In 1908 we found a mass of rocks standing in the dry bed of the small lake. On one rock covered with ivy were two full-grown pine trees. It seems unlikely that the trees should have originally been in the small circular basin of water.
D’Hezecques says that thuya and pine trees were planted high up over the grotto to give it the appearance of a Swiss mountain.[[61]] The grotto was destroyed about 1792, and it is possible that some of the rocks covering it were displaced and allowed to slip into the lake below, and that the present pine trees may have been seedlings at the time, for we are told that the life of a pine tree is from 100 to 200 years old.
In 1908 we noticed that at one side of this ivy-covered rock were peculiar projections; one of these was broken off short, but the other was intact. We thought they might once have formed supports for a small bridge.
Rocks are said to have been placed in 1788 at the “montagne des Pins à gauche et en montant au Rocher.” “Montagne des Pins à droite en montant au Rocher.”[[62]]
In January, 1791, trees were torn up from the montagnes.
In February, March, April, 1792, every few days occurs the entry: “Journée à arracher les Thuja sur les montagnes.”[[63]]
According to the old picture by L’Espinasse (1783), there was nothing over the low long bridge between the two lakes, but there was by the side of it, just where the grotto would have ended, a cavern in a rock.[[64]] This is no longer there; but possibly the face of rock with the cavern-like opening may have been lifted over the bridge, and account for the very peculiar rock which is at present above the bridge, causing it to be called the Rocher bridge. A rough rock staircase which has no meaning is attached to this rock behind. D’Hezecques speaks of a staircase as having been within the grotto leading up to its entrance on the high ground on the montagnes—has it been moved to the lower end of the grotto?
There is now no isolated rock standing up as we saw it behind the running man;—only mounds covered with shrubs and trees. But in the archives there is a note saying that in 1788 rocks were placed in various parts, and one is especially mentioned, “pièce donnant au bord du lac de l’ancien côté des rochers ... au long du chemin de l’emplacement de la Ruine sur la conduitte en bois à la deuxième source du Ravin.”[[65]] This would have been the path we were on in 1901.
Pelouse
It is easy to suppose that between the years 1901–4 trees were cleared away from the rough ground on the north side of the house, which in 1901 had given it the look of an orchard. So much was this the case that the lady sitting under the north terrace was thought to be making a study of tree stems; for she was looking into trees, and she held a large paper in her hand, and, as we passed, held it out at arm’s length.