ed at Bowness, he
found no difficulty in ascertaining the exact locality of Bon Repos, the
house and its owner being known by sight or repute to almost every
inhabitant of the little town. Mr. Madgin stopped all night at Bowness.
Next morning he hired a small boat, and was pulled across the lake to a
point about half a mile below Bon Repos, and there he landed.

Mr. Madgin was travelling _incog_. The name upon his portmanteau was
"Joshua Deedes, Esq." He was dressed in a suit of glossy black, with a
white neck-cloth, and gold-rimmed spectacles. He had quite an episcopal
air. He did not call himself a clergyman, but people were at liberty to
accept him as one if they chose.

Assisted by the most unimpeachable of malaccas, Mr. Madgin took the
high-road that wound round the grounds of Bon Repos. But so completely
was the house hidden in its nest of greenery that the chimney-pots were
all of it that was visible from the road. But under a spur of the hill
by which the house was shut in at the back, Mr. Madgin found a tiny
hamlet of a dozen houses, by far the most imposing of which was the
village inn--hotel, it called itself, and showed to the world the sign
of The Jolly Fishers. Into this humble hostelry Mr. Madgin marched
without hesitation, and called for some refreshment. So impressed was
the landlord with the clerical appearance of his guest that he whipped
off his apron, ushered him into the state parlour, and made haste to
wait upon him himself. He, the guest, had actually called for a bottle
of the best dry sherry, and when the landlord took it in he invited him
to fetch another glass, and come and join him over it. Mr. Joshua Deedes
was a tourist--well-to-do, without doubt; the landlord could see as much
as that--and having never visited Lakeland before, he was naturally
delighted with the freshness and novelty of everything that he saw. The
change from London life was so thorough, so complete in every respect,
that he could hardly believe he had left the great Babel no longer ago
than yesterday. It seemed years since he had been there. He had thought
Bowness a charming spot, but this little nook surpassed Bowness,
inasmuch as it was still farther removed and shut out from the
frivolities and follies of the great world. Here one was almost alone
with Nature and her wondrous works. Then Mr. Deedes filled up his own
glass and that of the landlord.

"Perhaps, sir, you would like to stay here for a night or two,"
sug