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Updated: August 25, 2024
"Mr Cheesacre and I are talking about farming," she said. "Oh; farming!" answered Maria's mother. "Mr Cheesacre thinks that turnips are better than early mangels," said Mrs Greenow. "Yes, I do," said Cheesacre, "I prefer the early mangels," said Mrs Greenow. "I don't think nature ever intended those late crops. What do you say, Mrs Walker?"
Then Mr Cheesacre gave the girl half-a-crown, and went his way. Jeannette, I think, must have forgotten that the Captain had looked in after leaving his military duties on the preceding evening.
Round the corner of the road, at a sharp trot, came the Shap post-horse, with the Shap gig behind him, the same gig which had brought Bellfield to Vavasor on the previous day, and seated in the gig, looming large, with his eyes wide awake to everything round him, was Mr Cheesacre. It was a sight terrible to the eyes of Captain Bellfield, and by no means welcome to those of Mrs Greenow.
It may be that her estimate of his character had been altered, or that she was making sacrifice of her own feelings in consideration of Mr Cheesacre, who was known to be the captain's intimate friend. But she had smiles for both of them. She had a wondrous power of smiling; and could, upon occasion, give signs of peculiar favour to half a dozen different gentlemen in as many minutes.
"There's a pride about me," he continued, "that I don't choose to go where I'm not wanted." "I can't tell you, Mr Cheesacre, that you are wanted in that light, certainly." "Then I'll go. Perhaps you'll be so good as to tell the boy with the gig to come after me? That's six pound ten it will have cost me to come here and go back. Bellfield did it cheaper, of course; he travelled second class.
When the boats went off she found herself to be in that one over which Mr Cheesacre presided, while the sinning Ophelia with her good-for-nothing admirer were under the more mirthful protection of Captain Bellfield. "Mamma will be so angry," said Ophelia, "and it was all your fault. I did mean to go into the other boat. Don't, Mr Fairstairs."
"I don't know much about that," said the captain; "my fellow sent me this toggery, and said that it was the sort of thing. I'll change with you if you like it." But Cheesacre could not have worn that jacket, and he walked on, hating himself.
Before the wheels had stopped, Mrs Greenow had begun to reflect whether it might be possible that she should send Mr Cheesacre back without letting him go on to the Hall; but if Mrs Greenow was dismayed, what were the feelings of the Captain? For he was aware that Cheesacre knew that of him which he had not told.
After that, coffee was brought to them, and here again Cheesacre in his ill-humour allowed the Captain to out-manoeuvre him. It was the Captain who put the sugar into the cups and handed them round. He even handed a cup to his enemy.
Captain Bellfield at that moment was seen leading Miss Vavasor away to a new place on the sands, whither he was followed by a score of dancers; and Mr Cheesacre saw that now at last he might reap the reward for which he had laboured. He was alone with the widow, and having been made bold by wine, had an opportunity of fighting his battle, than which none better could ever be found.
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