Page:Austen Sanditon and other miscellanea.djvu/52

 28 to go. But you know’ (still looking back) ‘one loves to look at an old friend, at a place where one has been happy. The Hilliers did not seem to feel the Storms last Winter at all. I remember seeing Mrs. Hillier after one of those dreadful Nights, when we had been literally rocked in our bed, and she did not seem at all aware of the Wind being anything more than common.’ ‘Yes, yes, that’s likely enough. We have all the Grandeur of the Storm, with less real danger, because the Wind meeting with nothing to oppose or confine it around our House, simply rages and passes on; while down in this Gutter nothing is known of the state of the Air below the Tops of the Trees, and the Inhabitants may be taken totally unawares by one of those dreadful Currents which do more mischief in a Valley, when they do arise, than an open Country ever experiences in the heaviest Gale. But, my dear Love, as to Gardenstuff, you were saying that any accidental omission is supplied in a moment by Lady Denham’s Gardener; but it occurs to me that we ought to go elsewhere upon such occasions, and that old Stringer and his son have a higher claim. I encouraged him to set up, and am afraid he does not do very well—that is, there has not been time enough yet. He will do very well beyond a doubt, but at first it is Uphill work; and therefore we must give him what Help we can, and when any Vegetables or fruit happen to be wanted—and it will not be amiss to have them often wanted, to have something or other forgotten most days—just to have a nominal supply, you know, that poor old Andrew may not lose his daily Job, but in fact to buy the chief of our consumption of the Stringers.’ ‘Very well, my Love, that can be easily done, and Cook will be satisfied, which will be a great comfort, for she is always complaining of old Andrew now, and says he never brings her what she wants. There, now the old House is quite left behind. What is it, your Brother Sidney