code: def cfrom(self):
          
          cfrom = -1
          try:
              if self.lnk.type == Lnk.CHARSPAN:
                  cfrom = self.lnk.data[0]
          except AttributeError:
              pass  # use default cfrom of -1
          return cfrom
docs: The initial character position in the surface string.
  
          Defaults to -1 if there is no valid cfrom value.