with barns and oast houses and stables, or things like that. And
the other way the garden lawn goes on till it comes to the
churchyard. The churchyard is not divided from the garden at all
except by a little grass bank. In the front of the house there is
more garden, and the big fruit garden is at the back.

The man the house belongs to likes new houses, so he built a big
one with conservatories and a stable with a clock in a turret on
the top, and he left the Moat House. And Albert's uncle took it,
and my father was to come down sometimes from Saturday to Monday,
and Albert's uncle was to live with us all the time, and he would
be writing a book, and we were not to bother him, but he would give
an eye to us. I hope all this is plain. I have said it as short
as I can.

We got down rather late, but there was still light enough to see
the big bell hanging at the top of the house. The rope belonging
to it went right down the house, through our bedroom to the
dining-room. H. O. saw the rope and pulled it while he was washing
his hands for supper, and Dicky and I let him, and the bell tolled
solemnly. Father shouted to him not to, and we went down to
supper.

But presently there were many feet trampling on the gravel, and
Father went out to see. When he came back he said--
'The whole village, or half of it, has come up to see why the bell
rang. It's only rung for fire or burglars. Why can't you kids let
things alone?'

Albert's uncle said--