Chapter 32

           1802—ThisSeptemberIwasinvitedtodevastatethemoorsofafriendinthenorth,andonmyjourneytohisabode,IunexpectedlycamewithinfifteenmilesofGimmerton.The‘ostlerataroadsidepublichousewasholdingapailofwatertorefreshmyhorses,whenacartofverygreenoats,newlyreaped,passedby,andheremarked:

           "Yon’sfroughGimmerton,nah!They’reallasthreewickafterotherfolkwi’therharvest."

           "Gimmerton?"Irepeated—myresidenceinthatlocalityhadalreadygrowndimanddreamy."Ah!Iknow.Howfarisitfromthis?"

           "Happenfourteenmileo’erth’hills;andaroughroad,"heanswered.

           AsuddenimpulseseizedmetovisitThrushcrossGrange.Itwasscarcelynoon,andIconceivedthatImightaswellpassthenightundermyownroofasinaninn.Besides,Icouldspareadayeasilytoarrangematterswithmylandlord,andthussavemyselfthetroubleofinvadingtheneighbourhoodagain.Havingrestedawhile,Idirectedmyservanttoenquirethewaytothevillage;and,withgreatfatiguetoourbeasts,wemanagedthedistanceinsomethreehours.

           Ilefthimthere,andproceededdownthevalleyalone.Thegreychurchlookedgrayer,andthelonelychurchyardlonelier.Idistinguishedamoorsheepcroppingtheshortturfonthegraves.Itwassweet,warmweather—toowarmfortravelling;buttheheatdidnothindermefromenjoyingthedelightfulsceneryaboveandbelow:hadIseenitnearerAugust,I’msureitwouldhavetemptedmetowasteamonthamongitssolitudes.