The Maid of SkerBlackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)
General
The Maid of Sker
Blackmore, R. D. (Richard Doddridge)
Foundlings -- Fiction; Romance fiction; Wales -- Fiction
What was done that night between Sir Philip and the Parson, or even
between the Parson and Sir Philip's heir, the Squire (whose melancholy
room that Chowne had dared to force himself into), nobody seemed to be
sure, although every one craved to have better knowledge. But it was
certain that Isabel Carey went to her room very early that night, and
would have no Nanette for her hair; and in the morning was "not fit for
any one to look at," unless it were one who loved her.
Great disturbances of this sort happen (by some law of nature), often in
large households. Give me the quiet cottage, where a little row, just
now and then, comes to pass, and is fought out, and lapses (when its
heat is over) into very nice explanations, and women's heads laid on
men's shoulders, and tears that lose their way in smiles, and reproach
that melts into self-reproach. However, this was not the sort of thing
that any sane person could hope for in thirty miles' distance from
Master Stoyle Chowne, after once displeasing him. And what do you think
Parson Chowne did now, or at least I mean soon afterwards? That night he
had pressed his attentions on the beautiful young lady, so that in
simple self-defence she was forced to show her spirit. This aroused the
power of darkness always lurking in him, so that his eyes shone, and his
jaws met, and his forehead was very smooth. For he had a noble forehead;
and the worse his state of mind might be, the calmer was his upper brow.
After frightening poor Miss Carey, not with words, but want of them
(which is a far more alarming thing, when a man encounters women), he
took out his rights in the house by having an interview with Sir Philip;
and no one could make any guess about what passed between them. Only it
could not be kept from knowledge of the household, that Parson Chowne
obtained or took admission to Squire Philip also.
Of this unhappy gentleman very little has been said, because I then knew
so little. I am always the last man in the world to force myself into
private things; and finding out once that I must not ask, never to ask
is my rule of action, unless I know the people. However, it does not
look as if Master Heaviside had been gifted with any of this rare
delicacy. And thus he discovered as follows.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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