def cfrom(self):
        """
        The initial character position in the surface string.

        Defaults to -1 if there is no valid cfrom value.
        """
        cfrom = -1
        try:
            if self.lnk.type == Lnk.CHARSPAN:
                cfrom = self.lnk.data[0]
        except AttributeError:
            pass  # use default cfrom of -1
        return cfrom