Page 149 (1/2)

The chief hotel at Sherton-Abbas was an old stone-fronted inn with a

yawning arch, under which vehicles were driven by stooping coachmen to

back premises of wonderful commodiousness The s to the street

were hts, and only commanded a view of the

opposite houses; hence, perhaps, it arose that the best and -room that the inn could afford over-looked

the nether parts of the establishardens and orchards, now bossed, nay incrusted, with scarlet and

gold fruit, stretching to infinite distance under a luminous lavender

mist The ti sky,

Do bend the tree unto the fruitful ground,

When juicy pears, and berries of black dye,

Do dance in air, and call the eyes around"

The landscape confronting theht, indeed, have been part of

the identical stretch of country which the youthful Chatterton had in

his mind

In this room sat she who had been the er of fate touched her and turned her to a wife It o , and she was alone Fitzpiers had walked out to see

the abbey by the light of sunset, but she had been too fatigued to

accoht-weeks'

tour, and were going on to Hintock that night