After this, for several weeks things went on much as usual on Dymock's
moor. The inhabitants of the Tower were so still and quiet, that unless
a thin curl of smoke had now and then been seen rising from the kitchen
chimney, all the occupants might have been supposed to have been in a
state of enchantment. Jacob, however, the dwarfish, deformed
serving-man, did cross the moat at intervals, and came back laden with
food; but he was so surly and short, that it was impossible to get a
word of information from him, respecting that which was going on within
the moat. Whilst Dymock scribbled, his aunt darned, Shanty hammered, and
Tamar formed the delight and comfort of all the three last mentioned
elders. But some settlement was necessarily to be made respecting Mr.
Salmon's last payment, which had run up, with certain fixtures and old
pictures, for which there was no room in the cottage, to nearly six
hundred pounds, and after much pressing and persuading on the part of
Mrs. Margaret, the Laird was at length worked up to the point of
putting on his very best clothes, and going one morning to the Tower.
He had boasted that he would not appear but as the Laird of Dymock in
Dymock castle; therefore, though the weather was warm, he assumed his
only remains of handsome apparel, viz, a cloak or mantle of blue cloth
and with a hat, which was none of the best shape, on his head, he walked
to the edge of the moat, and there stood awhile calling aloud.
Pages:
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84