ly.

And at that point--which may be called the direct issue--the dispute
must now be left.

CHAPTER VI

THE HUT IN THE HOLLOW

Geography, in itself a tiresome thing, concerned with such soulless
matters as lengths, depths, heights, breadths, and the like, gains
interest so soon as it establishes a connection with the history of
kingdoms, and the ambitions, passions, or fortunes of mankind; so that
men may pore over a map with more eagerness than the greatest of
romances can excite, or scan a countryside with a keenness that the
beauty of no picture could evoke. To Captain Dieppe, a soldier, even
so much apology was not necessary for the careful scrutiny of
topographical features which was his first act on reaching the Cross on
the hillside. His examination, hindered by increasing darkness and
mist, yet yielded him a general impression correct enough.

Standing with his back to the Cross, he had on his right hand the slope
down to the village which he had just ascended; on his left the road
fell still more precipitately in zigzag curves. He could not see it
where it reached the valley and came to the river; had he been able, he
would have perceived that it ran down to and crossed the ford to which
the landlord of the inn at Sasellano had referred. But immediately
facing him he could discern the river in its bottom, and could look
down over the steep grassy declivity which descended to it from the
point at which he stood; there was no more than room for the road, and
on the road hardly room for a vehicle to pass another, or itself to
turn. On all three sides the ground fell, and he would have seemed to
stand on a watch-tower had it not been that behind him, at the back of
the cross, the upward slope of grass showed that the road did not
surmount the hill, but hung on to and skirted its side some fifty paces
from the top. Yet even where he was he found himself exposed to the
full stress of the weather, which had now increased to a storm of wind
and rain. The time of his earlier appointment was not quite due; but
the lady knew her way. With a shiver the Captain turned and began to
scramble up towards the summit. The sooner he found the shepherd's hut
the better: if it were open, he would enter; it not, he could at least
get some shelter under the lee of it. But he trusted that the Countess
would keep her tryst punctually: she must be come and gone before seven
o'clock, or she would risk an encounter w