bookssland.com Ā» Religion Ā» God's Good Man - Marie Corelli (i want to read a book .txt) šŸ“—

Book online Ā«God's Good Man - Marie Corelli (i want to read a book .txt) šŸ“—Ā». Author Marie Corelli



1 ... 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 ... 107
Go to page:
been a ā€˜Soulā€™ if I had liked. I could have learnt a lot of wicked secrets from the married peer who wanted to be my ā€˜affinity,ā€™ā€”only I wouldnā€™t. I could have got all the Government ā€˜tips,ā€™ gambled with them on the Stock Exchange, and made quite a fortune as a ā€˜Soul.ā€™ Yet here I am,ā€”no ā€˜Soul,ā€™ā€”but only a poor little body, with something in me that asks for a higher flight than mere social intrigue. Just a bit of a higher flight, eh, Plato? What do you think about it?ā€

Plato the leonine, waved his plumy tail responsively and gently rubbed his great head against her arm. Resting one hand lightly on his neck, she moved towards the house and slowly ascended the graduating slopes of the grass terrace. Here she was suddenly met by Primmins.

ā€œBeg your pardon, Miss,ā€ he said, with an apologetic air, ā€œbut thereā€™s an old man from the village come up to see youā€”a very old man,ā€”heā€™s had to be carried in a chair, and itā€™s took a couple of men nigh an hour and a half to bring him along. He says he knew you years agoā€”I hardly like to send him awayā€”ā€

ā€œCertainly not!ā€”of course you mustnā€™t send him away,ā€ said Maryllia, quickening her steps; ā€œPoor old dear! Where is he?ā€

ā€œIn the great, hall, Miss. They brought him through the courtyard and got him in there, before I had time to send them round to the back entrance.ā€

Maryllia entered the house. There she was met by Mrs. Spruce, with uplifted hands.

ā€œWell, it do beat me altogether, Miss,ā€ she exclaimed, ā€œas to how these silly men, my ā€˜usband, too, one of the silliest, begginā€™ your parding, could bring that poor old Josey Letherbarrow up here all this way! And he not toddled beyond the church this seven or eight years! And itā€™s all about those blessed Five Sisters theyā€™ve come, though I told ā€˜em you canā€™t nohow be worrited and canā€™t see no oneā€”

ā€

ā€œBut I can!ā€ said Maryllia decisively; ā€œI can see anyone who wishes to see me, and I will. Let me pass, Mrs. Spruce, please!ā€

Mrs. Spruce, thus abruptly checked, stood meekly aside, controlling her desire to pour forth fresh remonstrances at the unseemliness of any person or persons intruding upon the lady of the Manor at so late an hour in the evening as half-past nine oā€™clock. Maryllia hastened into the hall and there found an odd group awaiting her, composed of three very odd-looking personages,ā€”much more novel and striking in their oddity than anything that could have been presented to her view in the social whirl of Paris and London. Josey Letherbarrow was the central figure, seated bolt upright in a cane arm-chair, through the lower part of which a strong pole had been thrust, securely nailed and clamped, as well as tied in a somewhat impromptu fashion with clothes-line. This pole projected about two feet on either side of the chair to accommodate the bearers, namely Spruce and Bainton, who, having set their burden down, were now wiping their hot faces and perspiring brows with flagrantly coloured handkerchiefs of an extra large size. As Maryllia appeared, they abruptly desisted from this occupation and remained motionless, stricken with sudden confusion and embarrassment. Not so old Josey, for with unexpected alacrity he got out of his chair and stood upright, supporting himself on his stick, and doffing his old straw hat to the light girlish figure that approached him with the grace of kindliness and sympathy expressed in its every movement.

ā€œThere she be!ā€ he exclaimed; ā€œThere be the little gel wot I used to know when she was a babby, God bless ā€˜er! Jesā€™ the same eyes and ā€˜air and purty face of ā€˜er! Welcome ā€˜ome to thā€™ owld Squireā€™s daughter, mates! Dā€™ye ā€˜ear me!ā€ And he turned a dim rolling eye of command on Spruce and Baintonā€”ā€œI sez welcome ā€˜ome! And when I sez it Iā€™spect it to be said arter me by the both of ye,ā€”welcome ā€˜ome!ā€

Spruce, unable to hear a word of this exordium, smiled sheepishly,ā€” and twirling the cap he held, put his coloured handkerchief into it and squeezed it tightly within the lining. Bainton, with the impending fate of the Five Sisters in view, judged it advisable not to irritate or disobey the old gentleman whom he had brought forward as special pleader in the case, and gathering his wits together he spoke out bravely.

