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post…office。 The post…office deals in general commoditiesin boots and
bacon； biscuits and flannel； crinoline petticoats and religious tracts。
Farther on； behold another flint wall； a garden； and a private
dwelling…house； proclaiming itself as the rectory。 Farther yet； on rising
ground； a little desolate church； with a tiny white circular steeple；
topped by an extinguisher in red tiles。 Beyond this； the hills and the
heavens once more。 And there is Dimchurch！
As for the inhabitantswhat am I to say？ I suppose I must tell the
truth。
I remarked one born gentleman among the inhabitants； and he was a
sheep…dog。 He alone did the honors of the place。 He had a stump of a
tail； which he wagged at me with extreme difficulty； and a good honest
white and black face which he poked companionably into my hand。 〃Welcome；
Madame Pratolungo； to Dimchurch； and excuse these male and female
laborers who stand and stare at you。 The good God who makes us all has
made them too； but has not succeeded so well as with you and me。〃 I
happen to be one of the few people who can read dogs' language as written
in dogs' faces。 I correctly report the language of the gentleman
sheep…dog on this occasion。
We opened the gate of the rectory； and passed in。 So my Land…Voyage over
the South Down Hills came prosperously to its end。
CHAPTER THE THIRD
Poor Miss Finch
THE rectory resembled； in one respect； this narrative that I am now
writing。 It was in Two Parts。 Part the First； in front； composed of the
everlasting flint and mortar of the neighborhood； failed to interest me。
Part the Second； running back at a right angle； asserted itself as
ancient。 It had been； in its time； as I afterwards heard； a convent of
nuns。 Here were snug little Gothic windows； and dark ivy…covered walls of
venerable stone： repaired in places； at some past period； with quaint red
bricks。 I had hoped that I should enter the house by this side of it。 But
no。 The boyafter appearing to be at a loss what to do with meled the
way to a door on the modern side of the building； and rang the bell。
A slovenly young maid…servant admitted me to the house。
Possibly； this person was new to the duty of receiving visitors。
Possibly； she was bewildered by a sudden invasion of children in dirty
frocks； darting out on us in the hall； and then darting away again into
invisible back regions； screeching at the sight of a stranger。 At any
rate； she too appeared to be at a loss what to do with me。 After staring
hard at my foreign face； she suddenly opened a door in the wall of the
passage； and admitted me into a small room。 Two more children in dirty
frocks darted； screaming； out of the asylum thus offered to me。 I
mentioned my name； as soon as I could make myself heard。 The maid
appeared to be terrified at the length of it。 I gave her my card。 The
maid took it between a dirty finger and thumblooked at it as if it was
some extraordinary natural curiosityturned it round； exhibiting correct
black impressions in various parts of it of her finger and thumbgave up
understanding it in despair； and left the room。 She was stopped outside
（as I gathered from the sounds） by a returning invasion of children in
the hall。 There was whispering； there was giggling； there was； every now
and then； a loud thump on the door。 Prompted by the children； as I
supposepushed in by them； certainlythe maid suddenly reappeared with
a jerk； 〃Oh； if you please； come this way；〃 she said。 The invasion of
children retreated again up the stairsone of them in possession of my
card； and waving it in triumph on the first landing。 We penetrated to the
other end of the passage。 Again； a door was opened。 Unannounced； I
entered another； and a larger room。 What did I see？
Fortune had favored me at last。 My lucky star had led me to the mistress
of the house。
I made my best curtsey； and found myself confronting a large；
light…haired； languid； lymphatic ladywho had evidently been amusing
herself by walking up and down the room； at the moment when I appeared。
If there can be such a thing as a _damp woman_this was one。 There was a
humid shine on her colorless white face； and an overflow of water in her
pale blue eyes。 Her hair was not dressed； and her lace cap was all on one
side。 The upper part of her was clothed in a loose jacket of blue merino；
the lower part was robed in a dimity dressing gown of doubtful white。 In
one hand； she held a dirty dogs'…eared book； which I at once detected to
be a Circulating Library novel。 Her other hand supported a baby enveloped
in flannel； sucking at her breast。 Such was my first experience of
Reverend Finch's Wifedestined to be also the experience of all
aftertime。 Never completely dressed； never completely dry； always with a
baby in one hand and a novel in the othersuch was Finch's wife。
〃Oh！ Madame Pratolungo？ Yes。 I hope somebody has told Miss Finch you are
here。 She has her own establishment； and manages everything herself。 Have
you had a pleasant journey？〃 （These words were spoken vacantly； as if her
mind was occupied with something else。 My first impression of her
suggested that she was a weak； good…natured woman； and that she must have
originally occupied a station in the humbler ranks of life。）
〃Thank you； Mrs。 Finch；〃 I said。 〃I have enjoyed most heartily my journey
among your beautiful hills。〃
〃Oh！ you like the hills？ Excuse my dress。 I was half an hour late this
morning。 When you lose half an hour in this house； you never can pick it
up again； try how you may。〃 （I soon discovered that Mrs。 Finch was always
losing half an hour out of her day； and that she never； by any chance；
succeeded in ending it again； as she had just told me。）
〃I understand； madam。 The cares of a numerous family〃
〃Ah！ that's just where it is。〃 （This was a favorite phrase with Mrs。
Finch）。 〃There's Finch； he gets up in the morning and goes and works in
the garden。 Then there's the washing of the children； and the dreadful
waste that goes on in the kitchen。 And Finch； he comes in without any
notice； and wants his breakfast。 And of course I can't leave the baby。
And half an hour does slip away so easily； that how to overtake it again；
I do assure you I really don't know。〃 Here the baby began to exhibit
symptoms of having taken more maternal nourishment than his infant
stomach could comfortably contain。 I held the novel； while Mrs。 Finch
searched for her handkerchieffirst in her bedgown pocket； secondly；
here； there； and everywhere in the room。
At this interesting moment there was a knock at the door。 An elderly
woman appearedwho offered a most refreshing contrast to the members of
the household with whom I had made acquaintance thus far。 She was neatly
dressed； and she saluted me with the polite composure of a civilized
being。
〃I beg your pardon； ma'am。 My young lady has only this moment heard of
your arrival。 Will you be so kind as to follow me？〃
I turned to Mrs。 Finch。 She had found her handkerchief； and had put her
overflowing baby to rights again。 I respectfully handed back the novel。
〃Thank you；〃 said Mrs。 Finch。 〃I find novels compose my mind。 Do you read
novels too？ Remind meand I'll lend you this one to…