CHAP. I. DARLISTON. CAPTAIN GAINSBOROUGH'S ACCOUNT OF EXPLORATIONS ABOUT FAIRCLOUGH AND THE SURROUNDING PARTS. Silver Swan, Dingleton, near Tudfield. MY DEAR WIFE, I arrived here before ten last night, without any incident on the journey worth naming, excepting that at Marsham I took a fancy to a dog, and bought him for you. I hope and believe he will turn out a good dog. At all events he shows good temper; and as he was evidently ill-treated and half-starved in his last place, the probability is that he will take kindly to Fairclough and to you. I found Mrs. Peters looking much the same as she did twenty years ago: maybe rather stouter. She pretended to remember me very well, and of course pronounced me very much improved in appearance. I suppose I have grown stouter too in the time; and, as I was as thin as a marlin-spike when a lad, she may not be far out of her reckoning. Wainwright had left the keys with her; so I told them to call me at six; took a glass of grog; saw my coat put to dry; and turned in. Now you want to know what the house looks like, Mary; and I hardly know how to describe it. However, it did not disappoint me. If not pretty, it looks snug. It is a dry house, solidly built of red brick, with stone cornice, chimneys &c. There are some good views from the windows, especially towards the west. The house fronts the Tudfield road, which, after passing it, merges in a green lane, first throwing out two important branches. That on the right slopes downward to the village: the other winds up the hill facing the house, and disappears in a narrow pass leading to Gatton Marsh. I believe it will save much time and some mistakes if I make you a chart of the domain. Here it is |