Page:Mehalah 1920.djvu/49

Rh your shepherd, isn't dumb, I believe. He talks, he does, and has pretty well spread the news all round the country how he was robbed of his money at the Rose."

"Abraham has never said anything of the sort. He denies that he was robbed." "Then he says he is accused of being robbed, which is the same. I suppose the story is true." "It is quite true, Master Rebow," answered the widow. "It was a terrible loss to us. We had sold all the sheep we could sell." "Oh, a terrible loss, indeed!" scoffed the man. "You are so flush of money, that a loss of ten or fifteen, or may be twenty pounds is nought to you. You have your little store in one of those cupboards in every corner of the old house, and you put your hand in, and take out what you like. You call yourself poor, do you, and think nothing of a loss like this?" "We are very poor," said the widow; "Heaven knows we have a hard battle to fight to make both ends meet, and to pay our rent." "I don't believe it. You are telling me lies." He took the coin, and counted it; his dark brow grew blacker; and he ground his teeth. Once he raised his wolfish eyes and glared on Mehalah. "That guinea is bad," he said, and he threw it on the floor. "It rings like a good one," answered the girl, "pick it up and give it to me. I will let you have another in its place." "Oh ho! your pocket is lined with guineas, is it? I will raise the rent of the Ray. I thought as much, the land is fatter than mine on this marsh. You get the place dirt cheap. I'll raise the rent ten pounds. I'll raise it twenty." "Master Rebow!" pleaded the widow, "the Ray won't allow us to pay it."

"Do not put yourself out, mother," said Mehalah, "we have a lease of twenty-one years; and there are seven more years to run, before Rebow can do what he threatens." "Oh, you are clever, you are. Glory! cursed clever. Now look here. Mistress Sharland, I'm going to have a rasher, and it's about dinner time, stop and bite with