ā€œWelcome ā€˜ome, it is, Josey!ā€ he said; ā€œWe both sez it, and we both means it! And we ā€˜opes the young lady will not take it amiss as ā€˜ow weā€™ve come to see ā€˜er on the first night of ā€˜er return, and wish ā€˜er ā€˜appy in the old ā€˜ouse and long may she remain in it!ā€

Here he broke off, his eloquence being greatly disturbed by the gracious smile Maryllia gave him.

ā€œThank you so much!ā€ she murmured sweetly; and then going up to Josey Letherbarrow, she patted the brown wrinkled hand that grasped the stick. ā€œHow kind and good of you to come and see me! And so you knew me when I was a little girl? I hope I was nice to you! Was I?ā€

Josey waved his straw hat speechlessly. His first burst of enthusiasm over, he was somewhat dazed, and a little uncertain as to how he should next proceed with his mission,

ā€œTell ā€˜er as ā€˜ow the Five Sisters be chalked;ā€ growled Bainton in an undertone.

But Joseyā€™s mind had gone wandering far afield, groping amid memories of the past, and his aged eyes were fixed on Maryllia with a strange look of wonder and remembrance commingled.

ā€œThā€™ owld Squire! Thā€™ owld Squire!ā€ he muttered; ā€œI see ā€˜im nowā€”as broad anā€™ tall and well-set up a gentleman as ever livedā€”and sez he: ā€˜Josey, that little white thing is all Iā€™ve got left of the wife I was bringinā€™ ā€˜ome to be the sunshine of the old Manor.ā€™ Ay, he said that! ā€˜Its eyes are like those of my Dearest!ā€™ Ay, he said that, too! The little white thing! Sheā€™s ā€˜ere,ā€”and thā€™ owld Squireā€™s gone!ā€

The pathos of his voice struck Maryllia to the heart,ā€”and for the moment she could not keep back a few tears that gathered, despite herself, and glistened on her long lashes. Furtively she dashed them away, but not before Bainton had seen them.

ā€œWell, arter all, Joseyā€™s nothinā€™ but a meanderinā€™ old idgit!ā€ he thought angrily: ā€œā€˜Ere ā€˜ave I been anā€™ took ā€˜im for a wise man wot would know exackly ā€˜ow to begin and ask for the sparinā€™ of the old trees, and if he ainā€™t gone on the wrong tack altogether and made the poor little lady cry! I think Iā€™ll do a bit of this business myself while Iā€™ve got the chanceā€”for if I donā€™t, ten to one heā€™ll be tellinā€™ the story of the wopsesā€™ nest next, and a fine oncommon show weā€™ll make of ourselves ā€˜ere with our manners.ā€ And he coughed loudlyā€”ā€œAhem! Josey, will you tell Miss Vancourt about the Five Sisters, or shall I?ā€

Maryllia glanced from one to the other in bewilderment.

ā€œThe Five Sisters!ā€ she echoed; ā€œWho are they?ā€

Here Spruce imagined, as he often did, that he had been asked a question.

ā€œSuch were our orders from Mr. Leach,ā€ he said, in his quiet equable voice; ā€œWeā€™s to be there to-morrow marninā€™ quarter afore six with ropes and axes.ā€

ā€œRopes and axes shall not avail against the finger of the Lord, or the wrath of the Almighty!ā€ said Josey Letherbarrow, suddenly coming out of his abstraction; ā€œAnd if thā€™ owld Squire were alive he wouldnā€™t have had ā€˜em touchedā€”no, not he! Heā€™d haā€™ starved sooner! And if the Five Sisters are laid low, the luck of the Manor will lay low with ā€˜em! But itā€™s not too lateā€”not too late!ā€ā€”and he turned his face, now alive in its every feature with strong emotion, to Marylliaā€”ā€œNot too late if the Squireā€™s little gel is still her fatherā€™s pride and glory! And thatā€™s what Iā€™ve come for to the Manor this night,ā€”I ainā€™t been inside the old ā€˜ouse for this ten ā€˜ear or more, but theyā€™s brought me,ā€”meā€”old Josey,ā€”stiff as I am, and failinā€™ as I am, to see ye, my dear little gel, and ask ye for Godā€™s love to save the old trees wot ā€˜as waved in the woodland free and wild for ā€˜undreds oā€™ years, and wot deserves more gratitude from Abbotā€™s Manor than killinā€™ for long service!ā€

He began to tremble with nervous excitement, and Maryllia put her hand soothingly on his arm.

