Ferns Hollow | Page 9

Nan come upon the
parish. Martha must stay at home to mind them; and I'll work my
fingers to the bone for them all, sir. Many thanks all the same to you
for coming up here to see after us.'
'Very fine indeed, my little fellow,' said Thomas Wyley; 'but you don't
understand what you are talking about. It is my place to see after the
poor, and I cannot leave you in charge of such a very old man and such
a child as this, No, no; they must be taken care of; and they'll be made
right comfortable in the House.'
'Father said,' replied Stephen, 'that I was never to let grandfather and
little Nan come upon the parish. I get my wages, and we've no rent to
pay; and the potatoes and oats will help us; and Martha can pick
bilberries on the hill, and carry bundles of firing to the village; and
we'll do well enough without the parish. Many thanks all the same to
you, sir.'
'Hark ye, my lad,' said the master impatiently. 'I want to buy your old
hut and field from you. I'll give ye a ten-pound note for it; a whole ten
pounds. Why, a fortune for you!'
'Father said,' repeated Stephen, 'I was never to give up Fern's Hollow;
and I gave him a sure promise for that, and to take care of little Nan as
long as ever I lived.'
'Fern's Hollow is none of yours,' cried the master, in a rage; 'you've just
been a family of paupers and squatters, living up here by poaching and

thieving. I'll unearth you, I promise ye; you have been a disgrace to the
manor long enough. So it is ten pounds or nothing for your old hole;
and you may take your choice.'
'Please, sir,' said Stephen firmly, 'the place is ours, and I'm never to part
with it. I'll never poach, and I'll never trespass on the manor; but I can't
sell the old house, sir.'
'Now, just listen to me, young Fern,' said Thomas Wyley; 'you'll be
compelled to give up Fern's Hollow in right of the lord of the manor;
and then if you come to the House for relief, mark my words, I'll send
your grandfather off to Bristol, for that's his parish, and you'll never see
him again; and I'll give orders for you never to see little Nan; and I'll
apprentice you and your other sister in different places. So you had
better be reasonable, and take our advice while you can be made
comfortable.'
'Please, sir, I can't go against my promise,' answered Stephen, with a
sob.
'What's the use of wasting one's breath?' said the master; 'this place I
want, and this place I'll have; and we'll see if this young jail-bird will
stand in my way. Ah, my fine fellow, it's no such secret where your
grandfather spent twenty-one years of his life; and you'll have a sup of
the same broth some day. You don't keep a dog like that yelping cur for
nothing; and I'll tell the gamekeeper to have his eye upon you.'
Stephen stood motionless, watching them down the narrow path which
led to Botfield, until a rabbit started from beneath the hedge, and Snip,
with a sharp, short bark of excitement, gave it chase in the direction of
the two men. The master paused, and, looking back, shook his stick
threateningly at the motionless figure of the boy; while Thomas Wyley
threw a stone at the dog, which sent him back, yelping piteously, to his
young master's feet. Stephen clenched his hands, and bit his lips till the
blood started, but he did not move till the last glimpse of his foes had
passed away from the hillside. Martha had hidden herself in the hut
while they were present, for she had never spoken to the dreaded
master; but she could overhear their loud and angry speeches, and now

she came out and joined Stephen.
'Well, I'd have more spirit than to cry,' she said, as Stephen brushed his
eyes with his sleeve; 'I'd never have spoken so gingerly to them, the
wizen-faced old rascals. The place is ours, and they can't turn us out.
It's no use to be cowed by them, Stephen.'
'They can turn me off the works,' answered Stephen sadly.
'And whatever shall we do then?' asked Martha, in alarm. 'Still I reckon
you'll say we are to love those old wretches.'
'The Book says so,' replied Stephen.
'Well, I won't set up to try to do it for one,' continued Martha decisively;
'it's not nature; it's being over good by half. I'm willing to do my duty
by you and grandfather and little Nan; but that goes beyond me. If
you'd just give way,