away whilſt ſhe was finiſhing it; and her haſte made her forget the principal thing which ſhe intended to have ſaid.
Out of breath ſhe joined them; and after they had croſſed ſeveral fields, Mrs. Maſon turning down a long avenue, bade them look at a large old manſion-houſe. It was now in ruins. Ivy grew over the ſubſtantial walls, that ſtill reſiſted the depredations of time, and almoſt concealed a noble arch, on which maimed lions couched; and vultures and eagles, who had loſt their wings, ſeemed to reſt for ever there. Near it was a rookery, and the rooks lived ſafe in the high trees, whoſe trunks were all covered with ivy or moſs, and a number of funguſſes grew about their large roots. The graſs was long, and remained undiſturbed, ſave when the wind ſwept acroſs it, was of courſe pathleſs. Here the mower never whet his ſcythe, nor did the haymkaers mix their ſongs with the hoarſe croaking of the rooks. A ſpacious baſon, on the margins of which water plants grew with wild luxuriance, was overſpread with ſlime; and
