But I tell you what," she added: "I might
fetch the keys, and you might go an' see the place for yourself."
"Capital," said Mr. Jope. While she was fetching these he finished
his beer. Then, having insisted on paying down a guinea for
earnest-money, he took the keys and her directions for finding the
house. She repeated them in the porch for the benefit of the taller
seaman; who, as soon as she had concluded, gripped the handles of his
barrow afresh and set off without a word. She gazed after the pair
as they passed down the street.
At the foot of it a by-lane branched off towards the creek-side.
It led them past a churchyard and a tiny church almost smothered in
cherry-trees--for the churchyard was half an orchard: past a tumbling
stream, a mill and some wood-stacks; and so, still winding downwards,
brought them to a pair of iron gates, rusty and weather-greened.
The gates stood unlocked; and our two seamen found themselves next in
a carriage-drive along which it was plain no carriage had passed for
a very long while. It was overgrown with weeds, and straggling
laurels encroached upon it on either hand; and as it rounded one of
these laurels Mr.
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