'^he Bakew ell Family, 19 



the lunch provided before leaving on a shooting expedi- 

 tion. " Lucy rose from her seat a second time, and her 

 form, to which I had before paid little attention, seemed 

 radiant with beauty, and my heart and eyes followed her 

 every step. The repast being over, guns and dogs were 

 provided, and as we left I was pleased to believe that Lucy 

 looked upon me as a not very strange animal. Bowing to 

 aer, I felt, I knew not why, that I was at least not indif- 

 ferent to her." 



The acquaintance so pleasantly begun rapidly matured. 

 Audubon and Bakewell were often companions in their 

 shooting excursions, and finally the whole Bakewell family 

 were invited to Mill Grove. 



The Bakewell's are descendants of the Peverils, great 

 land owners of the northern part of Derbyshire, known as 

 the Peak of Derbyshire, and rendered historical by Sir 

 Walter Scott's novel of " Peveril of the Peak." Miss 

 Peveril married one of the retainers of the Court of 

 William the Norman, by name Count Bassquelle, which 

 name was corrupted into Basskiel, afterwards into Bake- 

 well. From some of the descendants of this marriage the 

 town of Bakewell was founded ; some members removed 

 to Dishley, Leicestershire, one of whom was the grazier 

 and improver of the breed of sheep, another was well 

 known as a geologist. 



The property of Audubon was separated from Bake- 

 well's plantation by a road leading from Norristown to 

 Pawling's Landing, now Pawling's Bridge, or about a 

 quarter of a mile apart; and the result of the friendly 

 relationship established between the two households gave 

 rise to a series of mutual signals, chalked on a board and 

 hung out of the window. The friendship deepened. Lucy 

 Bakewell taught English to Audubon, and received 

 drawing lessons in return. Of course no one failed to 

 predict the result j but as a love affair is chiefly interest- 



