Wessex Poems and Other Verses

hither and thither with a lump of chalk in his hand, marking broad-arrows so vigorously on every vehicle and set of harness that he came across, that it seemed as if he would chalk broad-arrows on t

tired, and her mood was not much brighter than his own. They had but little to say to each other; and the min

noon, too full of excitement at the proceedings to remember her state of life. However, almo

e's carts into the road, and off came the wheels, and down fell the carts; and they found there was no linch-pins in the arms; and then they tried Samuel Shane's waggon, and found that the

y Martha Sarah. But before they had got through the passage there was a rap at the front d

ith up this way? If we could get hold of him, we'd e'en a'most dr

imer,' said Lizzy archly.

carts. What with that, and the bother about every set of harness being out of order, we shan't be off before nightfall-upon my soul we shan't. 'Tis a rough lot, Mrs. Newbe

eaking he went on in this direction, and Hardman, hearing the exciseman's steps, found curiosity too strong for prudence. He peeped out

or the last hour!' said Lati

been out for a stroll, to look for more

er 'em up to Gover'ment. We know that all the parish is helping us, and have been all day! Now

muddy roads were glistening under the horizontal light of the fading day. The smuggled tubs were soon packed into the vehicles, and Latimer, with three of his assistants, drove slowly out of the village in the direction of the port of Budmouth, some considerable n

passed in the increasing twilight; and as they stood they looked at the confiscated property w

is is a fit finish to your adventure. I am truly thankful that you have got off without

e said. 'But I

rid shore again?

ly going to see the end

oved towards the door slowly, as if

he added at last. 'I suppose that's

u from such practices? Come with you of course I will, if it

is happening, and I must know what. Now, c

r load. He had given her his arm, and every now and then she suddenly pulled it back, to signify that he was to halt a moment and listen. They had

hear the wheels.

f they get clear away

g desperate is to be attempted!-and now I remember

the cartwheels had stopped, and g

rder! Lizzy, let go my arm; I am going on. On my

en head,' she said. 'Our men are thirty to

e; 'and you knew it was to be. Why should you

untry traders what they have honestly bought w

honestly bou

ry one of the tubs before they were put on board at Cherbourg, and if a king who is noth

side. 'Don't you interfere, will you, dear Richard?' she said anxiously, as they drew near. 'Don't let us go any

the cartwheels began again; and Stockdale soon found that they were coming towards him. In ano

all of whom, as Stockdale perceived to his astonishment, had blackened faces. Among them walked six or eight huge female figures, whom, from their wide strides, Stockd

omen, who wore curls a foot long, dangling down the sides of her face, in

ockdale. 'This is

rson!-what, and Mrs. Newberry! Well, you'd better not go up that w

h all this hadn't been forced upon us,' she said regretfully. 'But if those excisemen had got off

nd he said, 'I don't think I can go back like this. Tho

zy impatiently. 'We

g her safe home or anything else, the minister turned back. Lizzy stood looking at him till his fo

is way without hearing a sound beyond that of his own footsteps; and in due time he passed beneath the trees of the plantatio

-hoi! He

weapon, and before plunging into the pitchy darkness of the plantation he pulled a stake from the he

g through the brambles in that direction

come forward?'

ied to t

are

vely. 'Just come and cut these cords, there's a goo

upon which they stretched thei

e had seemed quite meek when Stockdale first came up. ''Tis th

'em,' said another. '

going to do?'

oynton, and have at 'e

e!' said hi

we die!' s

e will!' sa

the plantation, 'we don't know that these chaps with b

s,' said

f my arms are burning like fire from the cords those two strapping women tied round 'em. My opinion is, now I have had time to think o't, that you

le for his timely assistance, they parted from him at the Cross, taking

f the little back parlour in which Lizzy usually sat with her mother. He found her there alone. Stockdale went forward, and, like a man in a dream, looked down upon the t

gone?' he then

seen nothing of them sinc

ff with those tubs, it will be a

t's, a share to each of the two farmers, and a

nt on slowly, 'that you will

. 'You don't know what you are asking. I must tell you, though I meant not to d

e said. 'I would rather have swept the streets, had I b

I have never seen. His dues are nothing to me. But it

e to give it up. I wi

ing a little. 'Let me think of it by

' she said passionately. 'It is too much to ask. My whole life ha' been passed in this way.' Her words and manner s

against my principles in this matter, and I cannot make my profession a mockery. Yo

It stirs up one's dull life at this time o' the year, and gives excitement, which I have got so used to now that I should hardly know how to do 'ithout it. At nights, when the wind blows, instead of being dull and stupid, and not noticing whether it do blow or not, your mind is afield, even if you are not afield yourself; and

ight, anyhow: and I would advise y

blood, and I can't be cured. O, Richard, you cannot think what a hard thing you hav

aid. 'It was an ill day for us! I little thought there was anything so hopeless and impossible in our engagement as this. W

ent from State,' she said. 'And I do

y remained looking down, he

depression was marked in the village by more than one of his denomination with whom he came in contact. But Lizzy, who passed her days indoors, was unsuspected

orning Stockdale said to her: 'I have had a let

said she

appened. In fact, I couldn't stay here, and look on you from day to day, without becoming weak and faltering in my course.

ed in his resolution came upon her as a grievous

I will not. Grant me one favour. Come and

quently attended Stockdale's chapel in the evening w

ng was full to overflowing, and he took up the subject which all had expected, that of the contraband trade so extensively practised among them. His hearers, in laying his words to their own hearts, did not perceive that they were most particularly directed against Lizzy, till the sermon waxed warm, and St

n alone, her mother having, as was usual wi

ith forced gaiety, and never alluding to the se

h a forced smile on his

t that they would so share. When it was over, and the indifferent conversation could no longe

id solemnly. 'I

'If that is your

nvoluntarily returned his kiss. 'I shall go early

saw a face between the parted curtains of Lizzy's window, but the light was faint, and the panes glistened with wet; so he could not be sur

e driver, and the answers that he received interested the minister deeply. The result of them was that he went without the least hesitation to the door of his former lodging. It was about six o'clock in

door she was there holding it open: and then, as if she had not sufficiently considered h

ckdale, taking her hand. 'I

id not say when

e sure when my business wo

ecause business

ome on purpose to see you . . . But what's all this that has happene

nd nature to me. However, it is all over now. The officers have blood-money for taking

quite gon

nd it is a wonder that I was not killed. I was shot in the hand. It was not by aim; the shot was really meant for my cousin; but I was behind, look

only heard that he just

the meads to Kingsbere, and hid him in a barn, dressing his wound as well as they could, till he was so far recovered as to be able to get

smuggling now?' said

for it. I am very poor now, and my mother has been dead the

derstanding; for a fortnight later there was a sale of Lizzy's furn

hat in after years she wrote an excellent tract called Render unto Caesar; or, The Repentant Villagers, in which her own experience was anonymously used as the introductory story. Stockdale g

il