第13章

Thenhermastergaveashrillclearwhistle，whenherearswerebenttowardshim，andIfeltherformbeneathmegatheringuplikewhalebone，andherhind-legscomingunderher，andIknewthatIwasinforit。

Firstshereareduprightintheair，andstruckmefullonthenosewithhercomb，tillIbledworsethanRobinSnellmademe；andthendownwithherfore-feetdeepinthestraw，andherhind-feetgoingtoheaven。Findingmesticktoherstilllikewax，formymettlewasupasherswas，awaysheflewwithmeswifterthaneverI

wentbefore，orsince，Itrow。Shedrovefull-headatthecobwall——’Oh，Jack，slipoff，’screamedAnnie——thensheturnedlikelight，whenIthoughttocrushher，andgroundmyleftkneeagainstit。’Muxme，’Icried，formybreecheswerebroken，andshortwordswentthefurthest——’ifyoukillme，youshalldiewithme。’Thenshetookthecourt-yardgateataleap，knockingmywordsbetweenmyteeth，andthenrightoveraquicksethedge，asiftheskywereabreathtoher；andawayforthewater-meadows，whileIlayonhernecklikeachildatthebreastandwishedIhadneverbeenborn。

Straightaway，allinthefrontofthewind，andscatteringcloudsaroundher，allIknewofthespeedwemadewasthefrightfulflashofhershoulders，andhermaneliketreesinatempest。Ifelttheearthunderusrushingaway，andtheairleftfarbehindus，andmybreathcameandwent，andIprayedtoGod，andwassorrytobesolateofit。

Allthelongswiftwhile，withoutpowerofthought，I

clungtohercrestandshoulders，anddugmynailsintohercreases，andmytoesintoherflank-part，andwasproudofholdingonsolong，thoughsureofbeingbeaten。Theninherfuryatfeelingmestill，sherushedatanotherdeviceforit，andleapedthewidewater-troughsidewaysacross，toandfro，tillnobreathwasleftinme。Thehazel-boughstookmetoohardintheface，andthetalldog-briersgotholdofme，andtheacheofmybackwaslikecrimpingafish；

tillIlongedtogiveup，thoroughlybeaten，andliethereanddieinthecresses。Buttherecameashrillwhistlefromupthehome-hill，wherethepeoplehadhurriedtowatchus；andthemarestoppedasifwithabullet，thensetoffforhomewiththespeedofaswallow，andgoingassmoothlyandsilently。Ineverhaddreamedofsuchdelicatemotion，fluent，andgraceful，andambient，softasthebreezeflittingovertheflowers，butswiftasthesummerlightning。Isatupagain，butmystrengthwasallspent，andnotimelefttorecoverit，andthoughsheroseatourgatelikeabird，Itumbledoffintothemixen。

’Welldone，lad，’Mr。Faggussaidgoodnaturedly；forallwerenowgatheredroundme，asIrosefromtheground，somewhattottering，andmiry，andcrest-fallen，butotherwisenonetheworse(havingfallenuponmyhead，whichisofuncommonsubstance)；neverthelessJohnFrywaslaughing，sothatIlongedtoclouthisearsforhim；’Notatallbadwork，myboy；wemayteachyoutorideby-and-by，Isee；Ithoughtnottoseeyoustickonsolong——’

’Ishouldhavestuckonmuchlonger，sir，ifhersideshadnotbeenwet。Shewassoslippery——’-

’Boy，thouartright。Shehathgivenmanytheslip。

Ha，ha!Vexnot，Jack，thatIlaughatthee。Sheislikeasweethearttome，andbetter，thananyofthembe。Itwouldhavegonetomyheartifthouhadstconquered。NonebutIcanridemyWinniemare。’

’Foulshametotheethen，TomFaggus，’criedmother，comingupsuddenly，andspeakingsothatallwereamazed，havingneverseenherwrathful；’toputmyboy，myboy，acrossher，asifhislifewerenomorethanthine!Theonlysonofhisfather，anhonestman，andaquietman，notaroysteringdrunkenrobber!Amanwouldhavetakenthymadhorseandthee，andflungthembothintohorse-pond——ay，andwhat’smore，I’llhaveitdonenow，ifahairofhisheadisinjured。Oh，myboy，myboy!WhatcouldIdowithoutthee？Putuptheotherarm，Johnny。’Allthetimemotherwasscoldingso，shewasfeelingme，andwipingme；whileFaggustriedtolookgreatlyashamed，havingsenseofthewaysofwomen。

’Onlylookathisjacket，mother!’criedAnnie；’andashillingsworthgonefromhissmall-clothes!’

