At the back of the Fish and Anchor, across the road, there stretched at this time the largest and fairest bowling-green in the east of England--two good acres of smooth turf, stretching almost to the edge of the sea-cliff, on which side the wall was cut down to within a foot of the ground, so that the gossips as they played, or sat and smoked on the benches about the green, might have a clear view of the ships entering or leaving the harbour, or of others that, hull-down on the horizon, took the sunset on their sails.

Hither it had always been the custom of the two captains to repair at the closing in of the day, and drink their beer together as they watched this or that vessel more or less narrowly avoiding the shoals below.

Nor would they commonly retire, unless the weather was dirty, until the sea-coal fire was lit above the town-gate and the lesser lighthouse upon the town-green answered with its six candles.
Now, however, though they met here as usual, no salutation was exchanged.

On benches as far apart as possible they drank their beer in silence and watched the players.

The situation was understood by everybody at the inn; and at first some awkward attempts were made to heal the breach.