his words, I could see him gesturing for me to join him. For a moment, I took

him for a vagrant, but then I saw he was just some local fellow enjoying the

fresh air and summer sunshine, and saw no reason not to comply.

 

"Just wondering, sir," he said, as I approached, "how fit your legs were."

 

"I beg your pardon?" .

 

The fellow gestured up the footpath. "You got to have a good pair of legs and a

good pair of lungs to go up there. Me, I haven't got neither, so I stay down

here.

 

But if I was in better shape, I'd be sitting up there. There's a nice little

spot up there, a bench and everything. And you won't get a better view anywhere

in the whole of England."

 

"If what you say is true," I said, "I think I'd rather stay here. I happen to be

embarking on a motoring trip during the course of which I hope to see many

splendid views. To see the best before I have properly begun would be somewhat

premature."

 

The fellow did not seem to understand me, for he simply said again: "You won't

see a better view in the whole of England. But I tell you, you need a good pair

of legs and a good pair of lungs." Then he added: "I can see you're in good

shape for your age, sir. I'd say you could make your way up there, no trouble. I