Sentence:  Had Darrell been placed amidst the circumstances that make happy the homes of earnest men, Darrell would have been mirthful; had Waife been placed amongst the circumstances that concentrate talent, and hedge round life with trained <WSD>thicksets</WSD> and belting laurels, Waife would have been grave. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A thick hedge.