over a great extent。 Ah； it was something very desirable to
know； this touch of the wonderful men who had the power of
thought and prehension。 The women of the village might be
much fonder of Tom Brangwen； and more at their ease with him；
yet if their lives had been robbed of the vicar； and of Lord
William； the leading shoot would have been cut away from them；
they would have been heavy and uninspired and inclined to hate。
So long as the wonder of the beyond was before them； they could
get along； whatever their lot。 And Mrs。 Hardy； and the vicar；
and Lord William； these moved in the wonder of the beyond； and
were visible to the eyes of Cossethay in their motion。
II
About 1840； a canal was constructed across the meadows of the
Marsh Farm； connecting the newly…opened collieries of the
Erewash Valley。 A high embankment travelled along the fields to
carry the canal； which passed close to the homestead； and；
reaching the road； went over in a heavy bridge。
So the Marsh was shut off from Ilkeston； and enclosed in the
small valley bed； which ended in a bushy hill and the village
spire of Cossethay。
The Brangwens received a fair sum of money from this trespass
across their land。 Then； a short time afterwards； a colliery was
sunk on the other side of the canal； and in a while the Midland
Railway came down the valley at the