6 Leaving the village of Eglingham behind her , with Widow Dodds waving farewell from her doorway , Hannah gave Dickon his head over the moor to Shopley Burn and on to the hamlet of Charlton .sx This much of the way was known to her .sx The real adventure started when she joined the Great North Road , that thoroughfare of coaches , waggons , pony-trains , riders on horseback and travellers on foot , tinkers , pedlars , vagrants and highwaymen .sx Stretching from London to Scotland , its condition worsened the further north it went .sx Here in Northumberland , it was reduced to a narrow causeway with a quagmire on either side that was the dread of all coach travellers .sx An encounter with another vehicle which forced one or the other to leave the surfaced strip was an invitation to disaster as the many broken wheels lying at either side testified .sx Many were the sloughs and potholes waiting to trap an unwary rider .sx Hannah kept Dickon to a careful trot .sx She had a journey in front of her of some twelve leagues and had left home at an early hour in order to reach Tom before the day was far spent .sx He had promised to keep a watch on the road and would come to meet her at first sighting .sx Her heart warmed at the thought of her brother but not without a tinge of apprehension .sx He was seventeen now .sx Grown up .sx Such doubts as she had were pushed to the back of her mind by the sudden sight of the sea .sx The road lay along the broad coastal plain , curving to within a few miles of the shore from time to time to show her a wide expanse of water shimmering silver on this early June morning .sx Previous glimpses of the sea had been from the distant heights of Bewick Moor , appearing as a vague grey-blue space .sx Now , for the first time , she could discern its running , white-topped waves and the bobbing , dipping progress upon it of a ship in full sail .sx A fresh and salty breeze smacked her in the face and sent Dickon's head up with a whinny of delight .sx Everything around her was excitingly different .sx Cattle , much fatter and sleeker than the cows at home , grazed on pastures that sloped right down to the pale golden sands .sx Women sang as they worked in the fields .sx A party of faws came by in a covered waggon jingling with pots and pans , led by a brown-skinned young woman in a green silk frock with a money on her shoulder .sx Hannah laughed out loud at its antics and when rich merchants went by , she could not contain her admiration for their splendid mounts , magnificent horses sixteen hands high , bridle and martingale of plaited leather decorated with filets of gleaming brass .sx " A fine horse you got there , sir !sx Nae mistake about that !sx " But her compliment went unacknowledged by haughty milords who had no time for peasant girls .sx She passed many a small dwelling built on common land at the edge of the road where curs yapped at every passing traveller .sx Children played in the sun at open doors surrounded by dusty hens , their mothers keeping an eye on them from washing line or spinning wheel .sx From time to time the tall chimneys and gable ends of a great house would show through a noble stand of trees but when , at last , a square church tower set amongst other substantial buildings appeared on the skyline , Hanna knew she was nearing Belford .sx Carts began to crowd the road .sx There were serving maids in waggons packed with butter , cheese and eggs , and tidy matrons in gaily painted dog carts whipping up their high-stepping ponies .sx All exchanged a greeting with her and it seemed to Hannah that the world was full of the most amiable people imaginable until the London coach came by , careering through pools of stagnant water , fouling the clothes of those on foot and sending them leaping into the ditch for safety .sx Dickon reared in alarm , almost unseating his rider and Hannah was spattered with gobs of mud from the kerchief at her neck to her new white woollen stockings .sx In a fury , she pricked Dickon into pursuit of the coach .sx Standing in the stirrups , shaking her fist and roundly cursing the coachman , she provided considerable entertainment for the passengers .sx But Dickon was no match for the team of four galloping greys and disconsolately , she was forced to give up the chase .sx She was in no fit state now to go visiting and must needs stop awhile in Belford to clean herself up before continuing to Buckton .sx Belford market cross stood on a slight rise in front of the Blue Bell Inn which was the scene of much activity as Hannah trotted into town .sx Ostlers and farriers were busy with buckets and brushes and jingling harness .sx Their clatter filled the yard and through the open door of the inn a babel of voices gusted as the people came and went .sx Hannah slipped down from Dickon's back and looped his reins over the water trough while she attempted to wash the dirt from her face .sx Aware that she was being watched , she turned her back on a young lounging at the inn door who seemed to find her plight amusing and he promptly laughed out loud .sx " Here , " he said kindly , offering a square of cambric , " use my handkerchief , else you will only make the damage worse .sx " .sx His tone was so inoffensive that Hannah thought better of her first impulse to tell him to mind his own business and took the proffered handkerchief , though with little grace .sx " 'Tis a pretty trifle indeed for wiping clarts but I'll take it nonetheless and thank thee for thy kindness .sx " .sx " How didst come to be in such a plight ?sx " He was looking at her soiled white stockings .sx " Didst have a fall from thy horse ?sx " .sx By his speech , Hannah could tell he was from over the border and , from his courteous manner , a gentleman , although his clothes were