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Quiller-Couch, Arthur Thomas, Sir, 1863-1944

"The Delectable Duchy"

The longer I reflected the
more certain I felt that my friend could find all he wanted in the
guide-books.
None the less, I did my best: rowed him for a mile or two up the
river; took him out to sea, and along the coast for half a dozen
miles. The water was choppy, as it is under the slightest breeze from
the south-east; and the Journalist was sea-sick; but seemed to mind
this very little, and recovered sufficiently to ask my boatman two or
three hundred questions before we reached the harbour again. Then
we landed and explored the Church. This took us some time, owing to
several freaks in its construction, for which I blessed the memory
of its early-English builders. We went on to the Town Hall, the old
Stannary Prison (now in ruins), the dilapidated Block-houses, the
Battery. We traversed the town from end to end and studied the
barge-boards and punkin-ends of every old house. I had meanly ordered
that dinner should he ready half-an-hour earlier than usual, and, as
it was, the objects of interest just lasted out.
As we sat and smoked our cigarettes after dinner, the Journalist
said--
"If you don't mind, I'll he off in a few minutes and shut myself up in
your study.


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