In fact, it is one of the most populous places on the Thames round about here.

Keep up your spirits, guest! we are close to our journey's end for the night.

I ought to ask your pardon for not stopping at one of the houses here or higher up; but a friend, who is living in a very pleasant house in the Maple-Durham meads, particularly wanted me and Clara to come and see him on our way up the Thames; and I thought you wouldn't mind this bit of night travelling." He need not have adjured me to keep up my spirits, which were as high as possible; though the strangeness and excitement of the happy and quiet life which I saw everywhere around me was, it is true, a little wearing off, yet a deep content, as different as possible from languid acquiescence, was taking its place, and I was, as it were, really new- born.
We landed presently just where I remembered the river making an elbow to the north towards the ancient house of the Blunts; with the wide meadows spreading on the right-hand side, and on the left the long line of beautiful old trees overhanging the water.

As we got out of the boat, I said to Dick-- "Is it the old house we are going to ?" "No," he said, "though that is standing still in green old age, and is well inhabited.

I see, by the way, that you know your Thames well.