United States or Greece ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Corporal Richard Baverstock, Widow Baverstock's only son, and the father of Matilda Ann, the three-year-old darling of the village, had returned from the wars with a very brown face, a medal, two or three honourable scars, and, it was whispered, a pocketful of "dibs."
Those nearest spoke to him; those less fortunate, on the outskirts of the little crowd, contented themselves with admiring comments. "He d' seem to have filled out, though he have been punished so terrible out yonder." "My dear, they did tell I as his poor leg was all one solid wownd. D'ye mind how Mrs. Baverstock did take on, pore 'ooman. And well she mid." "Well she mid, indeed. Ah!
'O' course, says I; 'what else? 'What else, indeed? says he, and he did sigh same as if he had a bellows inside of en." "Did he actually say he was a-thinkin' about soom maid?" interrupted Mrs. Baverstock wrathfully. "Bide a bit," retorted Private Caines, wagging his head portentously; "I be a-tellin' the tale so quick as I can.
"But they d' say, my dear, as the women out abroad be a terrible ugly lot, and most of 'em black. Tisn't likely as Corporal Baverstock 'ud so much as look at any o' they, arter pickin' sich a vitty maid for his first missis." It was Mrs. Cousins who made this remark to Mrs.
Baverstock, when each mail came to hand, found herself raised to a pinnacle of honour to which otherwise she would never have dared to aspire he had come home now for a brief blissful fortnight before rejoining his regiment at the depôt.
"My sweetheart han't a-took up wi' anybody else she've a-been faithful and true." "What's that?" inquired Mrs. Baverstock, coming forward, her little black eyes looking ready to start from her head. "Tis a kind of a little joke what me and Billy have a-got between us about my sweetheart. There, he can tell 'ee the tale while we're eatin'. This 'ere be my mother, Billy. This be Mr.
"I reckon we had a bit too much o' that there hospital," responded the Corporal, drawing forward a chair for his friend. "'Twas there we did have so much talk about my sweetheart. Ha, ha, ye didn't know as I'd a-got a sweetheart, did ye, old lady?" he inquired of his mother. "Billy 'ull tell 'ee about that," and he winked surreptitiously at his friend. Mrs. Baverstock was evidently in a flutter.
'tis a comfort to see as Corporal Baverstock d' seem able to walk so well as ever. I see Mrs. Baverstock didn't come to church 'tis a wonder." "Nay, no wonder at all. It bain't likely as the poor body could leave her Sunday dinner the very first day her son be a-comed home. She's busy, that's what she be." "Ah! to be sure. There, Lard now, look at Tilly Ann! He've a-got her up in his arms.
Baverstock cut up Tilly Ann's dinner, and presented her with a spoon. Tilly Ann's eyes had been fixed unwinkingly upon the new comer since his arrival, and she had now apparently classified him, for, after successfully piloting one or two spoonfuls of beef and potato to her little red mouth, she paused, drummed on the table with the handle of her spoon, and remarked conclusively: "Another daddy!"
"I haven't sat down to such a meal as this since I left old England. 'Tis fit for a king." Mrs. Baverstock rubbed her bony hands together; and laughed deprecatingly. She was a little woman, with very bright, beady black eyes, and hair that was still coal-black in spite of her wrinkled face. Her son was like her, but taller and better looking.
Word Of The Day