Bristol Bells: A Story of the Eighteenth Century

ears older than when he had left the kitchen the night before. He refused all food, and sat in the settle by the f

his ear. 'It is hot enow in the fields, even now

an shook

't sit there as if you was

y her grandfather's side, 'here. I've put a drop of rum in the new milk, n

ommon sense view of t

ell if you don't

ther faggot on the fire, not heeding Dorothy's remark that they should all be smothered with heat, and

grandfather's appearance with some mysterious visitor, who had evidently left the house in anger. So

pered to Betty. 'I know there

eard on the brick floor of the back kitchen, where they took their meals, and the benches pushed back b

' he said, 'and co

le Dorothy Burrow stood before him, her stout red arms uncovered, her elbows stuck on either

said, 'what'

is head, and thumpe

done it. Years agone,' he began, 'I had a son-your father, Biddy and Bet. You don't

Dorothy began; 'I had cause

u tongue

be quiet,' Bryda said

re was a kind-hearted chap, and he never pressed me. I spoke to him last fall, when he was out with the beagles, as stout and as strong as ever, I thought. I told him times were bad, and the crops scarce, and I had lost a lot of sheep in the hard winter. And

etty asked, with wh

d, but this chap, curse him, says he will ha

him the sum?' Bryda

r says, or hei

ut it. Ask Mr Lam

sh, and he must have it. That's the long and the short of it. No, there's no hope. So the stock

ther now a-polishing and rubbing yonder bureau till I could see my face

e other grasping the carved elbow of the old oak settle. Her lips were firmly

I never knew my father was what Aunt Dorothy

not much; but, Bryda

n never be wiped away.' Then, with a sudden impulse of pity and tendernes

or gran

ght as a dart, and that strong, he could get the better of the strongest in the wrest

I wish to know

father sho

teen years. Betty was born just after, and her mother

nt Dorothy, what

s the long and short of it. I wasn't here, but that's what father told me, and I suppose it's gospel truth. It's over and done with now, and no one need have been the wiser if that fool, young Bayfield, had not come and stormed at f

Bryda was left wit

asked, putting her mouth

No one knew. When I got back there was Bet wailing. She was born-and your poor silly mother died. Poor thing!

are of you. I'll go and earn my keep at any ra

but sell up, and pay the cash down. But I'll do it myself. He sha'n't send his fellows here to knock about the t

es of the Somersetshire maiden, but she was determine

p's Farm stood; but Bryda was well used to long rambles over

e I can be of use. And then I will go to Bristol and see Mr Lambert, and te

tood before a little glass, which gave but a distor

en she tied back her bright hair, which was the colour of a cornfield rippling in the sunshine, with a blue ribbon, and perched on the top of her pretty head a bonnet of Dunstable straw which would have disguised most faces so ugly was its shape. But Bryda's face could not lend itself to any di

uietly downstairs, and went ou

l turned up for a seat,

with a clasp knife, and crowding them int

he dogs for a walk, Sila

was the sho

as. Let me have Flick. He

be thee

g walk, th

ning. There's another loss for the master. But, lor', he's dazed like. If I told

on't trouble him, Silas, if you

d from his master, with anxious upturned

,' was the not very

ice, sending two sedate cats clambering up the old wall, with its high lichen-covered copi

thing around her, that as Bryda tripped lightly on h

uck ten as she passed. The vil

te-headed children were making dust pies by the churchyard gate, two or

lmer's girl, she is mighty proud, and never pa

other. 'Look at her in her fine r

lling babies with somewhat rough veh

earest road to Rock House when she c

ryda knew Rock House was several miles nearer Dundry than the town of Binegar, but she

man, with a gun under his arm, le

ed, and Bryda, putting her h

n, F

ng the young m

Rock House, Squire Bayfield's?' Then she

he Squire is a lucky man,

his young man's gaze was a

very different from the low bob of th

od as to tell me which road

ame way. Your dog is not a very pleasant companion;

'and he will not fly at anyone without

companion was not the foe Flick had at first imagined, and he walked

, and for some minutes there was

quaintance with

ung Squire. He has been i

his father dead and buried, and the old place a r

in sight and a long avenue of firs leading up to a house,

re Bayfield's

there also, so we will wal

tated, and

, sir; but it is of a private na

madam,' and insensibly the man'

ad always about her that innate purity and refinement, which acts as a shield against the shafts of impertinent admiratio

young man paused. After a moment's hesitation he opened the door, and a parcel of

rom a peg in the hall, and thrashing right and left, with a great many oaths and curses, exclaimed, 'Th

proar, 'let me show you into the only habitable room in the pl

and holding it for Bryda to pass, c

a big chair at the farther end by the bay window was the magistrate's seat, where Mr Bayfield ha

athered up all her courage to me

did not touch this gloomy room, which looked full north, and onl

ose on his big ungainly paws, his ears pricked up-on guard, and watching for a r

ed either side of the stone steps, the rough terrace of loose stones, the long grass of the ple

come. I wish Betty was here; but I must make the best of it now I have c

ame man whom she had met on the road came

pray you be seated, and let me ask you to take such refreshment as

at bay, and said with all th

d, sir. I am at a l

sfortune to bear that ill-starred title, and I

and still stood, her hand on the back of the old carved oak chair, which, when sh

ire. He never pressed him for payment, and indeed it is doubtful that he ever expected it. I came to ask you, sir, to be pitiful, and give my grandfather time, at least. He has had years of poor crops, and many losses of stock. He is already

judge. Listen to a prisoner pleading; I pray you, be merciful. You speak of ruin-the money I claim by right of your respected grandfather it is absolutely necessary I should ha

her, and with flashing eyes, drawing her sm

m my bootless errand. I do not envy you, sir; it is always better to be th

wheaten cakes. He eyed Bryda curiously, and placing the tray on a small table covered with dust, he put a chair before it, and was retiring, when B

t will put me in the position of an inhospitable brute

merciful gentleman, who would not hasten an old man to his grave by cruelty and hard usag

n your favour. I am not one to make fair spee

a said. 'Good-day to y

statue on the top step of the cracked flight and watched Bryda's light figure as it passed under the sombre firs, Flick stridin

nts of the silver mug at one draught, and then sat down before the table, with its many pigeon-holes and

nd strength of purpose in her round, determined chin, with its slightly upward curve. David Bayfield felt ashamed of himself as he had never felt before, and unable to settle to any business matters, he went to the