Wessex Tales

his voice, so nearly did the steep pastures encroach upon the burghers' backyards. And at night it was possible to stand in the very midst of the town and hear from the

lley thus flanked formed a veritable town, with a r

a pedestrian of professional appearance, carrying a small bag in his hand and an elevated umbre

vehicle, a young man of pale and refined appearance

, rather self-indulgent face ove

t-thanks,' he said, and mou

nner towards his companion, though nothing of it ever showed in Barnet's manner towards the solicitor. Barnet's position in the town was none of his own making; his father had been a very successful flax-merchant in the same place, where the trade was still c

. Barnet?'

her answered constrainedly, exchanging his meditativ

ted his friend on his election as a council-man; he thought he had not seen him since that event took place;

now . . . Yes, I am a member of the corporation-rather an inexperienced member, some of them say. It is quite true; and I should have

,' said Downe, with good-humoured freedom. 'What the deuce do you want to build that new

been idly asked by the solicitor while regarding the surrounding flocks

nvenient.' Mr. Downe declared that he had chosen a pretty site for the new building. They would be

ouse near that was likely to be mistaken

ast-when was it?-this morning; and I saw something,-"C

ly to do without a name-at any rate such a name as that. It must have been a week ago that yo

vinced tone that he though

le rattle down the heavy roofs of stone tile, that bent the house-ridges hollow-backed with its weight, and in some instances caused the walls to bulge outwards in the upper story. Their route took them past the little town-hall, the Bla

lose to the panes of a lighted window a few yards ahead, surmounted by that of a young matron, the gaze of all four being directed eagerly up the empty street. 'You are a fortunate fellow, Downe,' B

pretty comfortably,' rep

fore delivering up his passenger. 'The house I have already is good enough for me, as you supposed. It is my own freehold; it was built by my grandfather, and is

you?' sa

h the absurdity of the name, but it was too much to have your house christened after Lord Ringdale, because your wife once had a fancy for him. If you only knew everything, you woul

e you,' said Downe. 'Take my word for it she will! And

Barnet repl

dy opened. Downe descended, but being encumbered with his bag and u

f Barnet, she seized hold of her husband, pulled him to his feet, and kissed him, exclaiming, '

tidious bachelor years-he would have thought her a too demonstrative woman; but those recent circumstances of his own life to which he had just alluded made Mrs. Downe's solicit

ight, at least on this one occasion, make Downe's forecast true. Hence it was in a suspense that he could hardly have believed possible that he halted at his door. On ent

at this ti

hopes you will excuse her

w I was comi

es,

tell her

mistress of the house merely

th the situation here. His mind fell back into past years upon a certain pleasing and gentle being whose face would loom out of their shades at such times as these. Barnet turned in