United States or Isle of Man ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"We got none," Tilda assured him. "For a steady-going country like England that's unusual, eh?" "There is a bit o' that about us," she conceded after a pause. "But you must belong to somebody?" he urged. "He do . . . And that's what I got to find out. But it'll be all right when we get to 'Olmness." "Holmness?" queried Mr. Jessup. "Where's Holmness?"
He's in Bursfield at this moment, you may bet, carting those orphans around into temporary quarters. And Elphinstone is a kind-hearted man, but orphans are not exactly his line not what he'd call congenial to him." "But these two? You seem to me pretty sure about finding them on Holmness: too sure, I suggest. Either you've forgotten to say why you're certain, or I may have missed "
"It's plain to me you haven't measured that gal," he said slowly. "Is this Holmness in sight from the farm whatever you call it where they were missed?" "Right opposite the coast there." "And not more than three miles away? Then you may take it she won't have started without provisions. It wouldn't be her way."
The old steersman turned his head. "Aye," said he, "she looks pretty of an evening sometimes, does Holmness." "Clean, simple livers." The rowers in the leading boat were seven four young men and three young women; and they pulled two to an oar all but the bowman, a young giant of eighteen or thereabouts, who did without help. A fourth young woman sat beside, suckling a baby.
The last glow of the sunset fell on its bars, and their outline repeated itself in dazzling streaks on the sky as the horses wheeled to the left through the gateway, and the boy turned for a last look. But Holmness had disappeared. A brown ridge of stubble hid it, edged and powdered with golden light.
Lo! when they came to the ledge above the fall, Holmness was visible, vignetted in a gap of the lingering fog, and standing so clear against the level sunset that its rocky ledges, tipped here and there with flame, appeared but a mile distant, or only a trifle more. He caught his breath at sight of it, and pointed. But Tilda turned aside to the cottage. This craze of his began to annoy her.
"Oh, indeed? And 'ow are we goin' to pick up our vittles? I don't know what you feel like, but I could do with breakfast a'ready." "Perhaps 'Dolph can catch us a rabbit," he suggested hopefully after a pause. "I heard Roger say last night that Holmness swarmed with rabbits." "Rabbits?" said Tilda with scorn. "D'yer know 'ow to skin one if we caught 'im?" "No, I don't," he confessed.
"Who . . . told . . . you?" The fingers of the hand had hooked themselves like a bird's claw. "Told me yerself. I 'eard you, night before last, when you was talkin' wild. . . . If you try to do me any 'arm, I'll call the Sister." "Holmness?" "You said it.
"It's an Island, in the Bristol Channel, w'ich is in the Free Library. We're goin' that way, ain't we?" "That's our direction, certainly; though we're a goodish way off." "No 'urry," said Tilda graciously. "We'll get there in time." Mr. Jessup smiled. "Thank you. I am delighted to help, of course. You'll find friends there at Holmness?" She nodded.
Island or not, she'll get there, if she bursts; and I won't believe other till I hear from the Dead Letter Office." "You addressed a letter to Holmness? . . . But it's too absurd; the place is a mere barren rock, three good miles from the mainland. Nothing there but rabbits, and in summer a few sheep." "Mayhap she didn't know it when she gave the address. But," persisted Mr.
Word Of The Day