made her way across the water to listen to John's whistle, which she
greatly admired; and she at the same time convinced him that she could
sing, and, according to his taste, very sweetly.

Little offerings of friendship were continually passing, on these
occasions, between the children. Sometimes Marion would save the fruit
which her father was permitted to give her out of the hall garden, and she
would carry it over, in a cabbage-leaf, to share it with John. He, in
return, wishing to procure a basket for her greater accommodation, got his
friend Will to teach him how to make one, like that which the shepherds in
general use for carrying their provisions to the hill, and which is shaped
something like a pouch, and slung by a strap over the shoulder. To make
the basket the more acceptable, John filled it with the prettiest mosses
that he could find on the hills. These mosses are remarkably fine in
Eskdale, and very much in request among the ladies, who ornament their
garden seats and bowers with them. The frames being made of a sort of
basket-work, the moss, when fresh gathered, with the roots unbroken, is
twisted into the frame so as to leave the green part only visible. Thus
they take root, and if carefully watered, in a very little time have the
appearance of having grown there naturally. They are called _fogg
houses_, and are very common. Seats and tables are likewise added, as
furniture to the fogg house, and for this purpose the most beautiful moss
is always reserved. The greater the variety of shades, the more it is
prized; and they are sometimes seen shaded, from the darkest green to the
most beautiful rose-colour. This last colour is the most rare, and is only
found on one particular moor, at the top of a distant hill. John
contrived, one afternoon, to coax Will to take his place with the sheep,
and let him go in search of his much-coveted prize; which, having
succeeded in obtaining, he arranged all the various sorts he had picked up
in the basket, taking care to place the rose-coloured just at the top, and