Come, Luke, he said, you are not making half a meal. I suppose by and by, sir, you will be as fashionable as Master Cyril Mallow, and wont eat a bit at dinner-time without calling it lunch. Ha, ha, ha!
There, do have done, Joseph, cried Mrs Portlock. What have you got to laugh at now?
I was thinking of the horse-whipping I gave the young dogs ay, its twelve or fourteen years ago now that night I caught them in the orchard.
There, do let bygones be bygones, Joseph, cried Mrs Portlock, sharply. Boys will be boys. Ill be bound to say you stole apples yourself when you were young.
Ay, that I did, and got thrashed for it, too. But I must say that Cyril Mallow dont bear any malice for what I did.
A regular duel was fought over that meal between the heads, Sage hardly raising her eyes, but looking more and more troubled as the Mallow attack and defence went on, while Luke Ross was so intent upon his own thoughts that he hardly heard a word.
It was with quite a feeling of relief, then, that Sage heard her uncle say
I like parson, not as a parson, but as a man: for the way in which he has tended that poor sick woman s an honour to him; but, as for his way of bringing up children, why, if I had carried on my farm in such a fashion I should have been in the Court o Bankruptcy years ago. Best thing Mallow could do would be to put the fellow with me to learn farming, and me have the right to do what I liked with him, and five-and-twenty to two? Is it, my dear? I didnt know it was so late and make us truly thankful, Amen.
There was a general scrooping of chairs after this condensed grace, Sage hurrying off to put on her hat and jacket, and her aunt running after her to say, in a mysterious whispered confidence
Dont you take any notice of uncle, my dear. He dont mean half he says.
Youll walk back with Sage, of course, Luke? said the Churchwarden, quietly, as he drew his chair to the fire for his after-dinner pipe. Well, my boy, I think youre right about what you settled; but I suppose I had something to do with your altering your mind?
Yes, sir, I must own to that.
Well, said the Churchwarden, thoughtfully, I hope its for the best; I meant it to be. Youll go back to London, then, soon?
Almost directly, sir, to begin working hard.
Thats right, my boy. I believe in work. Come over here whenever you are down at Lawford. I shall be very glad to see you, my lad, very.
Then, pulling out his watch, he consulted it, and went on chatting for a few minutes as if to keep Luke from speaking about the subject near to his heart, but at last he broke in I need hardly say, sir, that I go meaning to work up to the point you named, and
Yes, yes, yes, my lad; let that rest. Lets see how things go. Youre both young, he cried, pulling out his big silver watch once more. I say, mother, he shouted, tell Sage that Lukes waiting to walk back with her. Shell be late for school.
Then like a chill to Luke Ross came back Mrs Portlocks voice
Sage? Oh, she went out by the back way ten minutes ago.
Part 1, Chapter XXII. Cynthias Knights
I cannot leave you like this, dear Miss Julia, whispered Perry-Morton, while Cynthias eyes were sparkling with malicious glee, as she turned them upon Artingale, whose face, however, startled her into seriousness, as he caught her arm, gripping it so hard that it gave her pain.
Tell me, Cynthia, he said, hoarsely, what sort of a fellow was this?
A big, gipsy-looking man, and there was a dirty-looking fellow with him, faltered the girl, for her lovers look alarmed her. But stop, Harry; what are you going to do?
Break his cursed neck if I can, cried Artingale, in a low, angry growl.
No, no: dont go, she whispered, catching at him. You may be hurt.
One of us will be, he said, hoarsely.
But, Harry, please!
She looked at him so appealingly that he took her hands in his.
Cynthia my darling! he whispered; and if they had been alone he would have caught her in his arms.
But they were not alone, and bending down he whispered
You have made me so happy, but you would not have me be a cur. Take your sister home.
Without another word he turned and started off down the lane at a trot, Cynthia watching him till he was out of sight.
Oh, Harry! If you are hurt! she whispered to herself; and then, recalling her sisters trouble, she ran to her side, where Perry-Morton was making a pretence of affording support that was not required.
We can soon get home, Mr Perry-Morton, said Cynthia, with the malicious look coming back into her eyes, and chasing away one that was very soft and sweet. Wouldnt you like to go after Lord Artingale?
What! and leave you two unprotected? said the apostle, loudly. No, I could not, to save my life.
He did not, but attended the ladies right up to the rectory, sending their father into a fury, and then leading a party of servants to the pursuit of the tramps, as they were dubbed, but only to meet Lord Artingale at the end of a couple of hours returning unsuccessful from his chase.
For he had not seen either of the fellows, from the fact that as soon as the ladies had gone they had quietly entered the wood, to lie down amongst the mossy hazel stubbs, from which post of vantage they had seen the young man go by.