in't, sticking in the Hedge, without Man or Horse; and, by-and-by, came upon Hob himself, with à Party, caroufing. Ned gave it him well, and fent him back at doublequick Time. "Twas too bad. He had left Town overnight, and promised to be at Chalfont by Noon. I should have beene fain to keep him in Advance of us; howbeit, we were forct to leave him in the Rear; and, about two Miles beyond Amersham, we turned off the high Road into a country Lane, which soon brought us to a small retired Hamlet, shaded with Trees, and furrounded with pleasant Meadows and Orchards, 1665. 1665. chards, which was no other than Chalfont. There was Mother near the Gate, putting fome fine Things to bleach on a Sweetbriar-hedge. Ned stopt to chat with her, and learn where he might put his Horse, while I went to feek Father; and foon found him, fitting up in a ftrait Chair, outfide the Garden-door. Sayd, kiffing him, "Dear Father, "how is't with you? Are "fortable here?" you com "Anything but that," replies he, very shortlie. "I am not in any 66 Way at my Eafe in this Place. I "can get no definite Notion of what "'tis like, and what Notion I have “is unfavourable. To finish all, they "have stuck me up here, like a "Bottle in the Smoke." "But here is a Cushion for you," quoth I, running in and back agayn; "and I will fet your Seat in the Sun, and out of the Wind, and put "your Staff within Reach." 66 Thanks, dear Deb. And now, "look about, Child, and tell me, "with Precifion, what the Place is "like." Soe I told him 'twas an irregular two-storied Tenement, parcel Wood, parcel Brick, with a deep Roof of old Tiles that had loft their Colour, and were curiouslie variegated with green 1665. 1665. green and yellow Mofs; and that the Eaves were dentilled, with Birds' Nests built in 'em, and a big Honeyfuckle growing to the upper Floor; and there was a great and a little Gable, and a heavy Chimney-ftack; a Cafement of four Compartments next the Door, and another of two over it; four Lattice-windows at t'other End. In Front, a steep Meadow, enamelled with King-cups and Blue-bells; alongside the Gableend, a Village Road, with deep Cart-ruts, and Hawthorn Hedges. Onlie one fmall Dwelling at hand, little better than a crazy Haystack; Sheep in the Field, Bees in the Honeyfuckle; Honeyfuckle; and a little rippling 66 'Why, now you have fett me "quite at Ease!" cries he, turning his bright Eyes thankfully towards the Sky. "I begin to like the "Place, and to blefs the warm Sun "and pure Air. Ha! fo there is a rippling Rivulet, that floweth on continually!.... Lord, forgive me "for my peevish Petulance. . . for "forgetting that I could still hear "the Lark fing her Morning Hymn, "fcent the Meadow-fweet and new"mown Hay, detect the Bee at his "Industry, and the Woodpecker at "his Mischief, difcern the Breath of "Cows, 1665. |