United States or Honduras ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !


Then, knowing that she was rash, she went to look for the gardener's boy, and sent him to Ashness. It was getting dark when Kit and Tom, the shepherd, stopped to rest behind a cairn on the summit of Swinset moor. Close by, the two score sheep stood in a compact flock, with heads towards the panting dogs.

Railton's praise had moved her, because she knew the dalesfolk's reserve and that the farmer would not, without good grounds, have spoken as he did. Moreover, she knew the fells, and it was something of an exploit to bring the sheep from Swinset in the storm.

Has Kit Askew brought the Swinset sheep?" "He's coming now," said Lucy, picking up the note, and Grace's eyes sparkled. "I knew he would bring them; I told him he must." Lucy went out and Grace asked Railton about his pains. While they talked somebody shouted outside, and the old man, getting up with an effort, hobbled to the door. "Hoad on; dinna close t' pen," a man called.

"If you know the sheep are at Swinset, they would be allowed for in the count," she said. "I have my doubts. Mr. Hayes sent me notice tally would be taken on Thursday and he's a hard man." Grace colored. Although she did not like Hayes, he was Osborn's agent. There was much she wanted to know, but she could not ask. "Mr.

Thorn's face was hot when he came in, and he glanced at Osborn with an effort for carelessness when the latter indicated a chair. Osborn looked old and broken, but he had a touch of dignity that was new. "I'm sorry if I'm late," Thorn remarked. "I had to go to Swinset and had trouble with the car."

She had noted some reserve in Railton's manner when he mentioned the broken dyke and knew the flockmasters were careful about their dry walls. The rest was plain; the heaf is the hill pasture where a lamb is born, and Swinset was fifteen miles away. It was a very large sheepwalk and much time would be needed to find the sheep on the wide belt of moor.

He looked tired, his face was rather haggard, and his clothes were wet. Tom, the shepherd, followed and sat down by the fire. "It was nea an easy job, but we manished it," he said. "Swinset sheep is thief sheep, but they're none a match for Kit's oad dog." Kit stopped abruptly as he crossed the floor and his heart beat. "Ah!" he said. "Miss Osborn?"

Askew had offered a hundred pounds, but this was not enough, and even if Kit arrived with the sheep from Swinset, Railton could not find the rest of the money. However, the arrival of the Herdwicks would make a difference, and he did not altogether give up hope. By and by he tried to get up, and sitting down again with a groan, beckoned his wife. "Martha, you might gan to door." Mrs.

"Then you suggest that Hayes is mistaken?" Osborn asked ironically. "I don't know if he's mistaken or not," said Grace, with a steady look. "I know he's greedy and unjust. But there's a thing you ought not to let him do. Railton has lost forty sheep, that have strayed back to Swinset, and Hayes doesn't mean to count them in the tally." Osborn's face got red and he knitted his brows.

"Counting in the lambs and ewes fra Swinset?" "They are counted," Hayes replied. "I'll give you particulars of the different lots." He read out some figures and then turned to the group by the fire. "I think we are all agreed?" "Aw, yis," said one. "It's as near as yan can mak' it, withoot sending flock to auction." Hayes turned to Railton. "Are you satisfied?" "We willunt fratch.