The Argosy — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

46 In the New Forest. eS The driver smiled, a mixture of benignity and pity. ‘You're a bit nervous, mayhap, sir,” he said, ‘‘ but there’s no need.- The gentlemen from London ain’t accustomed to this kind of thing. I’ve often remarked they don’t know a strong ’bus when they see one.” It was in vain to assure him that we knew an old one at least, and that the strength of youth never accompanied the infrmities of age. The argument did not tell. : “Bless you, sir!” he returned, ‘this omnibus is good for another twenty years or more. It’s only for the look of the thing that our people have had a new one built, and it will be out this very day for the first ttme. I daresay we shall see it when we get to Lyndhurst. But I’d rather drive the old one, after all.” We admired his constancy, and in another minute were jogging over a well-made road. ‘The springs, at any rate, had long since given way; so that in the matter of endurance it would seem that wood has the advantage over iron. The only other occupant of the vehicle was a female who looked like a respectable &:usekeeper. Probably she was going to one of the great houses in the neighbourhood to take command of the domestic establishment and rule over the servants’ hall. It was not difficult to see that with so gentle a creature they would have an easy time of it. Ever and anon she looked out on both sides of the road, thought it would be ‘‘ main dull in the winter,” and wondered how she should like it after a London life. | It was a glorious drive, that two miles between the station and the village.. On either side lay the forest, the trees changing to rich autumn tints. ‘Thick bracken grew in all directions, some of it six feet high.. At the end of the two miles we reached Lyndhurst, a village consisting of a long, straggling street, picturesque, but with no special feature to attract attention. Winding up the hill between the village houses, the grand new omnibus referred to by the driver at the station suddenly shot from its shed and crossed our path like a comet, bringing out admiring eyes from many a doorway, and creating quite a hubbub of small excitement. ‘Then we came to the inn, and the end of the second stage of my journey. Opposite stood the church, comparatively new, remarkable for its elevated position—moderately speaking: as if the planners and builders had determined to make the way to church impossible to some, difficult for all. It is not distinguished for beauty, inside or out, but contains a fresco, by Leighton, of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, almost worth a visit to Lyndhurst in itself. Of this, Mrs. Short, of Lyndhurst, has made a large and excellent photograph reflecting great credit upon her skill.) Her views of the New Forest are equally good. The church happened to be open, and whilst waiting for a convey- ance to continue the third part of my journey, I used the favourable conjunction of open doors and spare moments for making a circuit of the interior. A pretty and amiable young woman was rubbing brasses, —“ EOPMICLOOO KS, ECO m