Ghost Stories of an Antiquary | Page 6

plot of ground: and when he learnt them
from Mr Anstruther he displayed no enthusiasm.
'Of course I could clear them seats away soon enough,' he said. 'They
aren't no ornament to the place, Mr Anstruther, and rotten too. Look
'ere, sir,'--and he broke off a large piece--'rotten right through. Yes,
clear them away, to be sure we can do that.'
'And the post,' said Mr Anstruther, 'that's got to go too.'
Collins advanced, and shook the post with both hands: then he rubbed

his chin.
'That's firm in the ground, that post is,' he said. 'That's been there a
number of years, Mr Anstruther. I doubt I shan't get that up not quite so
soon as what I can do with them seats.'
'But your mistress specially wishes it to be got out of the way in an
hour's time,' said Mr Anstruther.
Collins smiled and shook his head slowly. 'You'll excuse me, sir, but
you feel of it for yourself. No, sir, no one can't do what's impossible to
'em, can they, sir? I could git that post up by after tea-time, sir, but
that'll want a lot of digging. What you require, you see, sir, if you'll
excuse me naming of it, you want the soil loosening round this post 'ere,
and me and the boy we shall take a little time doing of that. But now,
these 'ere seats,' said Collins, appearing to appropriate this portion of
the scheme as due to his own resourcefulness, 'why, I can get the barrer
round and 'ave them cleared away in, why less than an hour's time from
now, if you'll permit of it. Only--'
'Only what, Collins?'
'Well now, ain't for me to go against orders no more than what it is for
you yourself--or anyone else' (this was added somewhat hurriedly), 'but
if you'll pardon me, sir, this ain't the place I should have picked out for
no rose garden myself. Why look at them box and laurestinus, 'ow they
reg'lar preclude the light from--'
'Ah yes, but we've got to get rid of some of them, of course.'
'Oh, indeed, get rid of them! Yes, to be sure, but--I beg your pardon,
Mr Anstruther--'
'I'm sorry, Collins, but I must be getting on now. I hear the car at the
door. Your mistress will explain exactly what she wishes. I'll tell her,
then, that you can see your way to clearing away the seats at once, and
the post this afternoon. Good morning.'

Collins was left rubbing his chin. Mrs Anstruther received the report
with some discontent, but did not insist upon any change of plan.
By four o'clock that afternoon she had dismissed her husband to his
golf, had dealt faithfully with Collins and with the other duties of the
day, and, having sent a campstool and umbrella to the proper spot, had
just settled down to her sketch of the church as seen from the shrubbery,
when a maid came hurrying down the path to report that Miss Wilkins
had called.
Miss Wilkins was one of the few remaining members of the family
from whom the Anstruthers had bought the Westfield estate some few
years back. She had been staying in the neighbourhood, and this was
probably a farewell visit. 'Perhaps you could ask Miss Wilkins to join
me here,' said Mrs Anstruther, and soon Miss Wilkins, a person of
mature years, approached.
'Yes, I'm leaving the Ashes to-morrow, and I shall be able to tell my
brother how tremendously you have improved the place. Of course he
can't help regretting the old house just a little--as I do myself--but the
garden is really delightful now.'
'I am so glad you can say so. But you mustn't think we've finished our
improvements. Let me show you where I mean to put a rose garden. It's
close by here.'
The details of the project were laid before Miss Wilkins at some length;
but her thoughts were evidently elsewhere.
'Yes, delightful,' she said at last rather absently. 'But do you know, Mrs
Anstruther, I'm afraid I was thinking of old times. I'm very glad to have
seen just this spot again before you altered it. Frank and I had quite a
romance about this place.'
'Yes?' said Mrs Anstruther smilingly; 'do tell me what it was.
Something quaint and charming, I'm sure.'
'Not so very charming, but it has always seemed to me curious. Neither

of us would ever be here alone when we were children, and I'm not sure
that I should care about it now in certain moods. It is one of those
things that can hardly be put into words--by me at least--and that sound
rather foolish if they are not properly expressed. I can tell you after a
fashion what it was that gave us--well,