rivet#: a shrub much used for hedges.

[57] #Keeper#: the gamekeeper, a man kept on great estates to
look after the game.

[58] #Cromlech#: a rude tomb built by the first inhabitants of
Britain.

[59] #Wayland Smith's Cave#: a "supernatural smith" who shod
horses on payment of sixpence.

[60] #Sir Walter#: Sir Walter Scott.

The thick deep wood which you see in the hollow, about a mile off,
surrounds Ashdown Park, built by Inigo Jones.[61] Four broad alleys
are cut through the wood, from circumference to centre, and each leads
to one face of the house. The mystery of the downs hangs about house
and wood, as they stand there alone, so unlike all around, with
the green slopes, studded with great stones just about this part,
stretching away on all sides. It was a wise Lord Craven,[62] I think,
who pitched his tent there.

[61] #Inigo Jones#: a celebrated architect of the 17th
century.

[62] #Lord Craven#: the owner of the estate on which the
"White Horse" is located.

THE "SEVEN BARROWS" FARM.

Passing along the Ridgeway to the east, we soon come to cultivated
land. The downs, strictly so called, are no more; Lincolnshire farmers
have been imported, and the long fresh slopes are sheep-walks[63] no
more, but grow famous turnips and barley. One of these improvers lives
over there at the "Seven Barrows"[64] farm, another mystery of the
great downs. There are the barrows still, solemn and silent, like
ships in the calm sea, the sepulchres of some sons of men. But of
whom? It is three miles from the White Horse, too far for the slain of
Ashdown to be buried there--who shall say what heroes are waiting
there? But we must get down into the Vale again, and so away by the
Great Western Railway to town, for time and the printer's devil press;
and it is a terrible long and slippery descent, and a shocking bad
road. At the bottom, however, there is a pleasant public,[65] whereat
we must really take a modest quencher, for the down air is provocative
of thirst. So we pull up under an old oak which stands before the
door.

[63] #Sheep-walks#: sheep pastures, for which the "downs" are
much used.

[64] #Barrows#: ancient burial mounds.

[65] #Public#: a public house.

THE BLOWING STONE.

"What is the name of your hill, landlord?"

"Blawing STWUN Hill, sir, to be sure."

[READER. "_Sturm?_"

AUTHOR. "_Stone_, stupid; The Blowing _Stone_."]

"A