he laid upon the soft, dry mass. Then he helped me thither, and
covered me with my cloak. Lying thus, with my hat over my eyes, just
distinguishing the shiny glimmer of the Avon running below, and
beyond that the green, level Ham, dotted with cows, my position was
anything but unpleasant. In fact, positively agreeable--ay, even
though the tan-yard was close behind; but here it would offend none
of my senses.

"Are you comfortable, Phineas?"

"Very, if you would come and sit down too."

"That I will."

And we then began to talk. I asked him if he often patronised the
bark-heap, he seemed so very much at home there.

"So I am," he answered, smiling; "it is my castle--my house."

"And not unpleasant to live at, either."

"Except when it rains. Does it always rain at Norton Bury?"

"For shame, John!" and I pointed to the bluest of autumn skies,
though in the distance an afternoon mist was slowly creeping on.

"All very fine now, but there's a fog coming over Severn; and it is
sure to rain at nightfall. I shall not get my nice little bit of
October evening."