Behind the row of buildings thus curiously intermingled runs the one
straggling street of the town, with its sturdy pilots' cottages, its
mouldering marine store-houses, and its composite shops. Toward the
northern end this street is bounded by the one eminence visible over all
the marshy flat--a low wooded hill, on which the church is built. At its
opposite extremity the street leads to a deserted martello tower, and to
the forlorn outlying suburb of Slaughden, between the river Alde and the
sea. Such are the main characteristics of this curious little outpost on
the shores of England as it appears at the present time.
On a hot and cloudy July afternoon, and on the second day which had
elapsed since he had written to Magdalen, Captain Wragge sauntered
through the gate of North Shingles Villa to meet the arrival of the
coach, which then connected Aldborough with the Eastern Counties
Railway. He reached the principal inn as the coach drove up, and was
ready at the door to receive Magdalen and Mrs. Wragge, on their leaving
the vehicle.
The captain's reception of his wife was not characterized by an
instant's unnecessary waste of time. He looked distrustfully at her
shoes--raised himself on tiptoe--set her bonnet straight for her with a
sharp tug---said, in a loud whisper, "hold your tongue"--and left her,
for the time being, without further notice.
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