第17章

’Godhathsentthee，andnottorobme，becauseitisdonealready。’

’What，UncleBen!’Icried，lettinggothehorseinamazement，thattherichestmaninDulverton——’UncleBenhereinthisplight!What，Mr。ReubenHuckaback!’

’Anhonesthosieranddraper，sergeandlongclothwarehouseman’——hegroanedfromribtorib——’atthesignoftheGarteredKittenintheloyaltownofDulverton。ForGod’ssake，letmedown，goodfellow，fromthisaccursedmarrow-bone；andagroatofgoodmoneywillIpaythee，safeinmyhousetoDulverton；

buttakenoticethatthehorseismine，nolessthanthenagtheyrobbedfromme。’

’What，UncleBen，dostthounotknowme，thydutifulnephewJohnRidd？’

Nottomakealongstoryofit，Icutthethongsthatboundhim，andsethimastrideonthelittlehorse；buthewastooweaktostayso。ThereforeImountedhimonmyback，turningthehorseintohorse-steps，andleadingtheponybythecordswhichIfastenedaroundhisnose，setoutforPlover’sBarrows。

UncleBenwentfastasleeponmyback，beingjadedandshakenbeyondhisstrength，foramanofthree-scoreandfive；andassoonhefeltassuredofsafetyhewouldtalknomore。Andtotellthetruthhesnoredsoloudly，thatIcouldalmostbelievethatfearfulnoiseinthefogeverynightcameallthewayfromDulverton。

NowassoonaseverIbroughthimin，wesethimupinthechimney-corner，comfortableandhandsome；anditwasnolittledelighttometogethimoffmyback；

for，likehisownfortune，UncleBenwasofagoodroundfigure。Hegavehislongcoatashakeortwo，andhestampedaboutinthekitchen，untilhewassureofhiswhereabouts，andthenhefellasleepagainuntilsuppershouldbeready。

’HeshallmarryRuth，’hesaidby-and-bytohimself，andnottome；’heshallmarryRuthforthis，andhavemylittlesavings，soonastheybeworththehaving。

Verylittleasyet，verylittleindeed；andeversomuchgoneto-dayalongofthemrascalrobbers。’

Mymothermadeadreadfulstir，ofcourse，aboutUncleBenbeinginsuchaplightasthis；soIlefthimtohercareandAnnie’s，andsoontheyfedhimrarely，whileIwentouttoseetothecomfortofthecapturedpony。Andintruthhewasworththecatching，andservedusverywellafterwards，thoughUncleBenwasinclinedtoclaimhimforhisbusinessatDulverton，wheretheyhavecartsandthatlike。’But，’Isaid，’youshallhavehim，sir，andwelcome，ifyouwillonlyridehimhomeasfirstIfoundyouridinghim。’Andwiththathedroppedit。

Averystrangeoldmanhewas，shortinhismanner，thoughlongofbody，gladtodothecontrarythingstowhatanyoneexpectedofhim，andalwayslookingsharpatpeople，asifhefearedtobecheated。Thissurprisedmemuchatfirst，becauseitshowedhisignoranceofwhatwefarmersare——anuprightrace，asyoumayfind，scarcelyevercheatingindeed，exceptuponmarket-day，andeventhennomorethanmaybehelpedbyreasonofbuyersexpectingit。Nowoursimplewayswereapuzzletohim，asItoldhimveryoften；butheonlylaughed，andrubbedhismouthwiththebackofhisdryshininghand，andIthinkheshortlybegantolanguishforwantofsomeonetohigglewith。Ihadagreatmindtogivehimthepony，becausehethoughthimselfcheatedinthatcase；onlyhewouldconcludethatIdiditwithsomeviewtoalegacy。

Ofcourse，theDoones，andnobodyelse，hadrobbedgoodUncleReuben；andthentheygrewsportive，andtookhishorse，anespeciallysobernag，andboundthemasteruponthewildone，foralittlechangeastheytoldhim。Fortwoorthreehourstheyhadfineenjoymentchasinghimthroughthefog，andmakingmuchsportofhisgroanings；andthenwaxinghungry，theywenttheirway，andlefthimtoopportunity。NowMr。Huckabackgrowingabletowalkinafewdays’time，becamethereuponimpatient，andcouldnotbebroughttounderstandwhyheshouldhavebeenrobbedatall。

’Ihaveneverdeservedit，’hesaidtohimself，notknowingmuchofProvidence，exceptwithasmallptoit；’Ihaveneverdeservedit，andwillnotstanditinthenameofourlordtheKing，notI!’Atothertimeshewouldburstforththus：’Three-scoreyearsandfivehaveIlivedanhonestandlaboriouslife，yetneverwasIrobbedbefore。Andnowtoberobbedinmyoldage，toberobbedforthefirsttimenow!’

