It was flat and somewhat fenny, a district more of pasture than agriculture, and not very thickly inhabited.

I soon became well acquainted with it.

At the distance of two miles from the station was a large lake, styled in the dialect of the country "a mere," about whose borders tall reeds were growing in abundance, this was a frequent haunt of mine; but my favourite place of resort was a wild sequestered spot at a somewhat greater distance.

Here, surrounded with woods and thick groves, was the seat of some ancient family, deserted by the proprietor, and only inhabited by a rustic servant or two.

A place more solitary and wild could scarcely be imagined; the garden and walks were overgrown with weeds and briars, and the unpruned woods were so tangled as to be almost impervious.