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on a fine high roadstill ascendingwith a spacious open country on
either side of it。
A spacious open country is a country soon exhausted by a sight…seer's
eye。 I have learnt from my poor Pratolungo the habit of searching for the
political convictions of my fellow…creatures； when I find myself in
contact with them in strange places。 Having nothing else to do； I
searched Finch's boy。 His political programme； I found to be：As much
meat and beer as I can contain； and as little work to do for it as
possible。 In return for this； to touch my hat when I meet the Squire； and
to be content with the station to which it has pleased God to call me。
Miserable Finch's boy！
We reached the highest point of the road。 On our right hand； the ground
sloped away gently into a fertile valleywith a village and a church in
it； and beyond； an abominable privileged enclosure of grass and trees
torn from the community by a tyrant； and called a Park； with the palace
in which this enemy of mankind caroused and fattened； standing in the
midst。 On our left hand； spread the open countrya magnificent prospect
of grand grassy hills； rolling away to the horizon； bounded only by the
sky。 To my surprise； Finch's boy descended； took the pony by the head；
and deliberately led him off the high road； and on to the wilderness of
grassy hills； on which not so much as a footpath was discernible
anywhere； far or near。 The chaise began to heave and roll like a ship on
the sea。 It became necessary to hold with both hands to keep my place。 I
thought first of my luggagethen of myself。
〃How much is there of this？〃 I asked。
〃Three mile on't；〃 answered Finch's boy。
I insisted on stopping the shipI mean the chaiseand on getting out。
We tied my luggage fast with a rope； and then we went on again； the boy
at the pony's head； and I after them on foot。
Ah； what a walk it was！ What air over my head； what grass under my feet！
The sweetness of the inner land； and the crisp saltness of the distant
sea； were mixed in that delicious breeze。 The short turf； fragrant with
odorous herbs； rose and fell elastic； underfoot。 The mountain…piles of
white cloud moved in sublime procession along the blue field of heaven；
overhead。 The wild growth of prickly bushes； spread in great patches over
the grass； was in a glory of yellow bloom。 On we went； now up； now down；
now bending to the right； and now turning to the left。 I looked about me。
No house； no road； no paths； fences； hedges； walls； no land…marks of any
sort。 All round us； turn which way we might； nothing was to be seen but
the majestic solitude of the hills。 No living creatures appeared but the
white dots of sheep scattered over the soft green distance； and the
skylark singing his hymn of happiness； a speck above my head。 Truly a
wonderful place！ Distant not more than a morning's drive from noisy and
populous Brightona stranger to this neighborhood could only have found
his way by the compass； exactly as if he had been sailing on the sea！ The
farther we penetrated on our land…voyage； the more wild and the more
beautiful the solitary landscape grew。 The boy picked his way as he
chosethere were no barriers here。 Plodding behind； I saw nothing； at
one time； but the back of the chaise； tilted up in the air； both boy and
pony being invisibly buried in the steep descent of the hill。 At other
times； the pitch was all the contrary way； the whole interior of the
ascending chaise was disclosed to my view； and above the chaise the pony；
and above the pony the boyand； ah； my luggage swaying and rocking in
the frail embraces of the rope that held it。 Twenty times did I
confidently expect to see baggage； chaise； pony； boy； all rolling down
into the bottom of a valley together。 But no！ Not the least little
accident happened to spoil my enjoyment of the day。 Politically
contemptible； Finch's boy had his merithe was master of his subject as
guide and pony…leader among the South Down Hills。
Arrived at the top of （as it seemed to me） our fiftieth grassy summit； I
began to look about for signs of the village。
Behind me； rolled back the long undulations of the hills； with the
cloud…shadows moving over the solitudes that we had left。 Before me； at a
break in the purple distance； I saw the soft white line of the sea。
Beneath me； at my feet； opened the deepest valley I had noticed yetwith
one first sign of the presence of Man scored hideously on the face of
Nature； in the shape of a square brown patch of cleared and ploughed land
on the grassy slope。 I asked if we were getting near the village now。
Finch's boy winked； and answered； 〃Yes； we be。〃
Astonishing Finch's boy！ Ask him what questions I might； the resources of
his vocabulary remained invariably the same。 Still this youthful Oracle
answered always in three monosyllabic words！
We plunged into the valley。
Arrived at the bottom； I discovered another sign of Man。 Behold the first
road I had seen yeta rough wagon…road ploughed deep in the chalky soil！
We crossed this； and turned a corner of a hill。 More signs of human life。
Two small boys started up out of a ditchapparently posted as scouts to
give notice of our approach。 They yelled； and set off running before us；
by some short cut； known only to themselves。 We turned again； round
another winding of the valley； and crossed a brook。 I considered it my
duty to make myself acquainted with the local names。 What was the brook
called？ It was called 〃The Cockshoot〃！ And the great hill； here； on my
right？ It was called 〃The Overblow〃！ Five minutes more； and we saw our
first houselonely and littlebuilt of mortar and flint from the hills。
A name to this also？ Certainly。 Name of 〃Browndown。〃 Another ten minutes
of walking； involving us more and more deeply in the mysterious green
windings of the valleyand the great event of the day happened at last。
Finch's boy pointed before him with his whip； and said （even at this
supreme moment； still in three monosyllabic words）：
〃Here we be！〃
So this is Dimchurch！ I shake out the chalk…dust from the skirts of my
dress。 I long （quite vainly） for the least bit of looking…glass to see
myself in。 Here is the population （to the number of at least five or
six）； gathered together； informed by the scoutsand it is my woman's
business to produce the best impression of myself that I can。 We advance
along the little road。 I smile upon the population。 The population stares
at me in return。 On one side； I remark three or four cottages； and a bit
of open ground； also an inn named 〃The Cross…Hands；〃 and a bit more of
open ground； also a tiny； tiny butcher's shop； with sanguinary insides of
sheep on one blue pie…dish in the window； and no other meat than that；
and nothing to see beyond； but again the open ground； and again the
hills； indicating the end of the village this side。 On the other side
there appears； for some distance； nothing but a long flint wall guarding
the outhouses of a farm。 Beyond this； comes another little group of
cottages； with the seal of civilization set on them； in the form of a
post…office。 The post…office deals in general commoditiesin boots and
bacon； biscuits and flannel； crinoline petticoats and re