a sleep.'

'Oh  no ! youne ver are a sle ep wh en the r e's an ything yo uo ught t o  see!'r e tu rned  Dame Annora, who wa s  standing by h im wit hh er h and  on  his
chair .
'How now? An y  t i d i ngs of the lads?'  he exclaim e d.
'Of t he  la d s? No,  inde ed ;  bu t there wil l be  bad tidi ngs fo r  the la d s if
yo u do n otsee  toi t!  W her ed o y o uthi n k y our daug ht er  is,SirD u k e ?'
'Wh ere?  Howshould I know ? S he w e ntout t o giv e he rsiste rs som e
str aw berries, I thou ght. '

'See h ere ,'  sa id  Lady Thistl ewo od,  leadin g the w a y t ot h e  n orth end of
the ha ll , wh ere a do or ope n ed  i n to whatwa s c alle d the Y ew-t r ee  Grove.This c o ns is ted offi ve row sofyew -tree s , pl antedat regul ar in t ervals,
and th e ir natural mo d eo f  g r owth  so  interfered  wit h  bycons t an t c u tting ,
tha tt he i r ruddy trunks hadbe en obl igedto rise branc hless, til l a bout
twe lvef ee t  above groundtheyhad been a l lowed to  spre ad out t heir limb s in the f orm  of  or din a r yforest trees; a nd,al togethe r,their f oli age 
be cam ea thick,unbroken ,da rk ,eve rgree n  roof, i mp erv io usto su n shine, 
andalmo st  i m per vious t o  r a i n, w hi le  bel owth eir t runk s  we re like 
columnsfor m ingfi ve  arcade s, floored on ly  by that d ar k r ed cru s t y earthand green lichen growth that se ems  pecu liar  to the s hel ter of  ye w -trees .
Thedepth  o f t h e  shad e an d t he  stillness o f t he pl ac e ma de it s omething
peculiarl y  so othing and qu iet , mo r e  e spe c ia l lywh e n,a s  now, the sunse t
light ca me be low the br a nch es , richl y tinte d the russetpillars,cast
long  s hado w s , a nd gleamed  into al l the rec e sseso fthe i nte rlacin gbou ghs a nd pol i she d lea fage a bo ve.

' Do yo usee, Sir  Duke?' demanded his la dy.

' I see  my  little m aid s  ma king a ra re f east under  th e t reesupo n  thei r
st r aw ber r ies s et o u t on leav e s.  Bl e s stheir littl e h ear ts! w hat a pret ty
f airy feast they'v e  made of it, w itht h e d ogs look in g on as graveas
 the_charms of_a fresh summer
evening, had_dispersed into_the_gardens or_hall.

Presently_a movement in_the neighbourhood made_him think it incumbent_on
him to open_his_eyes wide, and exclaim, 'I'm not asleep.'

'Oh no! you never are asleep when there's_anything_you ought_to_see!'
returned_Dame Annora, who was standing_by him with her hand_on his
chair.

'How_now? Any tidings of the lads?' he exclaimed.

'Of_the_lads? No, indeed;_but there will be bad tidings for the lads_if
you do not see to it!_Where do you_think_your_daughter is, Sir Duke?'

'Where?_How should I know? She went_out to give her sisters some
strawberries,_I thought.'

'See here,' said Lady Thistlewood, leading_the way to the north end_of
the hall, where a door_opened into_what was called the Yew-tree_Grove.
This consisted of_five rows_of yew-trees, planted_at regular intervals,
and their natural mode_of growth so_interfered with by constant cutting,
that their_ruddy_trunks had been_obliged_to_rise branchless,_till about
twelve feet_above_ground they_had_been allowed to spread out their_limbs
in_the form of ordinary forest trees; and,_altogether, their foliage
became a_thick,_unbroken, dark, evergreen roof,_impervious to sunshine,
and almost impervious_to rain, while below their trunks_were like
columns_forming five_arcades, floored only by that dark red crusty earth
and green lichen_growth that seems peculiar to the_shelter of yew-trees.
The depth_of the_shade_and the stillness_of_the place_made it something
peculiarly soothing and quiet, more_especially when,_as now, the sunset
light came below_the branches, richly tinted_the_russet pillars, cast
long shadows, and gleamed_into all the recesses of the_interlacing
boughs and polished leafage above.

'Do_you_see,_Sir Duke?' demanded his lady.

'I_see my little maids making a_rare feast under_the trees upon their
strawberries set out on_leaves._Bless their little hearts! what a_pretty
fairy_feast they've made of it, with_the_dogs_looking on as grave as
