Lucian the dreamer
and the ceiling was spanned by beams of polished oak; a bright fire crackled in the old-fashioned grate, and a lamp burned on the table; but there were no blinds or curtains
that the parlour was delightfully quaint and picturesque; it smelled of dried roses and lavender and sweetbriar; there was an old sheep-dog on the hearth who pushed his muzzle into
of cold roast-beef at the other; the tea-tray filled up one end; opposite it space was left for something that was yet to come. This something presently appeared in the shape of a couple of roast fo
me, and I lay they won't be long, for Mr. Pepperdine'll be hungry after his journey, and so I'm sure are you. Come
no longer wondered, for the one had been out in the fields all day, and the other had been engaged in the unusual task of travelling, and they were both exceptional trenchermen at any time. Mr. Trippett joked with th
orking vigorously. 'Nothing like a good appetite for growing lads-ah, I was
's pressing entreaty to have another slice off the breast, or a bit o
re, Mr. Pepperdine, and the air's keener with you. To be sure, our children have good enough ap
m,' said Mr. Pepperdine. 'There's
them Mr. Pepperdine was going to bring a young gentleman with{18} him. You shall see them after tea-they're out in the orchard now-they had
aid Lucian. 'I will, if you
if you'd like to. Go through the window there-you'll hear them
went out. Mrs. Trippett foll
gly,' she said, looki
ian's uncle. 'He's the manners of a man in some things. I reckon, yo
ather as I remember him. He was a fine-looking man, in
e's Lucy's eyes, but all the r
o was now attacking the cold beef, after having demolished the greater part
He went very sudden and very peaceful. The boy was very brave and very o
'Poor little fellow!-of course, he'll
ng his head. 'No, he was only tw
s. Trippett had departed to the kitchen regions to bustle amongst her maids, and the two farmers were left in the parlour with the spirit decanters o
come to these parts when your sister was married. The missis says she remembers her,
a pull at his glas
beginning of it all as well as if it were yesterday. Lucy-that was the lad's mother, my youngest sister
that she was a beauty
affirmed Mr. Pepperdine. 'The lad has her eyes-eh, dear, I've heard high and low tal
o in his long pipe, and he puffed out several t
ouldn't ha' told it from his tongue. The boy'll be like him some day. He came walking through Simonstower on his way from Scarhaven, and naught would content him but that he must set up his easel and make a picture of the village. He found lodging
t, with a hearty laugh. 'I've heard my missis say he'd a way with him that
ink I ever did see two young people quite so badly smitten as they were. It became evident to everybody in the place. But he acted like a man all through-oh yes! My mother was alive then, you know, Trippett,' Mr. Pepperdine cont
'll lay he wo'd,' ch
y as a strolling artist, 'cause you see, being old-fashioned, she'd no idea of what an artist, if he's up to his trade, can make. But he was one too many for{21} her, was Damerel. He listened to all she had to say, and then he offered to give her reference
ood reasoning. Love-making's all very well, but i
' the dining-room at th' castle to this day. I saw it the last time I paid my rent there. Mistress Jones, th' housekeeper, let me have a look at it. And of course, seeing that the young man was able to support a wife, th' old lady
idn't she?' inqui
after the boy came she seemed to wear away. He did all that a man could, did her husband-took her off to the south of Europe. Eh, dear, the letters that Keziah and J
rippett. 'And had all th
rdine. 'Her life was short b
one an' all,' s
perdine
very restless life ever after, first one place and then another, never settling anywhere. Sometimes it was
m like?' asked Mr. T
polished the
settled up, I dare say. He wasn't a saving sort of man, I should think, bu
'I've heard that's the way with that sort.
in him. Curious thing that, but it is so. No-he's all for reading. I never saw such a lad for boo
rson or a lawyer,' su
urn out a poet, or something o' that sort. They tell me
t part of the fire, mixed himself another glass o
ro' t'other day,' he said. 'Very low pric
ed the room, took up a basket of stockings, planted herself in her easy-chair, and began to look for holes in toes and heels. The two farmers talked; the grandfather's cloc
o trunks for Mr. Pepperdine, and he says is he to put 'em i
'em in the trap myself. And here, my lass, give him this for his
beer and something to
eef and pickles, Mary
perdine, gazing at the clock with an air of surprise, remarke
ppett. 'You're all right for ano
tly. 'He's soon made friends with John and Mary-they
here's nowt like comfort by your own fireside. And how were Lon
he had seen in London. The time slipped away-the old clock struck nine at last, and suddenly reminded
rose with evident reluctance. 'I always enjoy an even
d grin. 'Sit ye down again, man-you'll be home in half an hour with that mare
. 'Nay, we must go-Keziah and Judith'll be on the
ippett. 'Well, if you must you must-t
ey all went out into the great kitchen, Mrs. Trippett leading the way with words of regret at her guest's
a little girl with Mrs. Trippett's features and eyes, whose sunny hair fell in wavy masses over her shoulders; behind her, hands in pockets, sturdy and strong, stood a miniature edition{25} of Mr. Trippett, even to the sandy hair, the breeches, and the gaiters; in the centre of the floor, at a round table on which stood a great oil lamp, sat the porter, busy with a round of beef, a foaming tankard of ale, and a crusty loaf. Of these eight human beings a similar peculiarity was evident. Each one sat with mouth more or less open-the ploughboys' mouths in particular had revolved themselves into round O's, while the
ked Mr. Pepperd
red. 'Gow-the lad's gotten the gift
mmanded Mr
ained nothing but the bones of the brigand, and they were bleached as white as the eternal snows; and Giacomo came and took them down and buried them in the little cemetery under
it true?{26} Is it true?' and Mr. Trippett brought everybody back to real life by loud calls for Mr. Pepperdine's horse and trap. Then followed the putting on of overcoats and wraps, and the bestowal of a glass of ginger-wine upon Lucian by Mr. Trippett, in o