Straight down the hill in front of Three Chimneys the daily passage of their six feet began to mark a path across the crisp, short turf.

They began to know the hours when certain trains passed, and they gave names to them.

The 9.15 up was called the Green Dragon.

The 10.7 down was the Worm of Wantley.

The midnight town express, whose shrieking rush they sometimes woke from their dreams to hear, was the Fearsome Fly-by-night.