156 THE EXETER ROAD 



Saxon ' Weallan,' to boil or bubble ; the root of our 

 English word ' well.' 



Of these villages, Little Wallop alone is on the 

 road, and is merely an offshoot of the others, called 

 into existence by the traffic which followed this course 

 in the old coachino; davs. Since railways have left 

 the roads lonely it has simply slumbered, ' far from 

 the maddino; crowd's i2;noble strife,' and its inhabit- 

 ants are presumably happy in their retirement ; 

 although, when days are short and nights are long, 

 and the stormy winds do l)low, it is quite conceivable 

 that there are more cheerful and warmer situations. 



Three miles from here the road leaves Hampshire 

 and enters Wilts, and two miles onwards from that 

 point, after passing 'Lobcombe Corner,' the junction of 

 the Stockbridsje road, is seen that famous old coach- 

 ing inn, the ' Pheasant,' known much better under 

 its other name, ' Winterslow Hut.' 



XXIII 



There are few^ more desolate and cheerless places 

 in England than the spot where this old coaching 

 inn stands beside the open road, with the unenclosed 

 downs stretching away to the far horizon, fold 

 after fold. Somewhere amid these hills and hollows, 

 but quite hidden, is the village of AVest Winter- 

 slow, from which the ' Hut ' obtains its name. The 

 place, save for the periodical passing of the 

 coaches, was as solitary in old times as it is now, 



