In
the middle of the bit of rock there were two or three trees standing up
together, birch trees with silvery stems, and on every side but one
there was shallow brown water, so clear that they could see every stone
at the bottom. And when they looked away across the lake, there were the
grand old mountains pushing their heads into the clouds on the other
side, and far away near the edge of the lake they saw a white dot which
they knew was Aunt Emma's house. How the sun shone on everything! How it
made the water of the lake sparkle and glitter as if it were alive! And
yet the air was not hot, for a little wind was coming to them across the
water, and moving the trees gently up and down.
And what was this under the trees? Why, a kind of fireplace made of
stones, and in front of it a round green bit of grass, with tufts of
heather all round it, just like a table with seats.
"Who put these stones here, Aunt Emma?" asked Olly, as she and mother
and Mr. Norton brought up the baskets, and put them in the green place
by the stones.
"Well, Olly, long ago, when all your uncles and aunts were little, and
they used to come here for picnics, they thought it would be very nice
to have a stone fireplace, built up properly, so that they needn't make
one every time.
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