THE SHEPHERD OF THE DOWNS 111 



and will be a bitterness in the heart to the very end 

 of life. 



From what I have said so far it will appear that 

 strength rather than grace and beauty is the principal 

 characteristic of this people. But beauty we know is 

 everywhere : and I do not now mean that beauty 

 which is inherent in all human beings, in all things, 

 for those who have eyes to see it, but beauty in the 

 ordinary sense, visible to all, the lustre that is like 

 genius, and springs up we know not how nor why in 

 the most unpromising places. Beauty and grace and 

 sweetness and melody — you will find them here too in 

 the shadow of the downs, although not so frequently 

 as in the sweet west country. Still, my experience 

 is that the fair to see, and the pleasant and gracious, 

 and the graceful in mind and manner, are not very 

 rare. 



It was my experience at a small downland village, 

 where I desired to spend a few days, to find on arrival 

 that, besides the inn where I wished not to go, there 

 was but one cottage in the place in which it would 

 be possible to get a lodging, and in this chance cottage 

 to meet the sweetest people of their class I have 

 ever stayed with in any village in England. And 

 I have visited many villages and stayed in many 

 cottages. 



It chanced that a number of persons who had no 

 home in the neighbourhood had found occupation in 

 the village, and some of them, eight or nine I think. 



