142 THE AMATEUR TRAMP IN ENGLAND 



pony-chaise. Now you walk past the pleasant 

 residences of these gentlemen, slumbering languidly 

 in the summer heat. The gravel is kept to perfection ; 

 the grass is rolled to the smoothness of a well-starched 

 shirt-front ; under the cool foliage there is a blush of 

 roses or a glow of geraniums, according to the month. 

 There is just breeze enough to set the tree-shadows 

 flickering on the lawns, and to rustle the tendrils of the 

 creepers that cling to the columns of the verandas. 

 The broad bay-windows are yawning in the twilight 

 under cover of the striped sun-blinds, giving glimpses 

 of great vases of flowers upon tables loaded with books 

 and newspapers ; while the discords of the daughters 

 of the houses at piano-practice within, chime in agree- 

 ably rather than otherwise. Here and there may be 

 the signs of deplorable taste : Chinese pagodas, Italian 

 belvederes, and fantastic selections of modern statuary 

 that fall a trifle short of the glories of the Vatican. 

 But there is little that might not be easily remodelled 

 or replaced ; and, on the whole, there are few of those 

 " desirable residences " where a man might not be 

 contented to " hang up his hat." 



Another turn in the road and another change of the 

 scene. You are in the street of the little village that is 

 the nucleus of this settlement of the Newcomes. There 

 are wide gravel footpaths on either side of the broad 

 causeway, and smart brick residences, with knockers, 

 and brass plates that bear the superscriptions of local 

 attorneys and doctors ; and cottages behind low wooden 

 railings in their narrow patches of garden. The whole 



