Slowly the wagon ascended the steep incline of Rake Hill.  The summit gained, there was time for a parting glance across the coombe ere the four-mile stretch of downhill road commenced.  At first I talked excitedly with the driver, a sour-faced, wizened man, whose short jerky answers, spoken in broadest Sussex, did not encourage conversation; so presently I dropped all attempt at talking, and took note of the various places and persons we met on the road.