But that is beside the mark. It is the naming of these new country seats
that leads to such difficulties.
That night at dinner the question arose again.
"As it is on the top of the hill," said a gentle wistful lady, "why not
call it 'Hill Top'? I'm sure I've seen that name before. It is expressive
and simple."
"So simple," said Buckler, "that my nearest neighbour has already
appropriated it."
"I suppose that would be an objection," said the lady, and we all agreed.
"Why not," said another guest, "call it 'The Summit'? or, more concisely,
just 'Summit'?"
"Or why not go further," said a frivolous voice, "and suggest hospitality
too--and Buckler's hospitality is notorious--by calling it 'Summit-to-
Eat'?"
Our silence was properly contemptuous of this sally.
"If you didn't like that you might call it 'Summit-to-Drink,'" the
frivolous voice impenitently continued. "Then you would get all the
Americans there too."
The voice's glass having been replenished (which, I fancy, was its inner
purpose) we became serious again.
"As it is on the top of the hill," said the first lady, "there will
probably be a view.
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