Thepiazzasofthemainbuildingandwesternwinghadnofloors，asisusual；butatthedoorsandateachwindow，large，flatirregularslabsofgranitelayimbeddedinthedeliciousturf，affordingcomfortablefootinginallweather。Excellentpathsofthesamematerialnotnicelyadapted，butwiththevelvetysodfillingfrequentintervalsbetweenthestones，ledhitherandthitherfromthehouse，toacrystalspringaboutfivepacesoff，totheroad，ortooneortwoouthousesthatlaytothenorth，beyondthebrook，andwerethoroughlyconcealedbyafewlocustsandcatalpas。
Notmorethansixstepsfromthemaindoorofthecottagestoodthedeadtrunkofafantasticpear-tree，soclothedfromheadtofootinthegorgeousbignoniablossomsthatonerequirednolittlescrutinytodeterminewhatmannerofsweetthingitcouldbe。Fromvariousarmsofthistreehungcagesofdifferentkinds。Inone，alargewickercylinderwitharingattop，revelledamockingbird；inanotheranoriole；inathirdtheimpudentbobolinkwhilethreeorfourmoredelicateprisonswereloudlyvocalwithcanaries。
Thepillarsofthepiazzawereenwreathedinjasmineandsweethoneysuckle；whilefromtheangleformedbythemainstructureanditswestwing，infront，sprangagrape-vineofunexampledluxuriance。Scorningallrestraint，ithadclamberedfirsttothelowerroofthentothehigher；andalongtheridgeofthislatteritcontinuedtowritheon，throwingouttendrilstotherightandleft，untilatlengthitfairlyattainedtheeastgable，andfelltrailingoverthestairs。
Thewholehouse，withitswings，wasconstructedoftheold-fashionedDutchshinglesbroad，andwithunroundedcorners。ItisapeculiarityofthismaterialtogivehousesbuiltofittheappearanceofbeingwideratbottomthanattopafterthemannerofEgyptianarchitecture；andinthepresentinstance，thisexceedinglypicturesqueeffectwasaidedbynumerouspotsofgorgeousflowersthatalmostencompassedthebaseofthebuildings。
Theshingleswerepaintedadullgray；andthehappinesswithwhichthisneutraltintmeltedintothevividgreenofthetuliptreeleavesthatpartiallyovershadowedthecottage，canreadilybeconceivedbyanartist。