’WhatcareIforhisclothes，thougoose？Takethat，andheedthineownabit。’AndmothergaveAnnieaslapwhichsentherswingingupagainstMr。Faggus，andhecaughther，andkissedandprotectedher，andshelookedathimverynicely，withgreattearsinhersoftblueeyes。’Oh，fieuponthee，fieuponthee!’criedmother(beingyetmorevexedwithhim，becauseshehadbeatenAnnie)；’afterallwehavedoneforthee，andsavedthyworthlessneck——andtotrytokillmysonforme!Nevermoreshallhorseofthineenterstablehere，sincethesebethyreturnstome。Smallthankstoyou，JohnFry，Isay，andyouBillDadds，andyouJemSlocomb，andalltherestofyourcowardlot；muchyoucareforyourmaster’sson!Afraidofthatuglybeastyourselves，andyouputaboyjustbreecheduponhim!’

’Wull，missus，whatcouldusdo？’beganJohn；’Janwuddgoo，nowwudd’ther，Jem？Andhowwasus——’

’Janindeed!MasterJohn，ifyouplease，toaladofhisyearsandstature。Andnow，TomFaggus，beoff，ifyouplease，andthinkyourselfluckytogoso；andifeverthathorsecomesintoouryard，I’llhamstringhimmyselfifnoneofmycowardsdaredoit。’

Everybodylookedatmother，tohearhertalklikethat，knowinghowquietshewasdaybydayandhowpleasanttobecheated。Andthemenbegantoshouldertheirshovels，bothsoastobeawayfromher，andtogoandtelltheirwivesofit。Winnietoowaslookingather，beingpointedatsomuch，andwonderingifshehaddoneamiss。Andthenshecametome，andtrembled，andstoopedherhead，andaskedmypardon，ifshehadbeentooproudwithme。

’Winnieshallstophereto-night，’saidI，forTomFaggusstillsaidneverawordallthewhile；butbegantobucklehisthingson，forheknewthatwomenaretobemetwithwool，asthecannon-ballswereatthesiegeofTivertonCastle；’mother，Itellyou，Winnieshallstop；elseIwillgoawaywithher，Ineverknewwhatitwas，tillnow，torideahorseworthriding。’

’Youngman，’saidTomFaggus，stillpreparingsternlytodepart，’youknowmoreaboutahorsethananymanonExmoor。Yourmothermaywellbeproudofyou，butsheneedhavehadnofear。AsifI，TomFaggus，yourfather’scousin——andtheonlythingIamproudof——wouldeverhaveletyoumountmymare，whichdukesandprinceshavevainlysought，exceptforthecourageinyoureyes，andthelookofyourfatheraboutyou。I

knewyoucouldridewhenIsawyou，andrarelyyouhaveconquered。Butwomendon’tunderstandus。Good-bye，John；Iamproudofyou，andIhopedtohavedoneyoupleasure。AndindeedIcamefullofsomecourtlytales，thatwouldhavemadeyourhairstandup。ButthoughnotacrusthaveItastedsincethistimeyesterday，havinggivenmymeattoawidow，Iwillgoandstarveonthemoorfarsoonerthaneatthebestsupperthateverwascooked，inaplacethathasforgottenme。’Withthathefetchedaheavysigh，asifithadbeenformyfather；andfeeblygotuponWinnie’sback，andshecametosayfarewelltome。Heliftedhishattomymother，withaglanceofsorrow，butneveraword；andtomehesaid，’Openthegate，CousinJohn，ifyouplease。Youhavebeatenherso，thatshecannotleapit，poorthing。’

Butbeforehewastrulygoneoutofouryard，mymothercamesoftlyafterhim，withherafternoonapronacrosshereyes，andonehandreadytoofferhim。

Nevertheless，hemadeasifhehadnotseenher，thoughhelethishorsegoslowly。

’Stop，CousinTom，’mymothersaid，’awordwithyou，beforeyougo。’

’Why，blessmyheart!’TomFagguscried，withtheformofhiscountenancesochanged，thatIverilythoughtanothermanmusthaveleapedintohisclothes——’doI

seemyCousinSarah？Ithoughteveryonewasashamedofme，andafraidtooffermeshelter，sinceIlostmybestcousin，JohnRidd。’Comehere，’heusedtosay，’Tom，comehere，whenyouareworried，andmywifeshalltakegoodcareofyou。’’Yes，dearJohn，’Iusedtoanswer，’Iknowshepromisedmymotherso；butpeoplehavetakentothinkagainstme，andsomightCousinSarah。’Ah，hewasaman，aman!Ifyouonlyheardhowheansweredme。Butletthatgo，Iamnothingnow，sincethedayIlostCousinRidd。’Andwiththathebegantopushonagain；butmotherwouldnothaveitso。

’Oh，Tom，thatwasalossindeed。AndIamnothingeither。Andyoushouldtrytoallowforme；thoughI

neverfoundanyonethatdid。’Andmotherbegantocry，thoughfatherhadbeendeadsolong；andIlookedonwithastupidsurprise，havingstoppedfromcryinglongago。

