The Watsons (2): Diplomatic Display Oxford Bodleian Library, MS.Eng.e.3764
to play at Cribbage? — Margaret & I have alwaysplayed at Cribbage, most nights that we
havenot been engaged." — A sound like a distant Carriagewas at this
moment caught; heard; every body listened; &it grew mbecame1 more decided; it certainly
drewnearer. — It was an unusual sound in Stantonat any time of
the day, for the Village was onnovery public road, & contained no gentleman’s familybut the Rector’s.
— The wheels rapidly approached; — in two minutes the general expectation was answered; they stoppedbeyond a doubt at
the garden gate of the Parsonage. "Who could it be? – it was certainly a postchaise. —Penelope was the only creature to be person thought of. She as tolerably likely might perhaps have met with some unexpected suddenopportunity of returning." — A pause of suspenseensued. —Foot sSteps2 were distinguished, first
along the paved heard on along 3 Footway which leupon the paved gravelad under the windows of thehouse from the gate to the front door, & then within in the paſsage. They were the Steps of a
man. It could not be Penelope. It must be Samuel. —The door
opened, & displayed shewed Tom Musgrave —in4the wrap of a Travellor. ––– He had been inLondon & was now on his way home,
& hehad come half a mile out of his road merelyto call for ten minutes at
Stanton. He loved
Footnotes
- 1.
- 'be' written over 'm'. Back to context...
- 2.
- 'S'in 'Steps' written over 's'. Back to context...
- 3.
- Deleted 'heard on along the paved' is written over a previous, now illegible erased phrase. Back to context...
- 4.
- 'in' written over a dash. Back to context...