402 WANDERINGS AND PONDERINGS 



crusted with the slightest covering of ice ; indeed, ice thrown 

 into them is rapidly melted. In warm weather — and it was a 

 remarkably warm day when we paid our respects to them — the 

 water is painfully cold. These facts as to temperature are, 

 however, to be expected, seeing so great a volume of water, 

 and probably from a considerable depth in the earth, is conti- 

 nually thrown up. 



In the neighbourhood of these pools, and on the margins of 

 Oney, the Insect-Hunter observed numerous tracks of otters. 

 This animal is here a kind of game in much request, and is 

 hunted by large wire-haired dogs, bred for the purpose. 



Chapter XV. 



[This Chapter treateth of the Priory.J 



Reader, if the hydrography of Leominster prove uninterest- 

 ing to thee, I shall be very sorry ; but the remedy is in thine 

 own hands. I recollect an old lady, who used to teach the 

 rudiments of our vernacular tongue, unto whom, not being very 

 profound in the science, it frequently happened that a word 

 occurred, altogether beyond the power of tutor or pupil to de- 

 cipher : the old lady would not then allow one to hammer at 

 the word for half an hour, but would dismiss the intricate in- 

 quiry by saying at once, " Skip it, child ! Skip it." So, dear 

 reader, if my stupidity leads thee to dose over the Insect- 

 Hunter, I can only say, "Skip it, child! skip it; there is 

 abundance of Latin further on." 



It has, I believe, been before stated, that the Priory is built 

 over the brook Oney. Now, those who have visited many reli- 

 gious houses either in Britain or on the continent of Europe, 

 will doubtless have observed, that a majority of them are thus ac- 

 commodated with a stream of pure water, running, as it were, 

 through their very hearts. We shall, perhaps, be able to 

 throw a little light on this subject. In all ages, the members 

 of the priesthood have regarded with infinite care the welfare 

 of their own bodies and of others' souls; yet, without intending 

 the slightest disrespect to the divines of 1836, I must in can- 

 dour say, that I consider those of 1400, et ante, infinitely 

 better versed in the science of gasterology. Gasterology appears, 



