Sylvia's Lovers

'And what will ye tak'? Eh! but t' measter 'll be fine and vexed at

your comin' when he's away. He's off to Horncastle t' sell some

colts, and he'll not be back till to-morrow's neet. But here's

Charley Kinraid as we've getten to nurse up a bit, and' t' lads 'll

be back fra' Monkshaven in a crack o' no time.' All this was addressed to Daniel, to whom she knew that none but

masculine company would be acceptable. Amongst uneducated

people--whose range of subjects and interest do not extend beyond

their daily life--it is natural that when the first blush and hurry

of youth is over, there should be no great pleasure in the

conversation of the other sex. Men have plenty to say to men, which

in their estimation (gained from tradition and experience) women

cannot understand; and farmers of a much later date than the one of

which I am writing, would have contemptuously considered it as a

loss of time to talk to women; indeed, they were often more

communicative to the sheep-dog that accompanied them through all

the day's work, and frequently became a sort of dumb confidant.

Farmer Robson's Lassie now lay down at her master's feet, placed

her nose between her paws, and watched with attentive eyes the

preparations going on for refreshments--preparations which, to the

disappointment of her canine heart, consisted entirely of tumblers

and sugar.

'Where's t' wench?' said Robson, after he had shaken hands with

Kinraid, and spoken a few words to him and to Mrs. Corney. 'She's

getten' a basket wi' sausages in 'em, as my missus has made, and

she's a rare hand at sausages; there's noane like her in a' t' three

Ridings, I'll be bound!' For Daniel could praise his wife's powers in her absence, though he

did not often express himself in an appreciative manner when she was

by to hear. But Sylvia's quick sense caught up the manner in which

Mrs. Corney would apply the way in which her mother's housewifery had

been exalted, and stepping forwards out of the shadow, she said,-'Mother thought, maybe, you hadn't killed a pig yet, and sausages is

always a bit savoury for any one who is na' well, and----' She might have gone on but that she caught Kinraid's eyes looking at

her with kindly admiration. She stopped speaking, and Mrs. Corney

took up the word-'As for sausages, I ha' niver had a chance this year, else I stand

again any one for t' making of 'em. Yorkshire hams 's a vast thought

on, and I'll niver let another county woman say as she can make

better sausages nor me. But, as I'm saying, I'd niver a chance; for

our pig, as I were sa fond on, and fed mysel', and as would ha' been

fourteen stone by now if he were an ounce, and as knew me as well as

any Christian, and a pig, as I may say, that I just idolized, went

and took a fit a week after Michaelmas Day, and died, as if it had

been to spite me; and t' next is na' ready for killing, nor wunnot

be this six week. So I'm much beholden to your missus, and so's

Charley, I'm sure; though he's ta'en a turn to betterin' sin' he

came out here to be nursed.' 'I'm a deal better,' said Kinraid; 'a'most ready for t' press-gang

to give chase to again.' 'But folk say they're gone off this coast for one while,' added

Daniel.