64 A Walk from 



travelled it before, I believed it was all right. Thet- 

 ford was half way to Saffron Walden, and there I had 

 intended to stop an hour or two for dinner and rest, 

 then push on to the end of the day's walk as speedily 

 as possible. At about noon, I came suddenly down 

 upon the town, which seemed remarkably similar to 

 the one I had left, in size, situation, and general fea- 

 tures. The parish church, also, bore a strong resem- 

 blance to the one I had noticed the previous evening. 

 These old Essex towns are " as much alike as two peas," 

 and you must make a note of it, as Captain Cuttle says, 

 was the thought first suggested by the coincidence. I 

 went into a cosy, clean-faced inn on the main street, 

 and addressed myself with much satisfaction to a short 

 season of rest and refreshment, exchanging hot and 

 dusty boots for slippers, and going through other pre- 

 liminaries to a comfortable time of it. Rang the bell 

 for dinner, but before ordering it, asked the waiting- 

 maid, with a complacent idea that I had improved my 

 walking pace, and made more than half the way : 



" How far is it to Saffron Walden ?" 



" Twelve miles, Sir." 



" Twelve miles, indeed ! Why, it is only twelve 

 miles from Great Bardfield ! " 



" Well, this is Great Bardfield, Sir." 



" Great Bardfield ! What ! How is this ! What 



