If Miss Anne had not formed a better
plan, I should have proposed making you my gamekeeper; for Jones has
been telling me about the grouse last year. By the way, if I had thought
it would be any pleasure to you, I should have dismissed him from my
service for his share in this business; but I knew you would be for
begging him in again, so I only told him pretty strongly what a sneak I
thought him.'
They went out then across the uplands, a sunny ramble, to all Stephen's
favourite places. And it happened that when they reached the solitary
yew-tree near which Snip was buried, all the rest strolled on, and left
Stephen and Miss Anne alone. Before them, down at the foot of the
mountains, there stretched a wide plain many miles across, beautiful
with woods and streams; and on the far horizon there hung a light cloud
that was always to be seen there, the index of those great works where
Stephen was to dwell for some years. Near to them they could discern, in
the clear atmosphere, the spires and towers of the county town, where
Black Thompson, who had tempted him on these hills, was now imprisoned
for many years; and below, though hidden from their sight, was Botfield
and the cinder-hill cabin.
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