"Some of the commonest plums," continued Sir James, "are lovely objects when grown under glass; so are the dwarf cherries, trees which are clusters of coral from root to top, while those who have not partaken of that wonderfully beautiful fruit, the apple, when a choice American kind is grown in an orchard house, have a new sensation before them in the way of taste. The modern Continental mode of growing fruit on _cordons_, as they are termed, a simple stick, so to speak, without an extraneous branch, all being fruit spurs, enables the lover of such a form of horticulture to place an enormous number of trees beneath his glass in a very small space, as they will flourish well at a distance of two feet apart all along the back and sides, and three feet apart in the centre, while as to expense, the choicest of young trees can be purchased for from eighteenpence to half-a-crown each. In fact, if I wanted an orchard house, I would start with quite a small one, erected and stocked for a five-pound note, and if I could not raise so large a sum, I would do it for half the money with old sashes from some house-wrecker's stock, and grow it to a better by-and-by." "How much did this place cost?" said the doctor. "Five hundred," said Sir James. "But listen to the finish, old fellow. Ajax, if he builds himself such a structure, can defy the weather--the much-abused weather, which, in spite of all that has been said, seems much the same as ever, people forgetting that they ask it to perform the same miracles of growth that it does in Eastern and Southern climes. Nature meant England to grow sloes, blackberries, and crabs, and we ask her to grow the pomegranate, the orange, and the date. She definitely says she won't, though she does accord the fig, but in a very insipid, trashy way. Put up the glass umbrella however, and shut out her freezing winds, and she will perform wonders at our call. Our grandfathers thought they had done everything when they had planted their trees against a sheltering wall. Our fathers went farther, and gave us the idea of growing grapes and pines in a house of glass. But, the pine and grape were luxurious affairs, not to be approached by the meek, to whom these ideas are presented as facts that will add another pleasure to their lives." "As the celebrated Samuel Weller observed, when he had listened patiently to the Shepherd's discourse, `Brayvo! Very pretty!' But I say, I'm getting hungry." "Not seven yet," said Sir James; "go and get yourself a glass of milk, and I'll have a walk with you till breakfast time. Here, I'll come with you now." "But, my dear boy, you are not coming out of this hot, moist atmosphere without first putting on a coat?" "Stuff! Nothing hurts me, I'm used to it." "My dear fellow, you'll have a bad attack some day," said the doctor.