Thereuponofcoursewewouldtellhimhowtrulythankfulheoughttobeforneverhavingbeenrobbedbefore，inspiteoflivingsolonginthisworld，andthathewastakingaveryungrateful，nottosayungracious，view，inthusrepining，andfeelingaggrieved；whenanyoneelsewouldhavekneltandthankedGodforenjoyingsolonganimmunity。Butsaywhatwewould，itwasallasone。UncleBenstuckfasttoit，thathehadnothingtothankGodfor。

InsteadofmindinghisNew-Yearpudding，MasterHuckabackcarriedonsoabouthismightygrievance，thatatlastwebegantothinktheremustbesomethinginit，afterall；especiallyasheassuredusthatchoiceandcostlypresentsfortheyoungpeopleofourhouseholdwereamongthegoodsdivested。Butmothertoldhimherchildrenhadplenty，andwantednogoldandsilver，andlittleElizaspokeupandsaid，’Youcangiveustheprettythings，UncleBen，whenwecomeinthesummertoseeyou。’

OurmotherreprovedElizaforthis，althoughitwastheheelofherownfoot；andthentosatisfyouruncle，shepromisedtocallFarmerNicholasSnowe，tobeofourcouncilthatevening，’Andiftheyoungmaidenswouldkindlycome，withouttakingthoughttosmoothethemselves，whyitwouldbeallthemerrier，andwhoknewbutwhatUncleHuckabackmightblessthedayofhisrobbery，etc。，etc——andthoroughgoodhonestgirlstheywere，fithelpmateseitherforshoporfarm。’Allofwhichwasmeantforme；butIstucktomyplatterandanswerednot。

IntheeveningFarmerSnowecameup，leadinghisdaughtersafterhim，likefilliestrimmedforafair；

andUncleBen，whohadnotseenthemonthenightofhismishap(becausewordhadbeensenttostopthem)，wasmightilypleasedandverypleasant，accordingtohistownbredways。Thedamselshadseengoodcompany，andsoongotovertheirfearofhiswealth，andplayedhimanumberofmerrypranks，whichmadeourmotherquitejealousforAnnie，whowasalwaysshyanddiffident。However，whenthehotcupwasdone，andbeforethemulledwinewasready，wepackedallthemaidensintheparlourandturnedthekeyuponthem；

andthenwedrewneartothekitchenfiretohearUncleBen’sproposal。FarmerSnowesatupinthecorner，caringlittletobearaboutanything，butsmokingslowly，andnoddingbackwardlikeasheep-dogdreaming。

Motherwasinthesettle，ofcourse，knittinghard，asusual；andUncleBentooktoathree-leggedstool，asifallbutthathadbeenthievedfromhim。Howsoever，hekepthisbreathfromspeech，givingprivilege，aswasdue，tomother。

’MasterSnowe，youarewellassured，’saidmother，colouringlikethefurzeasittooktheflameandfellover，’thatourkinsmanherehathreceivedroughharmonhispeacefuljourneyfromDulverton。Thetimesarebad，asweallknowwell，andthereisnosignofbetteringthem，andifIcouldseeourLordtheKingI

mightsaythingstomovehim!nevertheless，Ihavehadsomuchofmyownaccounttovexfor——’

’Youareflyingoutofthesubject，Sarah，’saidUncleBen，seeingtearsinhereyes，andtiredofthatmatter。

’Zettlethepralimbinaries，’spokeFarmerSnowe，onappealfromus，’virstzettlethepralimbinaries；andthenusknowswhatbedrivin’at。’

’Preliminariesbedamned，sir，’criedUncleBen，losinghistemper。’WhatpreliminariesweretherewhenIwasrobbed；Ishouldliketoknow？RobbedinthisparishasIcanprove，totheeternaldisgraceofOareandthescandalofallEngland。AndIholdthisparishtoanswerforit，sir；thisparishshallmakeitgood，beinganestoffoulthievesasitis；ay，farmers，andyeomen，andallofyou。Iwillbeggareverymaninthisparish，iftheybenotbeggarsalready，ay，andsellyouroldchurchupbeforeyoureyes，butwhatI

willhavebackmytarlatan，time-piece，saddle，anddove-tailednag。’

Motherlookedatme，andIlookedatFarmerSnowe，andweallweresorryforMasterHuckaback，puttingourhandsuponetoanother，thatnobodyshouldbrowbeathim；becauseweallknewwhatourparishwas，andnonetheworseforstronglanguage，howeverrichthemanmightbe。ButUncleBentookitinadifferentway。

