Mrs H knew every hill and wood for miles around and she could tell Tony and Alice stories about the Lake District. Once she pointed out a distant strip of land at the edge of Lake Windermere. ''I saved that bit of foreshore,'' she said proudly. ''Saved it how?'' asked Alice. ''How do you save something like that? What''s there to save it from?'' ''Developers,'' replied Mrs H. ''They wanted to build there. Can you imagine it, churning up that lovely place to fill it with terraces of silly little houses?'' ''I wouldn''t mind,'' said Alice. ''I''d love to have a house right there.

Houses should be in pretty places, Mrs H. Mrs H tut-tutted and shook her head. ''How did you save it?'' put in Tony, before Alice could start an argument. ''Oh, I raised some money,'' she said with a smile. ''I painted some pictures and sold them. They made enough money to save the stretch of land.'' ''Cor,'' said Alice. ''You a real artist then, Mrs H?'' Mrs H chuckled.

''Oh, I''ve been known to dabble a bit, dear. I don''t have time for that sort of thing now. Farming is a busy life. Now, come along you two. Best turn back before the evening closes in.'' The walks always ended in the garden with tea and scones, or biscuits from America. ''You know, I don''t actually live in this cottage,'' she said to them one evening. ''I used to live here, but now I live in another house not far from here.

'' ''But you''re always here,'' Mrs H,'' said Alice. ''It''s got rooms and furniture and everything. We''ve always ended up here in the evenings, me and you.'' Mrs H laughed. ''Oh, I still own it. It''s still my special place. I like to sit here in the evenings,'' she said. ''That''s mad,'' said Alice with a laugh.

''Why would anyone want two houses?'' Mrs H simply smiled. ''It''s this garden,'' she said. ''Its peace shuts out wars and woes.'' However it was her love of animals that drew Tony to Mrs H. He found it easy to tell her about his mother and the rabbits. ''It was a picture in her bedroom,'' he said. ''A picture of rabbits in a field. There were hills behind them and some trees, a bit like here.

I can still remember every detail in that picture. My mam used to tell me that we''d go there some day. I never forgot that. I suppose that''s why I love rabbits.'' He glanced shyly at Mrs H and Alice to see if they''d laugh. But they didn''t. Mrs H nodded. ''My brother and I used to catch rabbits and tame them,'' she said.

''When he was sent away to school, I used to do that on my own. You''re never lonely around animals.'' ''That''s true,'' said Tony. ''Even tin ones,'' he laughed. ''I''ll show you my collection.'' ''And did she take you to see the rabbits, your mother?'' Alice asked Tony. He shook his head. ''She died,'' he said.

''When I was small.'' Alice snorted. ''Liar, liar, pants on fire,'' she said. ''Your mum''s a pretty lady who saw you off at the station. Her name is Doris, you told me so yourself.'' Tony flinched. He''d forgotten that he''d fibbed to Alice. ''She''s my father''s friend,'' he said.

''And mine too. She''s a bit like a mother, but not my real mother.'' ''You could have said,'' went on Alice, wagging her finger at him. ''I don''t like liars.'' ''It was too much trouble to try and explain,'' muttered Tony. Mrs H diverted their attention by opening a book she had brought out. ''This is about the countryside,'' she said. ''You might find it interesting.

'' As she opened it a sheet of paper fell to the floor. Alice picked it up. ''That''s nice,'' she said. ''A picture of mice.'' Mrs H laughed. ''That''s one of my first drawings,'' she said. ''I did that whe.