Nancy laughed; Rowton continued to talk further about this idea; and they strolled out into the grounds. It was a lovely winter’s day towards the end of January. The pair walked quickly, exploring the different gardens and pleasure grounds. Suddenly they came straight up to a high wall which ran parallel with the house.
“What is in there?” asked Nancy.
“Another garden,” said Rowton in a careless tone.
“What a heap of gardens,” she exclaimed with a laugh. “I am almost tired of exploring them.”
“We will return to the house now,” he said; “we need not go any further to-day.”
“Oh, yes, let me see the inside of this garden. What a high wall, and broken glass all along the top! I cannot get even a peep within. I am curious. Is it a very old-fashioned garden, Adrian?”
“Yes,” he said after a pause; “we call it the Queen Anne garden here.”
“How charming! Are the trees cut about in queer shapes?”
“Yes. Contorted into foxes and dogs and bears. I fancy there is a cock, who looks exactly as if he meant to crow, just inside the entrance gate.”