A few had vague recollections. The best was a woman who claimed her geese honked every time someone passed along the road, causing her to look out. She therefore remembered every passer by. She had seen the alienist on his first excursion, some weeks previously, and had been intrigued by the Chinaman’s silk robe. The other times the alienist had been alone, both coming and going. He always walked briskly, but if he noticed her he would take off his hat. She realised he must be an American, by his clothes, his walk, and the fact that he carried no walking stick. I asked if she had noticed anyone else passing by, either just before or just after McCrory. She had not. Most passers by were local farmers on foot, on horseback, or driving their carts or buggies. Then there was her neighbour, Parson Coulter (whose very English wife I had just talked to), of St Mark’s church, and the curate, Mr Firbanks, who lodged a few houses down. Yes, she had been visited by some Indian women. All the neighbours had.
