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Updated: September 25, 2025
The squire recognized the voice of the tinker; but though he now guessed at the ringleader, on that day of general amnesty he had the prudence and magnanimity not to say, "Stand forth, Sprott: thou art the man." Yet his gallant English spirit would not suffer him to come off at the expense of his servant. "If it was Nick Stirn you meant," said he, gravely, "more shame for you.
But then there rose one shrill clamour among the females as they retreated with involuntary steps towards the verge of the green, whence they glared at Solomons and the phenomenon with eyes so sparkling, and pointed at both with gestures so menacing, that Heaven only knows if a morsel of either would have remained much longer to offend the eyes of the justly- enraged matronage of Hazeldean, if fortunately Master Stirn, the squire's right-hand man, had not come up in the nick of time.
Turning aghast from this spectacle, Mr. "Hollo," said Mr. Stirn, "what is all this? What's the matter, Lenny, you blockhead?" "He will sit there," answered Lenny, in broken gasps, "and he has beat me because I would not let him; but I doesn't mind that," added the villager, trying hard to suppress his tears, "and I am ready again for him that I am."
The miscreants hitherto have defied all vigilance, and Stirn recommends the employment of a regular nightwatch, with a lanthorn and bludgeon." "That may protect the stocks certainly; but will it keep those detestable tracts out of the beer-house?" "We shall shut the beer-house up the next sessions." "The tracts will break out elsewhere, the humour's in the blood!"
Ay, but there are more than four times the number of labourers employed on the estate, and at much better wages too! Oh, ho! you know what I mean now! Yes, but, neighbours, you need not have taken it so to heart. That was a scurvy trick of some of you to hang me in effigy, as they call it." "It warn't you," cried a voice in the crowd, "it war Nick Stirn."
Village girls strewed flowers on the way; a booth was placed amidst the prettiest scenery of the Park on the margin of the lake for there was to be a dance later in the day. Even Mr. Stirn no, Mr. Stirn was not present; so much happiness would have been the death of him!
"I like short cuts, and you have shut up a very short one." "So the trespassers said," quoth the squire; "but Stirn insisted on it valuable man, Stirn. But ride round to the lodge. Put up your horse, and you'll join us before we can get to the house." Randal nodded and smiled, and rode briskly on. The squire rejoined his Harry.
If, in the simplicity of his heart and the crudity of his experience, Lenny Fairfield had conceived it probable that Mr. Stirn would address to him some words in approbation of his gallantry and in sympathy for his bruises, he soon found himself wofully mistaken.
Mr. Stirn had not yet recovered his wonted intelligence, which, to do him justice, was usually prompt enough, when the squire, followed hard by the parson, arrived at the spot. Indeed, Mrs. Hazeldean's report of the squire's urgent message, disturbed manner, and most unparalleled invitation to the parishioners, had given wings to Parson Dale's ordinarily slow and sedate movements.
"Stuff!" cried the squire. "How can a man know general principles unless he has first studied the details? You are too modest, my boy. Ho! there 's Stirn looking out for us!" Randal saw the grim visage of Stirn peering out of a cattleshed, and felt undone. He made a desperate rush towards changing the squire's humour. "Well, sir, perhaps Frank may soon gratify your wish, and turn farmer himself."
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