You remember that one side of the valley in which stood New Wanley was clad with trees.

Through this wood a public path made transverse ascent to the shoulder of the bill, a way little used save by Wanley ramblers in summer time.

The section of the wood above the path was closed against trespassers; among the copses below anyone might freely wander.
In places it was scarcely possible to make a way for fern, bramble, and underwood, but elsewhere mossy tracks led one among hazels or under arches of foliage which made of the mid-day sky a cool, golden shimmer.
One such track, abruptly turning round a great rock over the face of which drooped the boughs of an ash, came upon a little sloping lawn, which started from a high hazel-covered bank.

The bank itself was so shaped as to afford an easy seat, shaded even when the grass in front was all sunshine.
Adela had long known this retreat, and had been accustomed to sit here with Letty, especially when she needed to exchange deep confidences with her friend.

Once, just as they were settling themselves upon the bank, they were startled by a movement among the leaves above, followed by the voice of someone addressing them with cheerful friendliness, and making request to be allowed to descend and join them.