登陆注册
5235700000155

第155章 CHAPTER XXXVI.(1)

Early next morning Mr. Raby was disturbed by female voices in a high key. He opened his window quietly, intending to throw in his bass with startling effect, when, to his surprise, he found the disputants were his dairymaid and Jael Dence.

"And who are you that interferes with me in my work? Where do you come from? Did ye get in over the wall? for ye never came in at no door. Who are you?"

"I am one who won't see the good squire wronged. Aren't ye ashamed?

What, eat his bread, and take his wage, and then steal his butter!"

"If ye call me a thief, I'll law ye. Thief yourself! you don't belong to the house; whose gown have you got on your back? Here, James! Tom! here's a strange woman making off with the squire's lady's clothes, and two pounds of butter to boot."

Jael was taken aback for a moment by this audacious attack, and surveyed her borrowed habiliments with a blush of confusion.

Several servants came about at the noise, and her situation bade fair to be a very unpleasant one: but Mr. Raby put in his word;

"Hold your tongues, all of ye. Now, Jael Dence, what is the matter?"

Instantly all eyes were turned up to the window with a start, and Jael told her tale: "Sir," said she, "I did see this young woman take out something from under her apron and give it to a little girl. I thought there was something amiss, and I stopped the girl at the gate, and questioned her what she was carrying off so sly.

She gives a squeak and drops it directly, and takes to her heels. I took it up and brought it in, and here it is, two beautiful pounds of butter, fresh churned; look else!"--here she undid a linen wrap, and displayed the butter--"so I challenged the dairymaid here. She says I'm a thief--and that I leave to you, Squire; you know whether I come of thieves or honest folk; but what I want to know from her is, why her lass dropped the butter and took to her heels at a word?"

"Now, my good Jael," said the Squire, "if you are going to interfere every time you catch my servants pilfering, you will have a hard time of it. However, zeal is too rare a thing for me to discourage it. I must make an example. Hy, you young woman: I dare say you are no worse than the rest, but you are the one that is found out; so you must pack up your clothes and begone."

"Not without a month's warning, or a month's wage, sir, it you please," said the dairymaid, pertly.

"If I catch you in the house when I come down, I'll send you to prison on my own warrant, with the butter tied round your neck."

At this direful threat the offender began to blubber, and speedily disappeared to pack her box.

Mr. Raby then told the other servants that Jael Dence was the new housekeeper, and that a person of her character was evidently required in the house; they must all treat her with respect, or leave his service. Thereupon two gave warning, and Mr. Raby, who never kept a servant a day after that servant had given him warning, had them up to his room, and paid them a month's wages. "And now," said he, "for the honor of the house, don't leave us fasting, but eat a good breakfast, and then go to the devil."

At his own breakfast he related the incident to Dr. Amboyne, with a characteristic comment: "And the fools say there is nothing in race.

So likely, that of all animals man alone should be exempt from the law of nature! Take a drowning watch-dog out of the water and put him in a strange house, he is scarcely dry before he sets to work to protect it. Take a drowning Dence into your house, and she is up with the lark to look after your interests. That girl connive and let the man be robbed whose roof shelters her? She COULDN'T; it is not in her blood. I'm afraid there's to be a crusade against petty larceny in this house, and more row about it than it is worth. No matter; I shall support the crusader, on principle. It is not for me to check honest impulses, nor to fight against nature in almost the only thing where she commands my respect."

"Very well," said the doctor, "that is settled: so now let us talk of something more important. How are we to get your sister, in her delicate state, from Wales to this place?"

"Why, I will go for her myself, to be sure."

"Raby, your heart is in the right place, after all. But when she is here, how are we to conceal her unhappy son's fate from her? It will be more difficult than ever, now Jael Dence is in the house."

"Why so? We must take the girl into our confidence--that is all."

"The sooner the better then. Let us have her in here."

Jael was sent for, and Mr. Raby requested her to take a seat, and give all her attention to something Dr. Amboyne had to say.

Dr. Amboyne then told her, with quiet earnestness, that Mrs. Little was at present so ill and weak he felt sure the news of Henry's death would kill her.

"Ay, poor soul!" said Jael, and began to cry bitterly.

The doctor held his peace, and cast a disconsolate look on Raby, as much as to say, "We shall get no efficient aid in this quarter."

After a little while Jael dried her eyes, and said, "Go on, sir. I must needs cry before you now and then: 'tisn't to say I shall ever cry before HER."

同类推荐
  • 祭汾阴乐章

    祭汾阴乐章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The White Mr. Longfellow

    The White Mr. Longfellow

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 祭义

    祭义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 合锦回文传

    合锦回文传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玄灵转经晚朝行道仪

    玄灵转经晚朝行道仪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 窦桂梅:影响孩子一生的主题阅读1

    窦桂梅:影响孩子一生的主题阅读1

    小学生要想提高阅读能力、拓展知识面、提高语文素养,只能从课堂之外大量而广泛地阅读精品。由此,本套丛书就根据一至六年级小学生的平均阅读水平,对选编作品进行了科学的分级,以主题阅读的方法串联选文,同时兼顾“家国情怀、社会参与、公共道德、学会学习、身心健康、国际视野”六大核心素养,并设置“主题导读”“阅读小助手”“乐读单”等版块,具有针对性的提升小读者的逻辑思维能力,加深阅读体验。
  • 世界文化与自然遗产

    世界文化与自然遗产

    《世界文化与自然遗产》内容简介:世界遗产包含自然遗产和文化遗产,它们或是鬼斧神工的大自然赋予人类的宝贵财富,或是人类自身的杰出创造。了解这些世界遗产对于了解一个国家和地区独特的自然风貌、民族风情、社会历史、建筑艺术、价值观念、文化内涵等具有窥斑知豹的作用。
  • 古树

