64 WAYFARING NOTIONS 



easily because of something in the Australian 

 line that happened to me at Litlington, about a 

 mile off across the Cuckmere River as the crow 

 flies. Gordon's words were : — 



*' Let me slumber in the hollow, where the wattle-blossoms 

 wave, 

 With never stone or rail to fence my bed. 

 Should the sturdy station children pull the bush-flowers on 

 my grave, 

 I may chance to hear them romping overhead." 



Neither stone nor rail fences Gatland's bed on 

 the grassy knoll under the grand ancient church's 

 shade. Just a green coverlet and a little fence 

 of evergreens does duty — nothing more formal. 

 He may not, I hope, chance to hear the Alfriston 

 children romping overhead. / hope not, for I 

 am a little old-fashioned in such regard, but as 

 he dozes and rests he may hear the youngsters, 

 as they play on the Tye next door, and run down 

 to the river bridge through the narrow passages, 

 locally, '' twittens "• — he himself was the first to 

 teach me the meaning of that Sussex word — or 

 might catch the measured tread of the occupants 

 of the stables that were his as Batho's string 

 goes out making for the rise to the dov/ns or, 

 returning, paces through the narrow street to the 

 yard. Besides, all the details of training stable 

 home routine which the experienced ear can 

 catalogue, each by its separate, distinct, incidental 

 sounds are within easy range. 



