THE TINSMITH'S--THE BEAVER BONNETS--A FLAT IRON FOR A FARTHING--I FAIL TO SECURE A SISTER--RUBENS AND THE DOLL Oakford was not a large town.

It only boasted of one street, "to be called a street," as Mr.Buckle phrased it, though two or three lanes, with more or less pretentious rows of houses, and so forth, ran at right angles to the High Street.

The High Street was a steep hill.

It was tolerably broad, very clean, pebbled and picturesque.

The "Crown Inn" was an old house with an historical legend attached to it.
Several of the shops were also in very old houses, with overhanging upper stories and most comfortable window seats.