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counties in the south and south…west。 If any mark of human
occupation is met with hereon； it usually takes the form of the
solitary cottage of some shepherd。
Fifty years ago such a lonely cottage stood on such a down； and may
possibly be standing there now。 In spite of its loneliness；
however； the spot； by actual measurement； was not more than five
miles from a county…town。 Yet that affected it little。 Five miles
of irregular upland； during the long inimical seasons； with their
sleets； snows； rains； and mists； afford withdrawing space enough to
isolate a Timon or a Nebuchadnezzar； much less； in fair weather； to
please that less repellent tribe； the poets； philosophers； artists；
and others who 'conceive and meditate of pleasant things。'
Some old earthen camp or barrow； some clump of trees； at least some
starved fragment of ancient hedge is usually taken advantage of in
the erection of these forlorn dwellings。 But； in the present case；
such a kind of shelter had been disregarded。 Higher Crowstairs； as
the house was called； stood quite detached and undefended。 The only
reason for its precise situation seemed to be the crossing of two
footpaths at right angles hard by； which may have crossed there and
thus for a good five hundred years。 Hence the house was exposed to
the elements on all sides。 But； though the wind up here blew
unmistakably when it did blow； and the rain hit hard whenever it
fell； the various weathers of the winter season were not quite so
formidable on the coomb as they were imagined to be by dwellers on
low ground。 The raw rimes were not so pernicious as in the hollows；
and the frosts were scarcely so severe。 When the shepherd and his
family who tenanted the house were pitied for their sufferings from
the exposure； they said that upon the whole they were less
inconvenienced by 'wuzzes and flames' （hoarses and phlegms） than
when they had lived by the stream of a snug neighbouring valley。
The night of March 28； 182…； was precisely one of the nights that
were wont to call forth these expressions of commiseration。 The
level rainstorm smote walls； slopes； and hedges like the clothyard
shafts of Senlac and Crecy。 Such sheep and outdoor animals as had
no shelter stood with their buttocks to the winds； while the tails
of little birds trying to roost on some scraggy thorn were blown
inside…out like umbrellas。 The gable…end of the cottage was stained
with wet； and the eavesdroppings flapped against the wall。 Yet
never was commiseration for the shepherd more misplaced。 For that
cheerful rustic was entertaining a large party in glorification of
the christening of his second girl。
The guests had arrived before the rain began to fall； and they were
all now assembled in the chief or living room of the dwelling。 A
glance into the apartment at eight o'clock on this eventful evening
would have resulted in the opinion that it was as cosy and
comfortable a nook as could be wished for in boisterous weather。
The calling of its inhabitant was proclaimed by a number of highly…
polished sheep…crooks without stems that were hung ornamentally over
the fireplace； the curl of each shining crook varying from the
antiquated type engraved in the patriarchal pictures of old family
Bibles to the most approved fashion of the last local sheep…fair。
The room was lighted by half…a…dozen candles； having wicks only a
trifle smaller than the grease which enveloped them； in candlesticks
that were never used but at high…days； holy…days； and family feasts。
The lights were scattered about the room； two of them standing on
the chimney…piece。 This position of candles was in itself
significant。 Candles on the chimney…piece always meant a party。
On the hearth； in front of a back…brand to give substance； blazed a
fire of thorns； that crackled 'like the laughter of the fool。'
Nineteen persons were gathered here。 Of these； five women； wearing
gowns of various bright hues； sat in chairs along the wall； girls
shy and not shy filled the window…bench； four men； including Charley
Jake the hedge…carpenter； Elijah New the parish…clerk； and John
Pitcher； a neighbouring dairyman； the shepherd's father…in…law；
lolled in the settle； a young man and maid； who were blushing over
tentative pourparlers on a life…companionship； sat beneath the
corner…cupboard； and an elderly engaged man of fifty or upward moved
restlessly about from spots where his betrothed was not to the spot
where she was。 Enjoyment was pretty general； and so much the more
prevailed in being unhampered by conventional restrictions。
Absolute confidence in each other's good opinion begat perfect ease；
while the finishing stroke of manner； amounting to a truly princely
serenity； was lent to the majority by the absence of any expression
or trait denoting that they wished to get on in the world； enlarge
their minds； or do any eclipsing thing whateverwhich nowadays so
generally nips the bloom and bonhomie of all except the two extremes
of the social scale。
Shepherd Fennel had married well； his wife being a dairyman's
daughter from a vale at a distance； who brought fifty guineas in her
pocketand kept them there； till they should be required for
ministering to the needs of a coming family。 This frugal woman had
been somewhat exercised as to the character that should be given to
the gathering。 A sit…still party had its advantages； but an
undisturbed position of ease in chairs and settles was apt to lead
on the men to such an unconscionable deal of toping that they would
sometimes fairly drink the house dry。 A dancing…party was the
alternative； but this； while avoiding the foregoing objection on the
score of good drink； had a counterbalancing disadvantage in the
matter of good victuals； the ravenous appetites engendered by the
exercise causing immense havoc in the buttery。 Shepherdess Fennel
fell back upon the intermediate plan of mingling short dances with
short periods of talk and singing； so as to hinder any ungovernable
rage in either。 But this scheme was entirely confined to her own
gentle mind： the shepherd himself was in the mood to exhibit the
most reckless phases of hospitality。
The fiddler was a boy of those parts； about twelve years of age； who
had a wonderful dexterity in jigs and reels； though his fingers were
so small and short as to necessitate a constant shifting for the
high notes； from which he scrambled back to the first position with
sounds not of unmixed purity of tone。 At seven the shrill tweedle…
dee of this youngster had begun； accompanied by a booming ground…
bass from Elijah New； the parish…clerk； who had thoughtfully brought
with him his favourite musical instrument； the serpent。 Dancing was
instantaneous； Mrs。 Fennel privately enjoining the players on no
account to let the dance exceed the length of a quarter of an hour。
But Elijah and the boy； in the excitement of their position； quite
forgot the injunction。 Moreover； Oliver Giles； a man of seventeen；
one of the dancers； who was enamoured of his partner； a fair girl of
thirty…three rolling years； had recklessly handed a new crown…piece
to the musicians； as a bribe to keep going as long as they had
muscle and wind。 Mrs。 Fennel； seeing the steam begin to generate on
the countenances of her guests； crossed over and touched the
fiddler's elbow and put her hand on the serpent's mouth。 But they
took no notice； and fearing she might lose her character of genial
hostess if she were to interfere too markedly； she retired and sat
down helpless。 And so the dance whizzed on with cumulative fury；
the performers moving in their planet…like courses； direct and
retrograde； from apogee to perigee； till the hand of the well…kicked
clock at the bottom of the room had travelled over the circumference
of an hour。
While these cheerful events were in course of enactment within
Fennel's pastoral dwelling； an incident having considerable bearing
on the party had occurred in the gloomy night without。 Mrs。
Fennel's concern about the growing fierceness of the dance
corresponded in point of time with the ascent of a human figure to
the solitary hill of Higher Crowstairs from the direction of the
dista