Page:Lorna Doone - a romance of Exmoor (IA lornadooneromanc691blac).pdf/134

 "Jan wudd goo, now wuddn't her, Jem? And how was us"

"Jan indeed! Master John, if you please, to a lad of his years and stature. And now Tom Faggus be off, if you please, and think yourself lucky to go so; and if ever that horse comes into our yard, I'll hamstring him myself, if none of my cowards dare do it."

Everybody looked at mother, to hear her talk like that, knowing how quiet she was, day by day, and how pleasant to be cheated. And the men began to shoulder their shovels, both so as to be away from her, and to go and tell their wives of it. Winnie too was looking at her, being pointed at so much, and wondering if she had done amiss. And then she came to me, and trembled, and stooped her head, and asked my pardon, if she had been too proud with me.

"Winnie shall stop here to-night," said I, for Tom Faggus still said never a word all the while; but began to buckle his things on, for he knew that women are to be met with wool, as the cannon-balls were at the siege of Tiverton Castle; "mother, I tell you, Winnie shall stop; else I will go away with her. I never knew what it was, till now, to ride a horse worth riding."

"Young man," said Tom Faggus, still preparing sternly to depart; "you know more about a horse than any man on Exmoor. Your mother may well be proud of you, but she need have had no fear. As if I, Tom Faggus, your father's cousin—and the only thing I am