'surely this quiet and even life demands much thankfulness'

'surely this quiet and even life demands much thankfulness' remarks the reverend william poole (of hentland and hoarwithy) on his birthday. he is a grumpy man not much given to cheerfulness.   he is much consoled by  improving railway communications (it means he can escape his 'quiet and even life'). 

elsewhere poole has been reading (or reading about) de tocqueville on the english.

ok is horsemouth actually getting better? it would seem so.  his mum will date it from the arrival of the cough medicine/ horsemouth just thinks its the effect of time. he seems to be out of the shivery, poor temperature control phase. (he does however still have a cough).

he's fed and unleashed the chickens and he's back from the garage having taken the milk over there. (he's had his first cup of coffee). 

(there should, by this point, be a sense of normal service being resumed.)