ordinary enough .sx She recounted the tale of her mishap as she applied the wet cloth to her face .sx " That bully will feel the rough edge of my tongue were I to meet him again .sx Just look at my frock !sx I am on my way to visit my brother whom I have not seen these three long years and I am loth that he should find me in this sad state .sx " She turned her scrubbed face towards the young man for his approval .sx " Is my face clean enough ?sx ! .sx " Good as new , " he assured her and would not take the wet kerchief back .sx " A keepsake of your ride to Belford .sx " .sx Making herself comfortable by the pump , Hannah took her bait of bread and cheese from her bundle .sx She would not arrive hungry like a common beggar at the house of Mistress Reay .sx The young man declined to share it with her saying he had important business on hand and indeed Hannah noted that he kept an alert eye upon the road leading into the town .sx A sudden burst of noise announced the departure of a coachload of travellers from the inn .sx Their coach , equipped with fresh horses , stood ready for them as , much refreshed by the Blue Bell hospitality , they trooped out into the sunshine .sx At the sight of their driver , Hannah jumped to her feet .sx " Why , that's the man !sx That's the scoundrel who almost ran me off the road !sx " .sx Before the young man knew what she was about , Hannah had sprinted across the market square to confront the driver who , whip in hand , was already taking his seat .sx " Hi !sx Thou knave !sx Dost think the Great North Road belongs to thee !sx By rights , ye should buy me a pair of new stockings for these are covered in mud after ye drove past me like a madman .sx " .sx The driver turned in some surprise , then laughed to see a maid in such a temper , which only served to increase Hannah's anger .sx " Darest laugh at me after putting me in such a plight !sx " .sx " Oh , aye , " he grinned , " thou'rt a sight indeed .sx Be off with you ere I call the watch .sx " He was not averse to giving his passengers an entertainment at the expense of an impertinent chit .sx He raised his whip .sx " Be off , I say , with your dirty stockings , or this leather will make thee even more of a spectacle than thou'rt already .sx " .sx The young man , reading Hannah's intention as she bent to pick up a stone , reached her side in a quick stride and laid a restraining hand on her shoulder .sx To the driver , he spoke with surprising authority .sx " Keep that whip for your horses , driver .sx This maid has some justice in her complaint but I'll not detain thee for an apology as thy passengers grow restive .sx Go on your way and have a care for other travellers on the road .sx " .sx The coachman's face purpled .sx To be made to look foolish in front of a whole coachload of passengers was almost too much to bear , and that by a mere youth .sx Caution whispered to him , however , that the young man was nobly born , 'twas plain to see , and who could tell what his family connections might be .sx With an ill grace , he brought his whip down heavily on the horses' rumps , sending them clattering over the cobblestones and on their way .sx Good riddance to bad rubbish !sx " Hannah yelled after him and , with some reluctance , dropped the stone from her hand .sx " You should ha let me hoy this at him , " she chided .sx " 'Twas only fair .sx " .sx The youth shook his head with a smile .sx " A word of advice young maid .sx Do not seek out trouble for it comes easy enough without the need to look for it , and 'tis usually the weakest in the argument who will suffer .sx If a woman sets herself against a man , count upon it , justice will not go her way .sx " .sx Hannah looked at him curiously .sx " That's an odd thing for a man to say .sx But I'm not weak !sx " she added .sx " I could outrun that pig's bladder any day .sx Yet I should thank thee for speaking on my account , " she said , on reflection .sx " A whole coachload of trouble might have undone me , " she burst out laughing , " though , in truth , it would have made good sport to try !sx " .sx She regarded her companion with fresh interest .sx There was not much to him , apart from his handsome looks .sx He was slightly built with delicate hands and feet .sx " What is thy name ?sx Mine is Hannah .sx " .sx " Well , Hannah , " he said seriously , " I admire your spirit if not your diplomacy .sx Wait on - , " his eye alighted on a rider who was entering the square at that moment .sx Following his glance , Hannah saw the postman , leather mail-bag over his shoulder , a red-faced man on a steaming horse .sx He clattered to a standstill outside the inn and threw his reins to a waiting ostler before disappearing inside .sx " I must leave you now .sx " The young man spoke softly .sx " The man I seek a rendezvous with has arrived .sx " With that , Hannah's new friend followed the postman into the dark interior of the inn .sx " And he never told me his name , " thought Hannah , as she set Dickon on the road again , then she put the events of the morning behind her .sx A little less than a league to go and she would be riding into Buckton .sx She tried to imagine Tom grown older but the image persisted in her mind of a thirteen-year-old boy with freckled face and snub nose .sx What would he think of her ?sx She looked down at her spattered stockings .sx There was no help for them .sx The salt air drenched and scoured her lungs for the road here lay close to the sea .sx What manner of house was the potter's house that had so much wind and water about it ?sx How would she be received ?sx The potter's house lay on the west side of the road between the hamlets of Buckton and Fenwick , a three storeyed house , solidly built of sandstone , facing the sea with the Kyloe hills at its back .sx