ā€œYou must sit down, Josey,ā€ she said; ā€œYou will be so tired standing! Sit down and tell me all about it! What trees are you speaking of? And who is going to cut them down! You see I donā€™t know anything about the place yet,ā€”Iā€™ve only just arrivedā€”but if they are my trees, and you say my father would not have wished them to be cut down, they shanā€™t be cut down!ā€”be sure of that!ā€

Joseyā€™s eyes sparkled, and he waved his battered hat triumphantly.

ā€œDidnā€™t I tell ye?ā€ he exclaimed, turning round upon Bainton; ā€œDidnā€™t I say as ā€˜ow this was the way to do it?ā€”and as ā€˜ow the little gel wot I knew as a baby would listen to me when she wouldnā€™t listen to no one else? Anā€™ as ā€˜ow the Five Sisters would be spared? Anā€™ wornā€™t I right! Wornā€™t I true?ā€

Maryllia smiled.

ā€œYou really must sit down!ā€ she said again, gently persuading him into his chair, wherein he sank heavily, like a stone, though his face shone with alertness and vigour. ā€œPrimmins!ā€ and she addressed that functionary who had been standing in the background watching the little scene; ā€œBring some glasses of port wine.ā€ Primmins vanished to execute this order. ā€œNow, you dear old man,ā€ continued Maryllia, drawing up an oaken settle close to Joseyā€™s knee and seating herself with a confidential air; ā€œyou must tell me just what you want me to do, and I will do it!ā€

She looked a mere child, with her fair face upturned and her rippling hair falling loosely away from her brows. A great tenderness softened Joseyā€™s eyes as he fixed them upon her.

ā€œGod Almighty bless ye!ā€ he said, raising his trembling hand above her head; ā€œGod bless ye in your uprisinā€™ and downlyinā€™,ā€”and make the old ā€˜ouse and the old ways sweet to ye! For thereā€™s naught like ā€˜ome in a wild wandering worldā€”and naught like love to make ā€˜appiness out of sorrow! God bless ye, dear little gel!ā€”and give ye all your ā€˜artā€™s desire, if so be itā€™s for your good and guidinā€™!ā€

Instinctively, Maryllia bent her head with a pretty reverence under the benediction of so venerable a personage, and gently pressed the wrinkled hand as it slowly dropped again. Then glancing at Bainton, she said softly:

ā€œHeā€™s very tired, Iā€™m afraid!ā€”perhaps too tired to tell me all he wishes to say. Will you explain what it is he wants?ā€

Bainton, thus adjured, took courage.

ā€œThank ye kindly, Miss; and if I may make so bold, itā€™s not what he wants moreā€™n wot all the village wants and wot weā€™ve been ā€˜opinā€™ against ā€˜ope for, trustinā€™ to the chance of your cominā€™ ā€˜ome to do it for us. Passon Walden heā€™s a rare good man, and heā€™s done all he can, and heā€™s been and seen Oliver Leach, but it ainā€™t all no use,ā€”

-ā€

He paused, as Maryllia interrupted him by a gesture.

ā€œOliver Leach?ā€ she queried; ā€œHeā€™s my agent here, I believe?ā€

ā€œJesā€™ so, Missā€”he was put in as agent arter the Squireā€™s death, and heā€™s been ā€˜ere ever since, bad luck to ā€˜im! And heā€™s been a-cuttinā€™ down timber on the place whenever heā€™s took a mind to, askinā€™

1 ... 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 ... 107
Go to page:

Free e-book Ā«God's Good Man - Marie Corelli (i want to read a book .txt) šŸ“—Ā» - read online now

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet. You can be the first!
Add a comment