mean, even I can manage on a good day."

 

I glanced up the path, which did look steep and rather rough.

 

"I'm telling you, sir, you'll be sorry if you don't take a walk up there. And

you never know. A couple more years and it might be too late" - he gave a rather

vulgar laugh - "Better go on up while you still can."

 

It occurs to me now that the man might just possibly have meant this in a

humorous sort of way; that is to say, he intended it as a bantering remark. But

this morning, I must say, I found it quite offensive and it may well have been

the urge to demonstrate just how foolish his insinuation had been that caused me

to set off up the footpath.

 

In any case, I am very glad I did so. Certainly, it was quite a strenuous walk -

though I can say it failed to cause me any real difficulty - the path rising in

zigzags up the hillside for a hundred yards or so. I then reached a small

clearing, undoubtedly the spot the man had referred to. Here one was met by a

bench - and indeed, by a most marvellous view over miles of the surrounding

countryside.

 

What I saw was principally field upon field rolling off into the far distance.

The land rose and fell gently, and the fields were bordered by hedges and trees.

There were dots in some of the distant fields which I assumed to be sheep. To my

right, almost on the horizon, I thought I could see the square tower of a