9 [ p.5 ]

to play atCribbage? — Margaret & I have alwaysplayed at Cribbage, most nights that we havenot been engaged." — A sound like a distant Carriagewas at this moment caught;heard; every body listened; &it grewmbecame1 more decided; it certainly drewnearer. — It was an unusual sound in Stantonat any time of the day, for the Village was onnovery public road, & contained no gentleman’s familybut the Rector’s. — The wheels rapidly approached; — in two minutes the general expectation was answered; they stoppedbeyond a doubt at the garden gate of the Parsonage. "Who could it be? – it was certainly a postchaise. —Penelope was the only creature to beperson thought of. Sheas tolerablylikely might perhaps have met with some unexpectedsuddenopportunity of returning." — A pause of suspenseensued. —FootsSteps2 were distinguished, first along the pavedheard on alongupon the pavedgravel3Footway which lead under the windows of thehouse from the gate to the front door, & then withinin the paſsage. They were the Steps of a man. It could not be Penelope. It must be Samuel. —The door opened, & displayedshewed Tom Musgrave in4the wrap of a Travellor. He had been inLondon & was now on his way home, & hehad come half a mile out of his road merelyto call for ten minutes at Stanton. He loved

Footnotes

1.
'be' written over 'm'.Back to context...
2.
'S'in 'Steps' written over 's'.Back to context...
3.
Deleted 'heard on along the paved' is written over a previous, now illegible erased phrase.Back to context...
4.
'in' written over a dash.Back to context...
Image for page: b9-5 of manuscript: qmwats