we took a fly and driver from the principal hotel of battle, and drove off for hastings, about seven miles distant. hastings is now a famous watering and sea-bathing place, and seems to be well sheltered from the winds, though open to the sea, which here stretches off towards france. we climbed a high and steep hill, terraced round its base with streets of modern lodging-houses, and crowned on its summit with the ruins of a castle, the foundation of which was anterior to the conquest. this castle has no wall towards the sea, the precipice being too high and sheer to admit of attack on that side. i have quite exhausted my descriptive faculty for the present, so shall say nothing of this old castle, which indeed (the remains being somewhat scanty and scraggling) is chiefly picturesque and interesting from its bold position on such a headlong hill.
clambering down on another side from that of our ascent, we entered the town of hastings, which seems entirely modern, and made up of lodging-houses, shops, hotels, parades, and all such makings up of watering-places generally. we took a delightful warm bath, washing off all weariness and naughtiness, and coming out new men. then we walked to st. leonard's,—a part of hastings, i believe, but a mile or two from the castle, and there called at the lodgings of two friends of bennoch.
these were mr. martin, the author of bon gaultier's ballads, and his wife, the celebrated actress, helen faucett. mr. martin is a barrister, a gentleman whose face and manners suited me at once; a simple, refined, sincere, not too demonstrative person. his wife, too, i liked; a tall, dark, fine, and lady-like woman, with the simplest manners, that give no trouble at all, and so must be perfect. with these two persons i felt myself, almost in a moment, on friendly terms, and in true accord, and so i talked, i think, more than i have at any time since coming to london.
we took a pleasant lunch at their house; and then they walked with us to the railway station, and there they took leave of bennoch affectionately and of me hardly less so; for, in truth, we had grown to be almost friends in this very little while. and as we rattled away, i said to bennoch earnestly, "what good people they are!"—and bennoch smiled, as if he had known perfectly well that i should think and say so. and thus we rushed onward to london; and i reached st. james's place between nine and ten o'clock, after a very interesting tour, the record of which i wish i could have kept as we went along, writing each day's history before another day's adventures began.
