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fly； which could be put up at his house。
I expected Miss Matty to jump at this invitation； but； no！ Miss Pole
and I had the greatest difficulty in persuading her to go。 She thought it
was improper； and was even half annoyed when we utterly ignored the
idea of any impropriety in her going with two other ladies to see her old
lover。 Then came a more serious difficulty。 She did not think
Deborah would have liked her to go。 This took us half a day's good
hard talking to get over； but； at the first sentence of relenting； I seized
the opportunity； and wrote and despatched an acceptance in her name …
fixing day and hour； that all might be decided and done with。
The next morning she asked me if I would go down to the shop with
her； and there； after much hesitation； we chose out three caps to be sent
home and tried on； that the most becoming might be selected to take
with us on Thursday。
She was in a state of silent agitation all the way to Woodley。 She
had evidently never been there before； and； although she little dreamt I
knew anything of her early story； I could perceive she was in a tremor at
the thought of seeing the place which might have been her home； and
round which it is probable that many of her innocent girlish imaginations
had clustered。 It was a long drive there； through paved jolting lanes。
Miss Matilda sat bolt upright； and looked wistfully out of the windows
as we drew near the end of our journey。 The aspect of the country was
quiet and pastoral。 Woodley stood among fields； and there was an old…
fashioned garden where roses and currant…bushes touched each other；
and where the feathery asparagus formed a pretty background to the
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pinks and gilly…flowers； there was no drive up to the door。 We got out
at a little gate； and walked up a straight box…edged path。
〃My cousin might make a drive； I think；〃 said Miss Pole； who was
afraid of ear…ache； and had only her cap on。
〃I think it is very pretty；〃 said Miss Matty； with a soft plaintiveness
in her voice； and almost in a whisper； for just then Mr Holbrook
appeared at the door； rubbing his hands in very effervescence of
hospitality。 He looked more like my idea of Don Quixote than ever；
and yet the likeness was only external。 His respectable housekeeper
stood modestly at the door to bid us welcome； and； while she led the
elder ladies upstairs to a bedroom； I begged to look about the garden。
My request evidently pleased the old gentleman； who took me all round
the place and showed me his six…and…twenty cows； named after the
different letters of the alphabet。 As we went along； he surprised me
occasionally by repeating apt and beautiful quotations from the poets；
ranging easily from Shakespeare and George Herbert to those of our
own day。 He did this as naturally as if he were thinking aloud； and their
true and beautiful words were the best expression he could find for what
he was thinking or feeling。 To be sure he called Byron 〃my Lord
Byrron；〃 and pronounced the name of Goethe strictly in accordance with
the English sound of the letters … 〃As Goethe says； 'Ye ever…verdant
palaces；'〃 &c。 Altogether； I never met with a man； before or since； who
had spent so long a life in a secluded and not impressive country； with
ever…increasing delight in the daily and yearly change of season and
beauty。
When he and I went in； we found that dinner was nearly ready in the
kitchen … for so I suppose the room ought to be called； as there were oak
dressers and cupboards all round； all over by the side of the fireplace；
and only a small Turkey carpet in the middle of the flag…floor。 The
room might have been easily made into a handsome dark oak dining…
parlour by removing the oven and a few other appurtenances of a
kitchen； which were evidently never used； the real cooking…place being
at some distance。 The room in which we were expected to sit was a
stiffly…furnished； ugly apartment； but that in which we did sit was what
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Mr Holbrook called the counting… house； where he paid his labourers their
weekly wages at a great desk near the door。 The rest of the pretty
sitting…room … looking into the orchard； and all covered over with
dancing tree…shadows … was filled with books。 They lay on the ground；
they covered the walls； they strewed the table。 He was evidently half
ashamed and half proud of his extravagance in this respect。 They were
of all kinds … poetry and wild weird tales prevailing。 He evidently
chose his books in accordance with his own tastes； not because such and
such were classical or established favourites。
〃Ah！〃 he said； 〃we farmers ought not to have much time for reading；
yet somehow one can't help it。〃
〃What a pretty room！〃 said Miss Matty； SOTTO VOCE。
〃What a pleasant place！〃 said I； aloud； almost simultaneously。
〃Nay！ if you like it；〃 replied he； 〃but can you sit on these great； black
leather； three…cornered chairs？ I like it better than the best parlour； but
I thought ladies would take that for the smarter place。〃
It was the smarter place； but； like most smart things； not at all pretty；
or pleasant； or home…like； so； while we were at dinner； the servant…girl
dusted and scrubbed the counting…house chairs； and we sat there all the
rest of the day。
We had pudding before meat； and I thought Mr Holbrook was going to
make some apology for his old…fashioned ways； for he began …
〃I don't know whether you like newfangled ways。〃
〃Oh； not at a