United States or Niger ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Three times he's asked her, as I know for certain," said Vennal, the tenant of Beggar's Bush. "No, it's four," said Prickett, Joanna's neighbour at Great Ansdore, "there was that time coming back from the Wild Beast Show." "I was counting that," said Vennal; "that and the one that Mr. Vine's looker heard at Lydd market, and then that time in the house."
The generosity of the neighbourhood amounted to five shillings from Prickett of Great Ansdore, and half-crowns from Vine, Furnese, Vennal, and a few others. As Joanna studied it she became possessed of two emotions one was a feeling that since others, including Great Ansdore, had given, she could not in proper pride hold back, the other was a queer savage pity for Mr.
Joanna was proud of these attachments and saw to it that they were not obscure also, one or two of the men, particularly Vennal, she liked for themselves, for their vitality and "set-upness"; but she shied away from the prospect of marriage. Martin had shown her all that it meant in the way of renunciation, and she felt that she could make its sacrifices for no one less than Martin.
"Pluck makes a woman think she can do without a man," continued Vennal, "when everyone knows, and it's in Scripture, that she can't. Now Joanna Godden should ought to have married drackly minute Thomas Godden died and left her Ansdore, instead of which she's gone on plunging like a heifer till she must be past eight and twenty as I calculate " "Now, now, Mr.
Vennal, we mustn't start anything personal of our lady guest," broke in Furnese from the Chair, "we may take up her ideas or take 'em down, but while she's the guest of this here Farmers' Club, which is till eleven-thirty precise, we mustn't start arguing about her age or matrimonious intentions. Anyways, I take it, that's a job for our wives."
"Whosumdever breaks pasture shall himself be broke," said Vine oracularly. "Surelye surelye," assented the table. "She's got pluck all the same," said Sir Harry. But he was only an amateur. "I don't hold for a woman to have pluck," said Vennal of Beggar's Bush, "what do you say, Mr. Alce?" "I say nothing, Mr. Vennal."
Arthur Alce was no longer the only suitor at Ansdore it was well known that Sam Turner, who had lately moved from inland to Northlade, was wanting to have her, and Hugh Vennal would have been glad to bring her as his second wife to Beggar's Bush.
Word Of The Day