    古树

    张钊拿着斧子和锯子刚刚一打开堂屋门,他老婆邓晶恶声恶气的声音就从黑暗中横劈了过来:“你又到哪里去?”张钊吓了一跳,似乎看见了声音爆炸背后的火花,刚刚准备迈出门的脚停下了。刚才从床上爬起来的时候,张钊发现邓晶已经坠入了梦乡的怀抱,打起了轻微的鼾声,没想开门的声音还是把她弄醒了,看来她对他的警惕并没有放松。在这个世界上,知道他白天是人晚上是鬼的只有他的老婆邓晶和他的儿子张龙。张龙正在外面读大学,自然不会监管他。邓晶自然成了他唯一的监管人。“你别管我。”张钊没好气地说过,就轻轻地掩上房门,一头扎进了黑夜之中。
  • 解读人类与地球(探究式科普丛书)

    解读人类与地球(探究式科普丛书)

    本书从地球起源入手,系统地阐述了地球的基础知识,形态特征,地球位置形成以及和其他星球的关系,并且还介绍了地球的灾害,地球的未来,人类的生活与地球息息相关,旨在让读者更多更全面地了解地球,了解人类赖以生存的唯一的家园。
  • 指引人生的处世智慧(指引人生丛书)

    指引人生的处世智慧(指引人生丛书)

    《指引人生丛书:指引人生的处世智慧》不但可以作为父母教育孩子的蓝本,使孩子在开始他们的人生之前,就能够了解随之而来的欢喜、挑战与责任,而且更适合每一个成年人阅读,成年人可以在重复阅读这些故事时提醒自己并纠正自身行为的偏差。我们真诚地希望这套书能给大家带去欢乐与启迪,希望这些美妙的故事能帮助每一个阅读《指引人生丛书:指引人生的处世智慧》的人了解智慧对生命的价值,获取前行的动力并因此感到满足。
  • 职工健康心态手册

    职工健康心态手册

    这些知识内容具有很强的系统性、指导性和实用性,简明扼要,易学好懂,十分便于操作和实践,是广大企事业单位用以指导职工文化建设与素质修养的良好读物。
  • 邪雪巫娘

    邪雪巫娘

    柳霖觉得面前正在吵架的两方,哪一方都不是自己人,索性将脑袋深深地埋进膝盖里不闻不问。走入大学的校门,柳霖曾对着镜子发誓,一定要变得开朗活泼,一定要有很多朋友,一定要独立自主让所有人都认可自己。因此,入学时候的军训一定要好好表现。可是,三天都还没过去,体弱如她便轻易的退下了前线。柳霖怨毒的盯着头顶火辣辣的太阳,而太阳以耀眼的光线与火热的温度予以回击。军训期间,每个连都会有一只宣传……
  • 后汉演义

    后汉演义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 盛世邪宠:嫡女十四

    盛世邪宠:嫡女十四

    本以为是魂归九天,谁知是凤鸣九霄!族中长辈,抢钱、抢人、抢地拉,东西抢光之后,袖子一抽,快滚!陆千主面无表情,看似绝望,“你们当真要如此做?”长辈叫嚣,“你们四个废物,已被除名,废话少说,滚!”听完这些话,陆千主嘴角一勾,二话不说,带着家人离开,另起炉灶。再见面时,谁是本家,权倾天下,谁是天才,绝世惊华。。。茶中八卦:“听说了吗,陆千主是个武修天才,十四岁便进入青阶,踹了上一任的屁股。”“据说,陆千主是个奇才丹师,与天乾国第一丹师斗法,生生把对方气得吐血了。”“听闻陆千主制出的不知道什么等级的法器,把天乾国皇族的灵蛇宝剑给断成碎片。”“还有!陆千主是个念师,只是看了那个刁蛮公主一眼,刁蛮公主便跳起脱衣舞,直到今天都不敢出门。”“我靠,这陆千主到底是什么人啊,这不是全才吗!!!我们这些人还怎么活啊?”精彩片段:原陆家看上了陆千主所制的筑基丹,恬不知耻地上门讨要,“你们这些年吃陆家的,喝陆家的,用陆家的,也是你们做出贡献的时候了。从今天起,每月给陆家本家提供一百颗筑基丹,我让你们回本家。”陆千主挖了挖自己的耳朵,“是你蠢啊,还是你蠢啊,还是你蠢啊。我的一颗筑基丹要十万两—黄金!想要银子是吧?来人啊,换十万两碎银子,给我砸!”【二】极品十年竹叶青不见了,取而代之的是一个十七八岁半裸的绝色少年,头顶一对红通、毛绒的耳朵。陆千主一把扯起少年的耳朵,“还我竹叶青!”“疼疼疼。”少年醒来,食指十对,可怜兮兮地看着陆千主,“我小狐家家的,哪知道什么竹叶青,我就是喝了,喝了点水。”“五马分尸,炮烙,天马流星拳!”陆千主对着那少年的脸猛一阵蹂躏,“还我的竹叶青!”“停停停。”少年眼泪汪汪,好不惹人怜爱,他放软身子,靠向陆千主,头枕在陆千主的胸上,蹭了蹭,“那我用身体偿还吧。”陆千主眯起眼睛,敢占她便宜?陆千主一把揪起少年的狐狸尾巴,把他打回原形。看到陆千主凶狠的样子,小狐的爪子死死抓在地上,被陆千主扯出条条抓痕,于是,一人要一狐签下了不平等条约,一辈子为奴为婢,直到陆千主满意为止。
  • 蝴蝶飞舞

    蝴蝶飞舞

    本篇小说由《老鬼的春天》,《晚秋》等构成。小说走进我们的生活,为心中的人物,寻找一片适宜生长的土壤。人物有着强劲的生长力。