He wanted to know everything about the neighbourhood--who lived in what houses, what were the distances between the towns, what harbours would admit what class of vessel.
Smiling agreeably, he put Dickson through a catechism to which he knew none of the answers.

The landlord was called in, and proved more helpful.

But on one matter he was fairly at a loss.

The catechist asked about a house called Darkwater, and was met with a shake of the head.

"I know no sic-like name in this countryside, sir," and the catechist looked disappointed.
The literary young man said nothing, but ate trout abstractedly, one eye on his book.