Page:The Knife.pdf/5

Rh is a strange mixture in our feelings; perhaps the consciousness that all her earnings had gone towards erecting the stone whose white surface bore the names of her parents, mingled a little satisfaction with her grief: and why should it not? The discharge of a duty from affection is the best solace for sorrow. At length the cart appeared at some distance on the winding road; and in a few minutes Harriet Lynn began a journey, of whose length and difficulties she had the usually exaggerated notion of all young travellers. The gallantry of an English peasant rarely expands into words. John Dodd received her with a good-natured grin, and pushed on his way—for he was carrier of Donnington and some dozen parishes round; at each of which he duly deposited at least a score of packages or messages. His first pause was at a small shop situated on the east side of Donnington moor. "None so deaf as those who won't hear. Now this plaguy old woman will keep me bawling for an hour; it's always so when I'm in a hurry." Sure enough his vociferations obtained no answer; so, asking his companion to hold the reins, while he went to see if Dame Bird were dead or asleep, he jumped out of the cart, taking with him sundry square brown-paper parcels, from whose contents the various odours of tea, sugar, and tallow exhaled. The little garden gate was, as usual, open; and the first thing that struck the carrier