But if cards helped to solace the Circuit evenings,
there were compensations also by day to break
the monotony of a briefless existence. The path
of the Circuit lay through some of the loveliest
country in England. The Thames, the Severn,
and the Wye all spread out their charms ; indeed,
to follow the stream of the Wye was almost to take
the direct course from Hereford to Monmouth, and
Monmouth to Gloucester. And then there were
the hospitable country houses which opened their
doors to the idle youth of the Circuit, and made
him as welcome — or shall I say almost ? — as if he had
been a soldier, or even a curate. Sometimes the
host would be a member of the Circuit himself.
I remember a story of a Circuit friend at whose
house I have often visited. It was a beautiful place,
and my friend, with reason, was particularly proud of
a noble avenue of limes which formed one of the
approaches to the house.
