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the solitary hill of Higher Crowstairs from the direction of the
distant town。 This personage strode on through the rain without a
pause； following the little…worn path which； further on in its
course； skirted the shepherd's cottage。
It was nearly the time of full moon； and on this account； though the
sky was lined with a uniform sheet of dripping cloud； ordinary
objects out of doors were readily visible。 The sad wan light
revealed the lonely pedestrian to be a man of supple frame； his gait
suggested that he had somewhat passed the period of perfect and
instinctive agility； though not so far as to be otherwise than rapid
of motion when occasion required。 At a rough guess； he might have
been about forty years of age。 He appeared tall； but a recruiting
sergeant； or other person accustomed to the judging of men's heights
by the eye； would have discerned that this was chiefly owing to his
gauntness； and that he was not more than five…feet…eight or nine。
Notwithstanding the regularity of his tread； there was caution in
it； as in that of one who mentally feels his way； and despite the
fact that it was not a black coat nor a dark garment of any sort
that he wore； there was something about him which suggested that he
naturally belonged to the black…coated tribes of men。 His clothes
were of fustian； and his boots hobnailed； yet in his progress he
showed not the mud…accustomed bearing of hobnailed and fustianed
peasantry。
By the time that he had arrived abreast of the shepherd's premises
the rain came down； or rather came along； with yet more determined
violence。 The outskirts of the little settlement partially broke
the force of wind and rain； and this induced him to stand still。
The most salient of the shepherd's domestic erections was an empty
sty at the forward corner of his hedgeless garden； for in these
latitudes the principle of masking the homelier features of your
establishment by a conventional frontage was unknown。 The
traveller's eye was attracted to this small building by the pallid
shine of the wet slates that covered it。 He turned aside； and；
finding it empty； stood under the pent…roof for shelter。
While he stood； the boom of the serpent within the adjacent house；
and the lesser strains of the fiddler； reached the spot as an
accompaniment to the surging hiss of the flying rain on the sod； its
louder beating on the cabbage…leaves of the garden； on the eight or
ten beehives just discernible by the path； and its dripping from the
eaves into a row of buckets and pans that had been placed under the
walls of the cottage。 For at Higher Crowstairs； as at all such
elevated domiciles； the grand difficulty of housekeeping was an
insufficiency of water； and a casual rainfall was utilized by
turning out； as catchers； every utensil that the house contained。
Some queer stories might be told of the contrivances for economy in
suds and dish…waters that are absolutely necessitated in upland
habitations during the droughts of summer。 But at this season there
were no such exigencies； a mere acceptance of what the skies
bestowed was sufficient for an abundant store。
At last the notes of the serpent ceased and the house was silent。
This cessation of activity aroused the solitary pedestrian from the
reverie into which he had lapsed； and； emerging from the shed； with
an apparently new intention； he walked up the path to the house…
door。 Arrived here； his first act was to kneel down on a large
stone beside the row of vessels； and to drink a copious draught from
one of them。 Having quenched his thirst he rose and lifted his hand
to knock； but paused with his eye upon the panel。 Since the dark
surface of the wood revealed absolutely nothing； it was evident that
he must be mentally looking through the door； as if he wished to
measure thereby all the possibilities that a house of this sort
might include； and how they might bear upon the question of his
entry。
In his indecision he turned and surveyed the scene around。 Not a
soul was anywhere visible。 The garden…path stretched downward from
his feet； gleaming like the track of a snail； the roof of the little
well （mostly dry）； the well…cover； the top rail of the garden…gate；
were varnished with the same dull liquid glaze； while； far away in
the vale； a faint whiteness of more than usual extent showed that
the rivers were high in the meads。 Beyond all this winked a few
bleared lamplights through the beating dropslights that denoted
the situation of the county…town from which he had appeared to come。
The absence of all notes of life in that direction seemed to clinch
his intentions； and he knocked at the door。
Within； a desultory chat had taken the place of movement and musical
sound。 The hedge…carpenter was suggesting a song to the company；
which nobody just then was inclined to undertake； so that the knock
afforded a not unwelcome diversion。
'Walk in！' said the shepherd promptly。
The latch clicked upward； and out of the night our pedestrian
appeared upon the door…mat。 The shepherd arose； snuffed two of the
nearest candles； and turned to look at him。
Their light disclosed that the stranger was dark in complexion and
not unprepossessing as to feature。 His hat； which for a moment he
did not remove； hung low over his eyes； without concealing that they
were large； open； and determined； moving with a flash rather than a
glance round the room。 He seemed pleased with his survey； and；
baring his shaggy head； said； in a rich deep voice； 'The rain is so
heavy； friends； that I ask leave to come in and rest awhile。'
'To be sure； stranger；' said the shepherd。 'And faith； you've been
lucky in choosing your time； for we are having a bit of a fling for
a glad causethough； to be sure； a man could hardly wish that glad
cause to happen more than once a year。'
'Nor less；' spoke up a woman。 'For 'tis best to get your family
over and done with； as soon as you can； so as to be all the earlier
out of the fag o't。'
'And what may be this glad cause？' asked the stranger。
'A birth and christening；' said the shepherd。
The stranger hoped his host might not be made unhappy either by too
many or too few of such episodes； and being invited by a gesture to
a pull at the mug； he readily acquiesced。 His manner； which； before
entering； had been so dubious； was now altogether that of a careless
and candid man。
'Late to be traipsing athwart this coombhey？' said the engaged man
of fifty。
'Late it is； master； as you say。I'll take a seat in the chimney…
corner； if you have nothing to urge against it； ma'am； for I am a
little moist on the side that was next the rain。'
Mrs。 Shepherd Fennel assented； and made room for the self…invited
comer； who； having got completely inside the chimney…corner；
stretched out his legs and his arms with the expansiveness of a
person quite at home。
'Yes； I am rather cracked in the vamp；' he said freely； seeing that
the eyes of the shepherd's wife fell upon his boots； 'and I am not
well fitted either。 I have had some rough times lately； and have
been forced to pick up what I can get in the way of wearing； but I
must find a suit better fit for working…days when I reach home。'
'One of hereabouts？' she inquired。
'Not quite thatfurther up the country。'
'I thought so。 And so be I； and by your tongue you come from my
neighbourhood。'
'But you would hardly have heard of me；' he said quickly。 'My time
would be long before yours； ma'am； you see。'
This testimony to the youthfulness of his hostess had the effect of
stopping her cross…examination。
'There is only one thing more wanted to make me happy；' continued
the new…comer。 'And that is a little baccy； which I am sorry to say
I am out of。'
'I'll fill your pipe；' said the shepherd。
'I must ask you to lend me a pipe likewise。'
'A smoker； and no pipe about 'ee？'
'I have dropped it somewhere on the road。'
The shepherd filled and handed him a new clay pipe； saying； as he
did so； 'Hand me your baccy…boxI'll fill that too； now I am about
it。'
The man went through the movement of searching his pockets。
'Lost that too？' said his entertainer； with some surprise。
'I am af