This is another delightful gem from a writer who deserves to be read as avidly in the 21st century as he was in the 20th. As the next book in his Allways collection, this one takes us inside the 16th century cottage surrounded by the gardens we watched grow in the first book, Down the Garden Path. In this one, we can stand in awestruck wonder as the secret niche and its contents—lost for centuries—are revealed. We wait as patiently as Nichols does for the inspiration on what the Garden Room wanted for color and flooring and wall covering—we don’t want him to make the room “arty” any more than he wanted to do so. We meet Whoops, a prince among dogs (second only to my own prince, Sharpie). Along with half the village, we get to follow the water diviner. And are glad Nichols triumphs in the matter of Mrs. M. and the tinned celery. We are there when Undine requests to “sense the atmosphere” upstairs. We are as confused as Nichols as he “wondered if this was a Tudor way of saying she would like to wash her hands.” But up we go, sensing the atmosphere and to our surprise, there IS something in a forgotten old cupboard. And finally, we learn all about thatching in the authentic manner and watch with Nichols as his new roof is lovingly created. I hate to see each book end.
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