CHAPTER VIII 



BEDFORDSHIRE: TURVEY 



I had first to go back to Barton to pay a few bills and pack 

 up the books, instruments, etc., we had left there to be sent 

 by carrier's waggon. I therefore left home on the 12th, and 

 I think walked back to Barton, and the next day did what 

 was required, took leave of my friends there, and on the 

 morning of the 14th, after an early breakfast, started to walk 

 to Turvey through Bedford, a distance of about twenty miles. 



The reason I am able, without any diary, note, or letter 

 to refer to, to fix the date of this particular walk, is rather a 

 curious one. While I was at home, or shortly before, a new 

 almanack had appeared, which professed to predict the 

 weather on every day of the year, on scientific principles, and 

 the first week was said to be wonderfully correct. I was so 

 much interested in this, and talked so much about it, that 

 my mother procured it for me just before I left home as a 

 New Year's present. It was called " Murphy's Weather 

 Almanack," and was published, I think, at a shilling. The 

 first three days were marked " Fair, frost," and the next three 

 " Change." This was, I believe, nearly correct, but how near 

 I cannot remember. The next fortnight, however, impressed 

 itself upon my memory, partly because I had the book and 

 marked it day by day, and partly on account of the remarkable 

 weather and its exact fulfilment. From the 7th to the 13th 

 every day was set down as " Fair, frost," and so it was. Then 

 came the 14th, marked " Change ;" then again " Fair, frost," 

 every day to the 20th, which was marked " Lowest tempera- 

 ture ; " after which the indications were change, followed by 

 rain. 



Now, as the 14th was the day of my walk to Bedford and 



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