MT. 53.] DARENT-HULME. 199 



of the Darent, and just above the picturesque village 

 of Shoreham, amid its hop-gardens. Fascinated by 

 the views from this hill, he had bought the land off- 

 hand in the summer of 1864, and now set about plant- 

 ing and building. 



Most men would have shrunk from erecting a house 

 upon a high position which was bare of trees and 

 without water ; but the old habit of mind prevailed, 

 and difficulties were nowhere. It may be remarked 

 that ultimately the bleak chalk down was converted 

 into an ideal garden. The first step towards building 

 was to find an accessible water-supply, for although 

 the Darent was in sight, 



" The still Darenth, in whose waters cleane 

 Ten thousand fishes play and decke his pleasant streame," 



yet it was far down in the valley, shining and gleaming 

 in its tranquil winding course, just as in the day when 

 Spenser sang its praise. 



So confident was Prestwich in respect of water- 

 supply, that he at once engaged an old well-digger 

 to sink a well 168 feet deep. The boring proceeded, 

 but when a depth of 166 feet was reached, the two 

 workmen went to the city and sought an interview 

 with their employer, whom they found at his desk. 

 They explained that there was no sign of water, and 

 that in their opinion it was useless to bore to a greater 

 depth. "Go on," was the quiet rejoinder. "You will 

 come upon water to-morrow. You are within two feet 

 of it." 



Next day it proved exactly as Prestwich had fore- 

 told ; and ever after, among many of the denizens of 

 the valley, he had the reputation much to his amuse- 

 ment of not being quite " canny." He knew the 



