We one day went to Beaconsfield to view a house, and had a fly from Slough, a drive of several miles.  The house was in the middle of the town, large and convenient, with good garden and paddock; the whole was offered us for $200 yearly; and we should have taken it, had it not been in such a dismantled condition that the agent in whose hands it was placed informed us that though he had orders to put it in complete repair, he would not promise it would be fit for occupation under several months.  The office of this gentleman was next door to Mr. A. B.’s, in Bond street; and we are bound to state, that though we said that we did not wish to give more than $300, we were treated with respect; and several offered us under these terms, though attended with circumstances which prevented our availing ourselves of them.

The house we at last found was not, as regarded situation, what we liked; not because of the cottages close to the entrance, but for the reason that there was no “view,” but from the top windows; as far as the lower part of the house was concerned, we might as well have been in the Clapham Road.  It is true we looked into gardens, front and back, but that was all; and we had to go through two or three streets of the little town in which we were located whenever we left the house for a walk.  Still we were, on the whole, well pleased with our new home, and in the next chapter will tell the reader how we commenced a life so different to that we had been accustomed to lead.

CHAPTER II.

Our first difficulty.

Once fairly settled in our new habitation, and all the important affairs attending the necessary alterations of carpets, curtains, etc., being nearly finished, we began to wonder what we were to do with “Our Farm of Four Acres.”  That we must keep a cow was acknowledged by both; and the first step to be taken was to buy one.  The small town in which our house was situated boasted of a market weekly, and there we resolved to make the important purchase.  Accordingly, we sent our man-of-all-work to inspect those offered for sale.  Shortly he returned, accompanied by a small black cow, with a calf a week old.  We purchase these animals for $50; and it was very amusing to see all the half-dozen children running into the stable-yards, with their little cups to enjoy the first-fruits of their country life.  But what proved far more of a treat than the new milk was the trouble of procuring it, for the cow proved a very spiteful one, and knocked the unfortunate milker, with his pail, “heels-over-head.”  As he was not in the least hurt, the juveniles were allowed to laugh as long as they pleased; but H. and myself looked rather grave at the idea having the milk knocked down as soon as there was about a quart in the pail.  We were, therefore, greatly reassured when told that “Madam Sukey” would be quiet and tractable as soon as her calf was