United States or Lebanon ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
And yet, no sooner did he come back from service in the chapel, or from talk of Church matters with Catholic friends, than he found himself suddenly full of expectation. Was Miss Fountain in the hall, in the garden? or was she gone to those people at Browhead?
You'd believe anything bad about me, I know." Already there was a new note in his voice, a hoarse, tyrannous note, as though he felt her in his power. In her terror the girl recalled that wild drive from the Browhead dance, with its disgusts and miseries. Was he sober now? What was she to do? how was she to protect herself?
Bayley, perpetual curate of Browhead, and as by now it had gone all about the country-side came piecemeal out. "Oh! an at that Papist shop i' th' High Street you remember that sickly-lukin fellow at the dance they do say at they do taak shameful!" exclaimed Polly indignantly. "What do they say?" said Laura in a low voice. Polly hesitated.
Her loud surprise conveyed the image of Helbeck as it lay graven in the minds of the Browhead circle, a sort of triple-crowned, black-browed tyrant, with all the wiles and torments of Rome in his pocket. A wife resist defy? The Church knows how to deal with naughtiness of that kind. Laura laughed. "We can but try.
"I wish to go to Browhead Farm this afternoon," she said rather shortly. "Certainly," said Helbeck. "Certainly. I will see that something is found for you." But his voice had no cordiality, and Laura at once thought him ungracious. "Oh, pray don't give yourself any trouble," she said, flushing, "I can walk to the village." Helbeck paused.
Never had she so given her heart to any new world; and through her delight flashed the sorest, tenderest thoughts of her father. "Oh! papa oh, papa!" she said to herself again and again in a little moan. Every day perhaps he had walked this road as a child, and she could still see herself as a child, in a very dim vision, trotting beside him down the Browhead Road.
The outer door of Browhead Farm was pushed inwards, and old Daffady's head and face appeared. "Come in, Daffady please come in!" Miss Fountain's tone was of the friendliest. The cow-man obeyed her. He came in, holding his battered hat in his hand. "Missie A thowt I'd tell yo as t' rain had cleared oop yo cud take a bit air verra weel, if yo felt to wish it."
I'm a'most chilled to t' marrow wi' looking out for thee, lass, for t' mother was in a peck o' troubles about thy none coining home i' t' dayleet, and I'd to keep hearkening out on t' browhead. This was entirely untrue, and Bell knew it to be so; but her husband did not.
She climbed the hill above the farm, and then descended slowly upon a sheltered corner that held the old Browhead Chapel, whereof the fanatical Mr. Bayley worse luck! was the curate in charge. She gave a wide berth to the vicarage, which with two or three cottages, embowered in larches and cherry-trees, lay immediately below the chapel.
Was she to cast him off for ever at the mere bidding of the Helbecks and their friends? He would never, of course, be allowed to enter the Bannisdale drawing-room, and she had no intention at present of going to Browhead Farm. Well, then, under the skies and the clouds! A gracious pardon, an appropriate lecture and a short farewell. All that day and the next Laura gave herself to her whim.
Word Of The Day