ABSTRACT
A sad afternoon at the end of January. The scene was Mrs. Malleson’s pleasant drawing-room at Stanniforth Rectory. Stanniforth was an exceeding large and desolate parish; it comprised Yoresett, and Scar Foot, and Danesdale, and many other off shoots and dependencies. Sparse was the population, though the extent was great, for, in the words of the old chronicler, ‘Litle corne groweth in Suadale;’ 14 and of Danesdale he says, ‘Danesdale, and the soile abowt is very hilly, and berith litle corne; but noriseth many bestes;’ 15 a a description true to this day, to the very letter.
