"'That was there when your Ritual was drawn up?' said I, as we drove past it.
"'It was there at the Norman Conquest, in all probability,' he answered. 'It has a girth of 23 ft.'
"Here was one of my fixed points secured.
"'Have you any old elms?' I asked.
"'There used to be a very old one over yonder, but it was struck by lightning ten years ago, and we cut down the stump.'
"'You can see where it used to be?'
"'Oh, yes.'
"'There are no other elms?'
"'No old ones, but plenty of beeches.'
"'I should like to see where it grew.'