14 
FERNY COMBES. 
rather prefers water to dry land, it is better to 
keep along the heights for a mile or so. 
Withypool is a place that looks as if it had 
fallen by accident into its present position, and as 
if the houses had never recovered their fright, but 
stood staring at one another, wondering what would 
happen next. They are dotted about, without the 
faintest semblance of regularity, each with a large 
turf-stack and a swarm of children and geese, while 
in every direction shaggy ponies, and still more 
shaggy colts, are to be seen. 
The church looks gloomy and uncared for; par¬ 
sonage there is none; and the only house of any 
size is the ‘ Boyal Oak,’ the new hotel. However 
lowly its pretensions, it is a palace compared with 
its predecessor. Now the ‘Boyal Oak’ boasts of 
a parlour as well as a good-sized kitchen, and up¬ 
stairs are four or five rooms; so that Withypool 
must be gay indeed if a bed cannot be obtained 
there, though it must be confessed it will prove 
none of the softest. 
The scenery below this place is very striking, as 
you make your way by the banks of the river. In 
parts there is a footpath, but you have occasionally 
to force your way through thick underwood and 
between gigantic trees, sometimes wading the river 
or crossing it by a narrow plank-bridge, choosing 
