Some farmers have not threshed last year's
crop. A curious country this: one province starving, and plenty in the
next. It is all owing to the want of roads. But, luckily, Elvas is not
far off."
"Yet the Romans," L'Isle remarked, "had once netted over the whole
Peninsula with roads."
"When they went away," said the commissary, "the first thing the
people of the country did, I suppose, was to let them go to ruin in
true Portuguese fashion."
Shortridge now said that he must spend some days in the neighborhood
of Evora, and that the party would have to return to Elvas without
him. This being agreed to, Lady Mabel suggested that they should find
their way back by a different route, and, on consulting the muleteer,
they found that it could be done without much lengthening their
journey.
CHAPTER XI.
Led with delight they thus beguile the way
* * * *
When weening to return whence they did stray,
They cannot find that path, which first was showne,
But wander to and fro in ways unknown,
Furthest from end then, when they nearest weene,
That makes them doubt their wits be not their own,
So many paths, so many turning seene,
That which of them to take in diverse doubt they been.
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