The Essex division had marched on until within about three miles of the city of London, and here they halted, partly through fatigue and partly to interchange communications with the Kentish men; it having been determined, that while the latter where forcing a passage over London-bridge, the men of Essex should, at the same moment, effect an entrance by the east gate, and thus distract the attention of the citizens.
ONE:"By the authority of the Baron de Boteler," replied Calverley, as the monk fixed his eyes sternly upon him."Good-bye."
THREE:Fair day was to be a special holiday that year because of the Coronation. Reuben at first thought that he would not goit was always maddening to see the booths and shows crowding over his Canaan, and circumstances would make his feelings on this occasion ten times more bitter. But he had never missed the Fair except for some special reason, such as a funeral or an auction, and he felt that if he stayed away it might be put down to low spirits at his son's desertion, or, worse still, to his old age.
THREE:"But I haven't got a pennycleaned myself out for my railway ticket. I've walked all the way from the station, and my lungs are bad."Reuben turned brick-red with indignation.
"Oh, the pretty baby! save the pretty baby!"Harry would mutter and shriek, and he would wander about the house crying"Save the pretty baby!" till Naomi declared that he gave her the shivers."Naun," said Reuben; "I'm waiting."Then he became obsessed by the idea that he was out on the Moor, wandering on it, and bound to it. The[Pg 369] earth was red-hot under his feet, and he picked them up off the bed like a cat on hot bricks, till Pete began to laugh inanely. He saw round him all the places he had known as a child, and called out for them, because he longed to escape to them from the burning Moor"Castweasel! Castweasel!... Ramstile!... Ellenwhorne....""Would you believe it, he has a hundred sheepand a man working under himand money coming in quite easy now. It wur hard at first, Bessie says, and[Pg 335] he wur in tedious heart over it all, but he pulled through his bad times, and now he's doing valiant."He moved a step or two towards the door, and suddenly she added in a low broken voice:Chapter 4
