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who sits just outside。 This is as near to being inside as she
may venture； because； if she were to let go her hold of the
railings for one moment； the balloons would lift her up； and she
would be flown away。 She sits very squat； for the balloons are
always tugging at her； and the strain has given her quite a red
face。 Once she was a new one； because the old one had let go； and
David was very sorry for the old one； but as she did let go； he
wished he had been there to see。
The Gardens are a tremendous big place； with millions and
hundreds of trees； and first you come to the Figs； but you scorn
to loiter there； for the Figs is the resort of superior little
persons； who are forbidden to mix with the commonalty； and is so
named； according to legend； because they dress in full fig。
These dainty ones are themselves contemptuously called Figs by
David and other heroes； and you have a key to the manners and
customs of this dandiacal section of the Gardens when I tell you
that cricket is called crickets here。 Occasionally a rebel Fig
climbs over the fence into the world； and such a one was Miss
Mabel Grey； of whom I shall tell you when we come to Miss Mabel
Grey's gate。 She was the only really celebrated Fig。
We are now in the Broad Walk； and it is as much bigger than the
other walks as your father is bigger than you。 David wondered if
it began little； and grew and grew； till it was quite grown up；
and whether the other walks are its babies； and he drew a
picture； which diverted him very much； of the Broad Walk giving a
tiny walk an airing in a perambulator。 In the Broad Walk you
meet all the people who are worth knowing； and there is usually a
grown…up with them to prevent their going on the damp grass； and
to make them stand disgraced at the corner of a seat if they have
been mad…dog or Mary…Annish。 To be Mary…Annish is to behave like
a girl； whimpering because nurse won't carry you； or simpering
with your thumb in your mouth； and it is a hateful quality； but
to be mad… dog is to kick out at everything； and there is some
satisfaction in that。
If I were to point out all the notable places as we pass up the
Broad Walk； it would be time to turn back before we reach them；
and I simply wave my stick at Cecco's Tree； that memorable spot
where a boy called Cecco lost his penny； and； looking for it；
found twopence。 There has been a good deal of excavation going
on there ever since。 Farther up the walk is the little wooden
house in which Marmaduke Perry hid。 There is no more awful story
of the Gardens by day than this of Marmaduke Perry； who had been
Mary… Annish three days in succession； and was sentenced to
appear in the Broad Walk dressed in his sister's clothes。 He hid
in the little wooden house； and refused to emerge until they
brought him knickerbockers with pockets。
You now try to go to the Round Pond； but nurses hate it； because
they are not really manly； and they make you look the other way；
at the Big Penny and the Baby's Palace。 She was the most
celebrated baby of the Gardens； and lived in the palace all
alone； with ever so many dolls； so people rang the bell； and up
she got out of her bed； though it was past six o'clock； and she
lighted a candle and opened the door in her nighty； and then they
all cried with great rejoicings； 〃Hail； Queen of England！〃 What
puzzled David most was how she knew where the matches were kept。
The Big Penny is a statue about her。
Next we come to the Hump； which is the part of the Broad Walk
where all the big races are run； and even though you had no
intention of running you do run when you come to the Hump； it is
such a fascinating； slide…down kind of place。 Often you stop
when you have run about half…way down it； and then you are lost；
but there is another little wooden house near here； called the
Lost House； and so you tell the man that you are lost and then he
finds you。 It is glorious fun racing down the Hump； but you
can't do it on windy days because then you are not there； but the
fallen leaves do it instead of you。 There is almost nothing that
has such a keen sense of fun as a fallen leaf。
From the Hump we can see the gate that is called after Miss Mabel
Grey； the Fig I promised to tell you about。 There were always
two nurses with her； or else one mother and one nurse； and for a
long time she was a pattern…child who always coughed off the
table and said； 〃How do you do？〃 to the other Figs； and the only
game she played at was flinging a ball gracefully and letting the
nurse bring it back to her。 Then one day she tired of it all and
went mad…dog； and； first； to show that she as really was mad…dog；
she unloosened both her boot…laces and put out her tongue east；
west； north； and south。 She then flung her sash into a puddle
and danced on it till dirty water was squirted over her frock；
after which she climbed the fence and had a series of incredible
adventures； one of the least of which was that she kicked off
both her boots。 At last she came to the gate that is now called
after her； out of which she ran into streets David and I have
never been in though we have heard them roaring； and still she
ran on and would never again have been heard of had not her
mother jumped into a bus and thus overtaken her。 It all
happened； I should say； long ago； and this is not the Mabel Grey
whom David knows。
Returning up the Broad Walk we have on our right the Baby Walk；
which is so full of perambulators that you could cross from side
to side stepping on babies； but the nurses won't let you do it。
From this walk a passage called Bunting's Thumb； because it is
that length； leads into Picnic Street； where there are real
kettles； and chestnut…blossom falls into your mug as you are
drinking。 Quite common children picnic here also； and the
blossom falls into their mugs just the same。
Next comes St。 Govor's Well； which was full of water when Malcolm
the Bold fell into it。 He was his mother's favourite； and he let
her put her arm round his neck in public because she was a widow；
but he was also partial to adventures and liked to play with a
chimney…sweep who had killed a good many bears。 The sweep's name
was Sooty； and one day when they were playing near the well；
Malcolm fell in and would have been drowned had not Sooty dived
in and rescued him； and the water had washed Sooty clean and he
now stood revealed as Malcolm's long…lost father。 So Malcolm
would not let his mother put her arm round his neck any more。
Between the well and the Round Pond are the cricket…pitches； and
frequently the choosing of sides exhausts so much time that there
is scarcely any cricket。 Everybody wants to bat first； and as
soon as he is out he bowls unless you are the better wrestler；
and while you are wrestling with him the fielders have scattered
to play at something else。 The Gardens are noted for two kinds
of cricket： boy cricket； which is real cricket with