is a very beautiful park, with a broad
avenue through it from the gates right in the town itself. The farmer's
wife had told them of its attractions, and also of a ruined house known
as Alfred's Hall, and a point called the Seven Ways where seven green
avenues met, and a canal that ran through a tunnel, and, all within the
possibilities of good walkers, the source of the Thames itself. "And,"
said she, "after you have seen that--the tiny spring which makes that
wonderful river that runs right through London--oh, I've been to London
in my time!--you can come back to Cirencester by the Fosse Way--the
Roman road to Bath." They could not, of course, see all these things,
but they went to the ruined house, which was very romantic and exactly
the place for Hester had she only been with them; and they roamed about
the park, which was very vast and wonderful.

They had a little adventure, too, for as they were walking along, on
the way back--coming back, of course, by a different way, for Robert
could not bear the thought of not doing so--Mary chanced to say, with
reference to the plans for the future which Robert was describing:

"To-morrow to fresh fields and pastures new,"

that being her idea of the last line of Milton's "Lycidas," which they
had all learned quite recently.

"Not 'fresh fields,'" Janet corrected, "'fresh woods.'"

"'Fields,'" said Mary.

"'Woods,'" said Janet.

"I'm sure it's 'fields,'" said Mary.

"But it's silly," said Janet, "to say 'fresh fields and pastures new,'
because they mean the same thing. 'Fresh woods' would mean something
different."

"I can't help it," said Mary; "that's Milton's affair. 'Fresh fields.'"

Janet called to Robert. "Is it 'fresh fields and pastures new,' or
'fresh woods and pastures new'?" she asked him.

"'Fresh fields,'" he said.

Janet asked Jack. "I don't know," he said, "but 'fresh woods' sounds
more sensible."

"Oh, dear," said Janet, "I wish we had a Milton!"

"Well, we haven't," said Robert, "and you're not likely to find one at
Cirencester to-day, unless, of course, the vicar has one."

"Oh, yes," said Janet, "of course--the vicar. He's certain to have one."

"But who'll ask him?" said Horace.

"Janet will," said Mary.

"Oh, no," said Janet.

"Well, it's your affair," said Robert.

"Not more than Mary's," said Janet. "Mary, will you ask him?"

"No," said Mary, "I don't think I could. Not the vicar. I might be
willing to ask the curate."