one of the moralists whom we sat under in my youth—was it the great richard swiveller, or mr. stiggins?—says: “we are born in a vale, and must take the consequences of being found in such a situation.” these consequences, i for one am ready to encounter. i pity people who weren’t found in a vale. i don’t mean a flat country, but a vale; that is a flat country bounded by hills. the having your hill always in view if you choose to turn towards him, that’s the essence of a vale. there he is for ever in the distance, your friend and companion; you never lose him as you do in hilly districts.