“I know very well,” Edward said, as they were walking up the hill to the castle together, “that everything in this world depends on distinctness of idea and firmness of purpose.  Your judgment of what my wife has been doing in the park was entirely right; and you have already given me a hint how it might be improved.  I will not deny that I told her of it.”

“So I have been led to suspect,” replied the Captain; “and I could not approve of your having done so.  You have perplexed her.  She has left off doing anything; and on this one subject she is vexed with us.  She avoids speaking of it.  She has never since invited us to go with her to the summer-house, although at odd hours she goes up there with Ottilie.”

“We must not allow ourselves to be deterred by that,” answered Edward.  “If I am once convinced about anything good, which could and should be done, I can never rest till I see it done.  We are clever enough at other times in introducing what we want, into the general conversation; suppose we have out some descriptions of English parks, with copper-plates, for our evening’s amusement.  Then we can follow with your plan.  We will treat it first problematically, and as if we were only in jest.  There will be no difficulty in passing into earnest.”

The scheme was concerted, and the books were opened.  In each group of designs they first saw a ground-plan of the spot, with the general character of the landscape, drawn in its rude, natural state.  Then followed others, showing the changes which had been produced by art, to employ and set off the natural advantages of the locality.  From these to their own property and their own grounds, the transition was easy.

Everybody was pleased.  The chart which the Captain had sketched was brought and spread out.  The only difficulty was, that they could not entirely free themselves of the plan in which Charlotte had begun.  However, an easier way up the hill was found; a lodge was suggested to be built on the height at the edge of the cliff, which was to have an especial reference to the castle.  It was to form a conspicuous object from the castle windows, and from it the spectator was to be able to overlook both the castle and the garden.

The Captain had thought it all carefully over, and taken his measurements; and now he brought up again the village road and the wall by the brook, and the ground which was to be raised behind it.

“Here you see,” said he, “while I make this charming walk up the height, I gain exactly the quantity of stone which I require for that wall.  Let one piece of work help the other, and both will be carried out most satisfactorily and most rapidly.”

“But now,” said Charlotte, “comes my side of the business.  A certain definite outlay of money will have to be made.  We ought to know how much will be wanted for such a purpose, and then we can apportion it out—­so much work, and so much money, if not by weeks, at least by months.  The cash-box is under my charge.  I pay the bills, and I keep the accounts.”