Page:010 Once a week Volume X Dec 1863 to Jun 64.pdf/163

 ONCE A WEEK. left his

prise, out.

"

employment and then hobbled

'taint you, is it

Why,

" gone abroad

?

they said you'd

!

"Where

"my

155

ing the "What brings you here?" of John, she went to the side of her father, and putting

her arm round his neck, besought him and welcome her.

to bless

where are they gone ? " ? gone 1 what, don't ye know, then ? " why, where ha' ye been all this long while ? " Where are ? oh, do tell me, tell they pray

Young Mrs. Thorley, the tall, dashing daughter of a wealthy innkeeper in the county town, drew nearer to her husband, and asked in an audible whisper if this was the sister who was and Annie heard him reply in the affirmative. But she had not come to re-

me!"

monstrate, or

father

are

they?" —John— there

house

Annie;

cried

ike

strangers

in

the

!

" Eh

"

the farm, sure, old Jennings' Didn't ye know they'd sold the forge,

Why, up

farm.

and tooken to t'other half like leaving t'old t'

last, I

can

They did not above place when it come to

1

tell 'ee."

" Where is this farm you speak of ?" " What, don't 'ee know where Jennings' farm is ? Bickley Farm o' the side o' May Ye know where May Hill is, sure/)/ ? Hill. Who'd ha' thought master's pockets were so well lined It niun a taken a tight bit o' money to buy that place out an' out as he has. An' where ha' ye been to after all, an' why didn't ye come to t' weddin' 1 " John was married, then ! " Tell me how far it is to this farm, and which way I must go?" she urged, ignoring !

his questions.

With much circumlocution the garrulous

man

old

at length supplied her with the necessary



was

for

ciliate,

tinised to fade

—

as

briskly

her wet

as

gardli'i

The trim farm-house on the hillside, with its white walls and extensive out-buildings, w;is visible in the pale moonlight long before Annie reached the newly painted gates and the view

of

its rural opulence, the lowing of the many cows, the bleating of the carefully folded sheep, sounds and sights at which under other circumstances she would have rejoiced, now filled

her with indignation ; and it was with a firm step and almost defiant look that she stepped into the well-furnished sitting-room, and sud-

denly presented herself to the astonished party cosily seated at the tea-table. llalph was the last to perceive her entrance. His chair drawn close to the fire, his hands on his knees, the appearance of that bent form and those grizzled locks touched the heart of his child with a feeling of pity ; and unheed-

—

their hard, worldly faces, hope began awaken in them those better qualities

The men

cast a furtive glance at each other,

i<

she

came

"

"



time, the strange circumstance of the Thorleys becoming rich men so suddenly ; expatiating the while on their increasing greed and nig-

it

both possessed with the same idea, that Annie, Tying of her monotonous life, had come to terms to them, and perhaps inpropose son tended to rid them of her presence for ever; and influenced by this thought, with extraordinary graciuusness John bade his wife pour out some tea for their guest, and asked how

fatigue.

recognition

and aching limbs permitted and Bill resumed his place at the bellows, to tell his curious mates the particulars of this interview, and to go over with them, for the hundredth



brought you here, my maid ? I was coming to fetch you." " I have business with you and John,"' she answered quietly, "that admitted of no delay."

further clothes

for herself

— —

recalled

—

justice

supposed to be dormant in all. " And and," said Ralph at last, taking courage at her passiveness, "and what has

and bidding him farewell, Annie walked out of the village where she dreaded directions,

demand

Arthur that she must plead and conand if possible and now as she scru-

]

walked from London," she replied, by the query to a sense of extreme

I have

Humph,"

John

said



"I suppose you must

stay to-night."

"

If you please," said Annie, meekly. but her Mrs. Thorley coughed significantly husband did not appear to notice the signal, and a long silence ensued, during which the anxious girl carefully perused the deepened lines on her father's face, and at last asked him if it had not pained him to give up hid cheerful

if

laborious calling. Ralph heaved a sigh,

and the young wife

hastened to reply, " Yes, it is dull for Mr. T. If his business had here, very dull indeed. not been such a dirty, low sort of trade, Mr. John Thorley and myself wouldn't have icished him to give it up but ray relations are all so

highly respectable

him

here,

!

Oh

!

it's

awfully dull for

and we do wonder," her voice sunk that having such a nice row of plea-

a tone, ' ' sant houses of his

own just out of London, he It would don't go and live in one of them. be a great relief to us to see him comfortably settled."

So he was already in the way ; and he knew for his eyes gleamed vindictively under their shaggy brows, and he shrugged his shoidders. it,