CHAPTER III.
BARBARA HARE.
West Lynne was a town of some importance, particularly in its own eyes, though being neither a manufacturing one nor a cathedral one, nor even the chief town of the county, it was somewhat primitive in its manners and customs.

Passing out at the town, toward the east, you came upon several detached gentleman's houses, in the vicinity of which stood the church of St.Jude, which was more aristocratic, in the matter of its congregation, than the other churches of West Lynne.

For about a mile these houses were scattered, the church being situated at their commencement, close to that busy part of the place, and about a mile further on you came upon the beautiful estate which was called East Lynne.
Between the gentlemen's houses mentioned and East Lynne, the mile of road was very solitary, being much overshadowed with trees.

One house alone stood there, and that was about three-quarters of a mile before you came to East Lynne.

It was on the left hand side, a square, ugly, red brick house with a weathercock on the top, standing some little distance from the road.