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Collins, Wilkie, 1824-1889

"After Dark"

There's
your change, and thank you for your custom, though it isn't much.
Come to the door, I say, and don't interrupt me! You're an old
man--can you see forty yards before you? Yes, you can! Don't be
peevish--that never did anybody any good yet. Now look back,
along the road where I am pointing. You see a large heap of
stones? Good. On the other side of the heap of stones there is a
little path; you can't see that, but you can remember what I tell
you? Good. You go down the path till you get to a stream; down
the stream till you get to a bridge; down the other bank of the
stream (after crossing the bridge) till you get to an old
water-mill--a jewel of a water-mill, famous for miles round;
artists from the four quarters of the globe are always coming to
sketch it. Ah! what, you are getting peevish again? You won't
wait? Impatient old man, what a life your wife must lead, if you
have got one! Remember the bridge. Ah! your poor wife and
children, I pity them; your daughters especially! Pst! pst!
Remember the bridge--peevish old man, remember the bridge!"
Walking as fast as he could out of hearing of the Widow Duval's
tongue, Lomaque took the path by the heap of stones which led out
of the high-road, crossed the stream, and arrived at the old
water-mill. Close by it stood a cottage--a rough, simple
building, with a strip of garden in front.


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