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"Well, well, we'll see any how; but for to-morrow, why, I guess we must beat the 'Squire's swamp-hole first; there's ten or twelve cock there, I know; I see them there myself last Sunday; and then acrost them buck-wheat stubbles, and the big bog meadow, there's a drove of quail there; two or three bevys got in one, I reckon; leastwise I counted thirty-three last Friday was a week; and through Seer's big swamp, over to the great spring!"
"I think that things will be different in Rixton after this." For two days there was intense excitement throughout the entire parish of Rixton. The one great topic of conversation was the punishment Ben Stubbles had received. There was considerable anxiety as well, for those who had taken part in the affair fully expected that Simon Stubbles would hit back hard.
As the first of September had not yet arrived, the birds had still two days of peace and quietness, leading their broods through the stubbles, and pointing out to them the corn which had spilled on the ground, for their food.
I had scarcely bargained for the foul condition of the stubbles, disclosed when the corn was harvested shortly before I took possession at Michaelmas; they were overrun with couch grass locally called "squitch" and the following summer I had 40 acres of bare-fallow, repeatedly ploughed, harrowed, and cultivated throughout the whole season, which, of course, produced nothing by way of return.
She went away, and her elderly aunt watched her cross the lawn. Lady Marcia looked puzzled. After a few moments' meditation a half light broke on her wrinkled face. "Is it possible? Oh, no!" It was a rich August evening. In the fields near the broad river the harvest had begun, and the stubbles with their ranged stocks alternated with golden stretches still untouched.
"It'll take me all the afternoon to do it, an' then ye'll growl at me if I don't git done before night." "None of your impudence to me," Stubbles roared. "I'll make an example of you if you dare to speak that way again." He was livid with anger, and, forgetting where he was, he took a step forward as if he would then and there chastise the man with his own hands.
Larkhall Hill stood in the centre of a circle, on a gentle eminence, commanding a view over a farm whose fertile fields and well-trimmed fences sufficiently indicated its boundaries, and looked indeed as if all the good of the country had come up to it. It was green and luxuriant even in winter, while the strong cane-coloured stubbles showed what a crop there had been.
As Stubbles did not reply but dropped his eyes to the floor, Douglas turned upon him. "It was your son, Ben, who made the trouble that night, Mr. Stubbles," he charged. "He acted more like a beast than a human being, and because I interfered and checked him, he started out to have revenge. And how did he do it? In a manly way? Oh, no.
"Put it any way ye like," Jake replied, as he once more stretched himself out on the grass. "Si Stubbles rules this place, an' I guess will rule it as long as he stays here." Douglas looked at his watch and rose suddenly to his feet. It was later than he had imagined. "I'm going for a walk," he said, "and will not be back for dinner." "Where will ye git anything to eat?" Jake asked.
When he did at last comprehend their meaning, his face darkened and he stepped over to where Douglas was standing. "Did Si Stubbles write them words?" he demanded. "Yes, look for yourself," and Douglas handed him the letter. Slowly and with difficulty Jake read it through. Douglas watched him with considerable interest. "Well, what do you think of it?" he asked.
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