Part 26 (2/2)
”I only wish you had punished that cruel James Device, as well as saved poor Nance,” added Dorothy.
”Hus.h.!.+” exclaimed Richard, glancing at Alizon.
”You need not be afraid of hurting her feelings,” cried the young lady. ”She does not mind him now.”
”What do you mean, Dorothy?” cried Richard, in surprise.
”Oh, nothing-nothing,” she replied, hastily.
”Perhaps you will explain,” said Richard to Alizon.
”Indeed I cannot,” she answered in confusion.
”You would have laughed to see Potts creep out of the river,” said Nicholas, turning to Dorothy; ”he looked just like a drowned rat-ha!-ha!”
”You have made a bitter enemy of him, Nicholas,” observed Mistress Nutter; ”so look well to yourself.”
”I heed him not,” rejoined the squire; ”he knows me now too well to meddle with me again, and I shall take good care how I put myself in his power. One thing I may mention, to show the impotent malice of the knave. Just as he was setting off, he said, 'This is not the only discovery of witchcraft I have made to-day. I have another case nearer home.' What could he mean?”
”I know not,” replied Mistress Nutter, a shade of disquietude pa.s.sing over her countenance. ”But he is quite capable of bringing the charge against you or any of us.”
”He is so,” said Nicholas. ”After what has occurred, I wonder whether he will go over to Rough Lee to-morrow?”
”Very likely not,” replied Mistress Nutter, ”and in that case Master Roger Nowell must provide some other person competent to examine the boundary-line of the properties on his behalf.”
”Then you are confident of the adjudication being in your favour?” said Nicholas.
”Quite so,” replied Mistress Nutter, with a self-satisfied smile.
”The result, I hope, may justify your expectation,” said Nicholas; ”but it is right to tell you, that Sir Ralph, in consenting to postpone his decision, has only done so out of consideration to you. If the division of the properties be as represented by him, Master Nowell will unquestionably obtain an award in his favour.”
”Under such circ.u.mstances he may,” said Mistress Nutter; ”but you will find the contrary turn out to be the fact. I will show you a plan I have had lately prepared, and you can then judge for yourself.”
While thus conversing, the party pa.s.sed through a door in the high stone wall dividing the garden from the court, and proceeded towards the princ.i.p.al entrance of the mansion. Built out of the ruins of the Abbey, which had served as a very convenient quarry for the construction of this edifice, as well as for Portfield, the house was large and irregular, planned chiefly with the view of embodying part of the old abbot's lodging, and consisting of a wide front, with two wings, one of which looked into the court, and the other, comprehending the long gallery, into the garden. The old north-east gate of the Abbey, with its lofty archway and embattled walls, served as an entrance to the great court-yard, and at its wicket ordinarily stood Ned Huddlestone, the porter, though he was absent on the present occasion, being occupied with the May-day festivities. Immediately opposite the gateway sprang a flight of stone steps, with a double landing-place and a broad bal.u.s.trade of the same material, on the lowest pillar of which was placed a large escutcheon sculptured with the arms of the family-argent, a mullet sable-with a rebus on the name-an ash on a tun. The great door to which these steps conducted stood wide open, and before it, on the upper landing-place, were collected Lady a.s.sheton, Mistress Braddyll, Mistress Nicholas a.s.sheton, and some other dames, laughing and conversing together. Some long-eared spaniels, favourites of the lady of the house, were chasing each other up and down the steps, disturbing the slumbers of a couple of fine blood-hounds in the court-yard; or persecuting the proud peafowl that strutted about to display their gorgeous plumage to the spectators.
On seeing the party approach, Lady a.s.sheton came down to meet them.
”You have been long absent,” she said to Dorothy; ”but I suppose you have been exploring the ruins?”
”Yes, we have not left a hole or corner unvisited,” was the reply.
”That is right,” said Lady a.s.sheton. ”I knew you would make a good guide, Dorothy. Of course you have often seen the old conventual church before, Alizon?”
”I am ashamed to say I have not, your ladys.h.i.+p,” she replied.
”Indeed!” exclaimed Lady a.s.sheton; ”and yet you have lived all your life in the village?”
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