Chapter 1: A new beginning
A cool wind blows through the round, wide-open window, as you finally seal your last bag, crammed with all of your belongings. You collapse on the now sheetless mattress in the corner of the room, exhausted from your monotonous chore. However, today, to be sure, would be a good day. Suddenly, you hear a horse neighing outside your window; the coach has arrived.
Picking up all of you bags, you feel around for the door handle. Finally, you find it, and slowly push the door open. You trundle with difficulty down the long corridor and down the three flights of stairs to the front door of your lodgings. You place your key back on its hanger and step outside, to the wonderful fresh air of London, taking in all the smoke and oil that fills the surroundings. The coachman collects your belongings and places them behind an old rickety seat that lies in the back of your carriage. You step inside of the coach, and set off on your journey.
"So, where ye' headed? Queries the coachman, as you finally begin to see trees again.
"It's quite a way actually. I'm taking a job as a servant for a rich man in the country, a Mr Boldwood, so I'm told." you reply.
"Oh, that's no trouble" he responds. "The longer the journey, the better the pay. Tis' worth the effort."
Time passes, you begin to tire as the sun sets. Just before you doze off, you hear the coachman pipe up again.
"So, yer off to work for Boldwood then?"
Startled, you are only able to let out a squeak. "Yes" you chirp.
"Do yer know much about the fellah?"
"You sound like you know him quite well, sir." you say, finally regaining awareness of where you are.
"Well, he's quite a character. I've known a couple gents that come this way that were good friends of his, and they have a lot to say."
"Really?"
"Well, they're normally drunk when I pick em up, so they usually repeat the same thing over and over again."
"And what is that?" you ask, puzzlingly."
"They waffle on about him being unmarried at forty, and havin' no will to find a wife. I dunno bout you, but maybe there's more ter this Boldwood chap than meets the eye, eh?
Still trying to keep track on what the coachman is saying, you just say, "Well, thank you for the advice."
"No problem. Now, yer better get some sleep, you'll be pretty much there in the mornin'."
You nod, as you lose focus and finally drift off.