’Icantellyouonethatwill，’criedTom，jumpingoffWinnie，inatrice，andlookingkindlyatmother；’I

canallowforyou，CousinSarah，ineverythingbutone。

Iaminsomewaysabadmanmyself；butIknowthevalueofagoodone；andifyougavemeorders，byGod——’AndheshookhisfiststowardsBagworthyWood，justheavingupblackinthesundown。

’Hush，Tom，hush，forGod’ssake!’Andmothermeantme，withoutpointingatme；atleastIthoughtshedid。

Forsheeverhadweanedmefromthoughtsofrevenge，andevenfromlongingsforjudgment。’Godknowsbest，boy，’sheusedtosay，’letuswaitHistime，withoutwishingit。’Andso，totellthetruth，Idid；partlythroughherteaching，andpartlythroughmyownmildtemper，andmyknowledgethatfather，afterall，waskilledbecausehehadthrashedthem。

’Good-night，CousinSarah，good-night，CousinJack，’

criedTom，takingtothemareagain；’manyamileI

havetoride，andnotabitinsideofme。NofoodorshelterthissideofExeford，andthenightwillbeblackaspitch，Itrow。Butitservesmerightforindulgingthelad，beingtakenwithhislooksso。’

’CousinTom，’saidmother，andtryingtogetsothatAnnieandIcouldnothearher；’itwouldbeasadandunkinlikethingforyoutodespiseourdwelling-house。

Wecannotentertainyou，asthelordlyinnsontheroaddo；andwehavesmallchangeofvictuals。Butthemenwillgohome，beingSaturday；andsoyouwillhavethefiresidealltoyourselfandthechildren。Therearesomefewcollopsofreddeer’sflesh，andahamjustdownfromthechimney，andsomedriedsalmonfromLynmouthweir，andcoldroast-pig，andsomeoysters。

Andifnoneofthosebetoyourliking，wecouldroasttwowoodcocksinhalfanhour，andAnniewouldmakethetoastforthem。Andthegoodfolkmadesomemistakelastweek，goingupthecountry，andleftakegofoldHollandcordialinthecovingofthewood-rick，havingborrowedourSmiler，withoutaskingleave。Ifearthereissomethingunrighteousaboutit。Butwhatcanapoorwidowdo？JohnFrywouldhavetakenit，butforourJack。OurJackwasalittletoosharpforhim。’

Ay，thatIwas；JohnFryhadgotit，likeabilletunderhisapron，goingawayinthegrayofthemorning，asiftokindlehisfireplace。’Why，John，’Isaid，’whataheavylog!Letmehaveoneendofit。’

’Thank’e，Jan，noneedofthiccy，’heanswered，turninghisbacktome；’waifewantethalogaswilllastallday，tokapethecrockazimmerin。’Andhebangedhisgateuponmyheelstomakemestopandrubthem。’Why，John，’saidI，’you’mgotalogwithroundholesintheendofit。Whohasbeencuttinggun-wads？Justliftyourapron，orIwill。’

But，toreturntoTomFaggus——hestoppedtosupthatnightwithus，andtookalittleofeverything；afewoystersfirst，andthendriedsalmon，andthenhamandeggs，doneinsmallcurledrashers，andthenafewcollopsofvenisontoasted，andnexttothatalittlecoldroast-pig，andawoodcockontoasttofinishwith，beforetheScheidamandhotwater。Andhavingchangedhiswetthingsfirst，heseemedtobeinfairappetite，andpraisedAnnie’scookingmightily，withakindofnoiselikeasmackofhislips，andarubbingofhishandstogether，wheneverhecouldsparethem。

HehadgottenJohnFry’sbestsmall-clotheson，forhesaidhewasnotgoodenoughtogointomyfather’s(whichmotherkepttolookat)，normanenoughtofillthem。Andintruthmymotherwasverygladthatherefused，whenIofferedthem。ButJohnwasover-proudtohaveitinhispowertosaythatsuchafamousmanhadeverdweltinanyclothesofhis；andafterwardshemadeshowofthem。ForMr。Faggus’sglory，then，thoughnotsogreatasnowitis，wasspreadingveryfastindeedallaboutourneighbourhood，andevenasfarasBridgewater。

TomFagguswasajovialsoul，ifevertherehasbeenone，notmakingbonesoflittlethings，norcaringtoseekevil。Therewasabouthimsuchaloveofgenuinehumannature，thatifatravellersaidagoodthing，hewouldgivehimbackhispurseagain。Itistruethathetookpeople’smoneymorebyforcethanfraud；andthelaw(beingusedtotheinversemethod)wasbitterlymovedagainsthim，althoughhecouldquoteprecedent。

ThesethingsIdonotunderstand；havingseensomuchofrobbery(somelegal，someillegal)，thatIscarcelyknow，asherewesay，onecrow’sfootfromtheother。