Wessex Tales

ge official dwelt in a lonely cottage by a deep slow river flowing under the cliff on which the prison buildings were situate-the st

Passing thus the outskirts of the jail, she discerned on the level roof over the gateway three rectangular lines against the sky, where the specks had been moving in her distant view; she recognized what the erection

teps fixed against the end of the cottage, and began to ascend them, this being evidently the staircase to his bedroom. Gertrude hastened forward, but by the time she r

to you a

d) backed down the ladder. 'I was just going to bed,' he said; '"Early to bed and early to rise," but I don't mind s

bably that she looked rural, he said, 'If you want me to undertake country work I can't come, for I never

That's it.

e continually, but I tell 'em one knot is as merciful as another if ye keep it under the ear. Is the unfort

ime is the

n after as the London mail-coach gets in. We

hope not!' she s

oes; only just turned eighteen, and only present by chance when the rick was fired. Howsomever, there's not much risk o

for a charm, a cure of an affliction, by the advice

s. But it didn't strike me that you looked of a sort to require blood-

uctantly showed t

am!' said the hang

' sai

nd to admit! I like the look of the place; it is truly as suitable for the

e all that's necessary?

or with 'ee, and given your name and address-that's how it used to be d

her do it this way, as I s

ot to kn

husb

I'll get ee' a to

now?' she sai

de that little small winder up there in the g

er friends. 'Yes, of course,' sh

ane, not later than one o'clock. I will open it from the inside, as I shan't come home to dinner till he's cut down.

ing in the outer wall of the prison precincts. The steep was so great that, having reached the wicket, she stopped a moment to breathe; and, looking back upon the

and she returned to the W