Hethoughtthatweallwereafraidofhim，andthatOareparishwasbutasMoaborEdom，forhimtocasthisshoeover。

’NephewJack，’hecried，lookingatmewhenIwasthinkingwhattosay，andfindingonlyemptiness，’youareaheavylout，sir；abumpkin，aclodhopper；andI

shallleaveyounothing，unlessitbemybootstogrease。’

’Well，uncle，’Imadeanswer，’Iwillgreaseyourbootsallthesameforthat，solongasyoubeourguest，sir。’

Now，thatanswer，madewithoutathought，stoodmefortwothousandpounds，asyoushallsee，by-and-by，perhaps。

’Asfortheparish，’mymothercried，beingtoohardsettocontainherself，’theparishcandefenditself，andwemayleaveittodoso。ButourJackisnotlikethat，sir；andIwillnothavehimspokenof。Leavehimindeed!Whowantsyoutodomorethantoleavehimalone，sir；ashemighthavedoneyoutheothernight；

andasnooneelsewouldhavedaredtodo。Andafterthat，tothinksomeanlyofme，andofmychildren!’

’Hoity，toity，Sarah!Yourchildren，Isuppose，arethesameasotherpeople’s。’

’Thattheyarenot；andneverwillbe；andyououghttoknowit，UncleReuben，ifanyoneintheworldought。

Otherpeople’schildren!’

’Well，well!’UncleReubenanswered，’Iknowverylittleofchildren；exceptmylittleRuth，andsheisnothingwonderful。’

’IneversaidthatmychildrenwerewonderfulUncleBen；nordidIeverthinkit。Butasforbeinggood——’

Heremotherfetchedoutherhandkerchief，beingovercomebyourgoodness；andItoldher，withmyhandtomymouth，nottonoticehim；thoughhemightbeworthtenthousandtimestenthousandpounds。

ButFarmerSnowecameforwardnow，forhehadsomesensesometimes；andhethoughtitwashightimeforhimtosayawordfortheparish。

’MaisterHuckaback，’hebegan，pointingwithhispipeathim，theendthatwasdoneinsealing-wax，’toochingofwhatyouwasplaizedtozay’boutthishereparish，andnooother，mindmenoootherparishbutthees，I

usethevreedom，zur，fortotell’e，thattheebealaiar。’

ThenFarmerNicholasSnowefoldedhisarmsacrosswiththebowlofhispipeontheupperone，andgavemeanod，andthenonetomother，totestifyhowhehaddonehisduty，andreckednotwhatmightcomeofit。

However，hegotlittlethanksfromus；fortheparishwasnothingatalltomymother，comparedwithherchildren’sinterests；andIthoughtithardthatanuncleofmine，andanoldmantoo，shouldbecalledaliar，byavisitoratourfireplace。Forwe，inourrudepartoftheworld，counteditoneoftheworstdisgracesthatcouldbefallaman，toreceivetheliefromanyone。ButUncleBen，asitseemswasusedtoit，inthewayoftrade，justaspeopleoffashionare，byastyleofcourtesy。

ThereforetheoldmanonlylookedwithpityatFarmerNicholas；andwithasortofsorrowtoo，reflectinghowmuchhemighthavemadeinabargainwithsuchacustomer，soignorantandhot-headed。

’Nowletusbandywordsnomore，’saidmother，verysweetly；’nothingiseasierthansharpwords，excepttowishthemunspoken；asIdomanyandmany’sthetime，whenIthinkofmygoodhusband。ButnowletushearfromUncleReubenwhathewouldhaveusdotoremovethisdisgracefromamongstus，andtosatisfyhimofhisgoods。’

’Icarenotformygoods，woman，’MasterHuckabackansweredgrandly；’althoughtheywereoflargevalue，aboutthemIsaynothing。ButwhatIdemandisthis，thepunishmentofthosescoundrels。’

’Zober，man，zober!’criedFarmerNicholas；’webetoonaighBadgery’ood，tospakelikethatoftheyDooneses。’

’Packofcowards!’saidUncleReuben，lookingfirstatthedoor，however；’muchchanceIseeofgettingredressfromthevalourofthisExmoor!Andyou，MasterSnowe，theverymanwhomIlookedtotoraisethecountry，andtaketheleadaschurchwarden——why，myyoungestshopmanwouldmatchhisellagainstyou。Packofcowards，’criedUncleBen，risingandshakinghislappetsatus；’don’tpretendtoanswerme。Shakeyoualloff，thatIdo——nothingmoretodowithyou!’

Weknewituselesstoanswerhim，andconveyedourknowledgetooneanother，withoutanythingtovexhim。