These are the neighbours, and that like they run in the Thames valley.

There are parts of these islands which are rougher and rainier than we are here, and there people are rougher in their dress; and they themselves are tougher and more hard-bitten than we are to look at.

But some people like their looks better than ours; they say they have more character in them--that's the word.

Well, it's a matter of taste .-- Anyhow, the cross between us and them generally turns out well," added he, thoughtfully.
I heard him, though my eyes were turned away from him, for that pretty girl was just disappearing through the gate with her big basket of early peas, and I felt that disappointed kind of feeling which overtakes one when one has seen an interesting or lovely face in the streets which one is never likely to see again; and I was silent a little.

At last I said: "What I mean is, that I haven't seen any poor people about--not one." He knit his brows, looked puzzled, and said: "No, naturally; if anybody is poorly, he is likely to be within doors, or at best crawling about the garden: but I don't know of any one sick at present.