No doubt had Lady Scroope wished for more she might have had more.
Scroope itself, though a large village, stood a good deal out of the world.

Within the last year or two a railway has been opened, with a Scroope Road Station, not above three miles from the place; but in the old lord's time it was eleven miles from its nearest station, at Dorchester, with which it had communication once a day by an omnibus.
Unless a man had business with Scroope nothing would take him there; and very few people had business with Scroope.

Now and then a commercial traveller would visit the place with but faint hopes as to trade.

A post-office inspector once in twelve months would call upon plethoric old Mrs.Applejohn, who kept the small shop for stationery, and was known as the postmistress.

The two sons of the vicar, Mr.Greenmarsh, would pass backwards and forwards between their father's vicarage and Marlbro' school.