<000005>It occurred to Reuben that Harry might be of some use to the women. Since he had given up fiddling he was entirely on the wrong side of Odiam's accounts; it would do much to justify his existence if he could help a little in the house and thus save engaging extra labour.
"Alice.""No flints here," he said; "reckon there's some stiff ground on the hillbut it's only the surface. Heather ?un't growingthat's a tedious good sign. I'll have oats herethe best in Peasmarsh."
THREE:"No, thankee. However hard she works she ?un't worth half a boy. You give me ten boys, missus, and then I d?an't mind you having a girl or so to please yourself."
TWO:He sat down at the table which the children had left, and mechanically began to eat. His healthy young body claimed its dues, and almost without knowing it he cleared the plate before him. Harry sat in the chimney corner, murmuring, "Why d?an't you kip bees, Reuben? Why d?an't you kip bees?"showing that he had uttered his thoughts aloud, just as the[Pg 117] empty platters showed him he had made a very good dinner."Await my pleasure!" replied the baron scornfully. "Did you consider my pleasure, monk, when you presumed to set at nought my prerogatives?"
TWO:"How cud we, f?ather?""So should I," said the girl in the embroidered frock"and I've been taking note of his clothes for our Earlscourt Morris Dancers."
TWO:Albert had been known openly to scoff at hell, whereas Pete had never thought much about it. Now it confronted them both under a new aspectthe scoffer trembled and the thoughtless was preoccupied.They reached Odiam, both feeling that the glory of those last three months had departed. The sight of Boarzell, lying black and hullish across their path, had made them realise that their happiness was but an interval, an interlude between more significant, more sinister things. Naomi had lost her peace and confidence, she seemed to avoid her husband, was tongue-tied in his presence, gave him a hurried good night from the door. Reuben was silent and meditativewhen his eyes rested on Naomi they were half regretful.
TWO:"My lord has little to expect from the faith of those who are fed and clothed at his hand," said Calverley, indignantly, as he saw, by the hesitation of the retainers, that the capture of the monk was hopeless.
"He's better have some warm ale," said the old man we have before mentioned, with a sneer"these garments seem to weigh down the spirit of our new guest."He knew that not only the land within these boundaries was hishis possessions stretched beyond it, and reached up to the stars. The wind, the rain, dawns, dusks, and darkness were all given him as the crown of his faithfulness. He had bruised Nature's headand she had bruised his heel, and given him the earth as his reward.She gave him sympathy, too, in a childlike way. She did not like it if he interrupted his love-making to tell her about his plans for Boarzell, but at other moments she seemed to enjoy hearing him talk of his ambition; and often, when the jar and failure of things depressed him, she would take him in her arms, and soothe him like a baby with"Of course you'll have Boarzell, my[Pg 252] Reuben; of course it will be yoursyou're so strong and masterful, you're bound to get all you want."
荣誉榜
THREE:Ten minutes later he rode off, and the family separated to their tasks, or to such evasions of them as were possible in the master's absence."Yes, there is your boywould you let him grow up a bondman?"
THREE:"Surelye!he's a purty feller, is young Ben. To-day he looks nearly as valiant as Harry."
