The Ordeal of Richard Feverel

fed parlour of an old-fashioned farm-house, with a long clay pipe on the table at his elbow, and a veteran pointer at his feet, had already given audience to three distin

of the hold he had on the family, he determined to tighten his hold, and only relax it in exchange for tangible advantages-compensation to his pocket, his wounded person, and his still more wounded sentiments: the total indemnity being, in round figures, three hundred pounds, and a spoken apology from the prime offender, young Mister Richard. Even then there was a reservation. Provided, the farmer said, nobody had been tampering with any of his witnesses. In that ease Farmer Blaize declared the money might go, and he

t shall, I trust, satisfy your feelings, assuring you that to tamper with witnesses is not the province of a Feverel. All I ask of you in return is, not to press the prosecution. At present it re

he farmer. "I

r Austin stared. "I beg

man as don't like young gentlemen a-poachin' on his grounds without his permission,-in special when birds is plentiful on their own. It appear he do like it. Consequently I has to

mmunicate with his son,

romises. He also assured Farmer Blaize that

Wentworth. The fa

he 'pology!" and Farmer Blaize thrust his l

ronet's frankness, and the baronet's not having reserved himself for the third and final charge, puzzle

red shyly by the farmer's arm-chair to steal a look at the handsome new-comer. She was introduced to Richard as the farmer's niece, Lucy Desbor

rank in life, tempted Richard to inspect the li

s coontry. A man as fights for's coontry's a right to hould up his head-ay! wit

s air, did not desire to become acqua

ums to me of evenin's. I'm for the old tunes: she's for the new. Gal-like! While she's with me she shall be taught things use'l. She can parley-voo a good 'un and foot it, as it goes; been in France a couple of year. I prefer the singin' of 't to the talki

voice for speech, as it was, and sing in his company she could not; so she stood, a hand on her uncle's chair to stay he

earn the difference 'twixt the young 'un and the old 'u

head followed her to the door, where she dallied to catch a last i

n't a good nurse-the kindest little soul you'd meet of a winter's walk! She'll read t' ye, and make d

rden of the charge against Tom Bakewell. He had strayed, during his passage to Belthorpe, somewhat back to his old nature; and his being compelled to enter the house of his enemy, sit in his chair, and endure an introduction to his family, was more than he bargained for. He commenced blinking hard in preparation for the horrible dose to which delay and the farmer's cordiality ad

you that I am the person who set

's mouth. He changed his posture, and said,

id Richar

hat be

ichard r

s posture. "Then, my lad, y

t the boy, undismayed by the da

e a liar!" cried Ri

first emphasis, and smacked hi

d to call me a liar. I would have apologized-I would have asked your pardon, to have got off that

r!" interpos

afresh. You're a coward, sir! nobody but a co

day, we sh'd a been friends yet. Sit ye down, sir. I sh'd be sorry to reckon you out a liar, Mr. Feverel, or anybody o' your name. I respects yer father though we're opp'site politics.

oke sense, and the boy, after his late interview with Austin, had become capable of perceivi

rmer, not unkindly, "wha

ips again! Alas, poor human nature! that empties to the dregs a dozen of these e

nked and to

ted the revenge I had taken

Blaize

ve done, you

nother

e spoken this at first he would have given it a wording more persuasive with the farmer and more worthy of his own pride: more honest, in fact: for a sense of the dishonesty of what he was saying caused him to cringe and simulate humility to deceive the farmer, and the more he said the less h

as ever. Richard

gulp it down. The draught grew more and more abhorrent. To proclaim one's iniquity, to apologize for one's wrongdoing; thus much could be done; but to beg a favour of the offended party-that was beyond the self-abasement any Feverel co

you don't mind-will you help me to get

ently for the boy, though he could not quite see

request. "Hum! ha! we'll see about it t'morrow. But

d it!" Richa

-amused expressio

! and you're sorry f

are paid the full ex

said the f

released to-morrow, I don'

ce in silence. "Bribery," one motion

d the case at his fingers' ends, "excuse the liberty, but wishin' to know where this

nothing of it,"

o," said his shoulders, soured by the British aver

money ready, yo

sk my fath

'll han

inly h

t intention of ever letting

d pounds, ye know?"

e of the sum, affected young Richard, who said boldly,

ntee would hardly be given for his father's readiness to disburse such a thumpi

"why not 'a to

dness into his query, that caused Richa

was positive

d to't you fired t

Richard, with the loftine

on put him aside. "Ye did't, or ye

ner, Richard sa

Lucy, who received orders to fetch in a dependent at Belthorpe going by the name of

ight't out with the Law, and I'll look on. The Law wasn't on the spot, I suppose? so the Law ain't much witness. But I am. Leastwise the Bantam is. I tell you, young gentleman, the Bantam saw't! It's no moral use whatever your denyin' that ev'dence. And where's the good, sir, I as