A prettier little place could scarcely have been discovered, with its tree-shaded high-road, its cluster of thatched cottages, its blacksmith's shop, rustic inn with the signboard on a high post before the door, and last but not least, the quaint little church standing some hundred yards back from the main road, and approached from the lych-gate by an avenue of limes.

Even the little stream that runs under the old stone bridge, which marks the centre of the village, and then winds its tortuous course round the churchyard, through the Squire's park, and then down the valley on its way to the sea, seemed to flow somewhat more slowly than was its wont. Feeling just in the humour for a little moralizing, I opened the lych-gate and entered the churchyard.

To my delight my hostess decided to go to church, and said she would walk with me as far as the lych-gate.

The bells of the village church were ringing out for the service, and groups of two and three were passing in at the old lych gate.

Alas! howe soone is happlesse love ondonne, Wytherr'd and deadde almostt beforre begunn: Lych Marchh's openyng flowrs thatt sygh'dd forr Maie, Which Apryll's teares inn angerr wash'dd awaie.

The lych-gate was erected to the memory of Rowland Williams of Essays and Reviews fame.

The church is very picturesquely situated on sloping ground, an avenue of yews leading from the lych gate to the porch.

Another relic of this time is the panel of carved oak in the lych gate of St. Giles', Bloomsbury, dated 1638.

As she emerged among the last of the congregation from the church on the Sunday morning following her visit to Baronmead, she found Lucas Errol leaning upon the open lych-gate.

Capper stationed himself, with another rueful glance as his boots, as near as he could get to the open lych-gate, and there stood grimly conspicuous, watching the scene with his alert green eyes, that held the glint of a tolerant smile, and cracking his thin, yellow fingers one by one.

" All this was said between the church and the lych-gate, and almost took Julius's breath away; but Mrs. Poynsett was prepared to welcome her old friend with some warmth and more curiosity.

What, gossip afterwards?" "Ask Rollo whether Mungo and Tartar don't stand at the lych-gate, and if he finds it easy to put an end to the game at play.