Peter's Mother

and the square-towered church, stood Barracombe House, backed by

river; while he also had the felicity of beholding the estate of his most important neighbour, Colonel Hewel, of Hewelscou

which none could dispute, and which could only be conveniently crossed by the fer

ages, and the single line of rail which threaded the valley of the Youle in the ye

court was on the wrong side of the river-faced due north-and was almost buried in timber. But Colonel Hewel was perfectly satisfied with his own situation, tho

ir Timothy's dignity did not permit him to make use of the ferry, and he rarely drove further than Brawnton, or rod

lage knew very well; wherefore they regarded the Hewels with a mixture of good-natured contempt and kindly tolerance. The contempt was because Hewelscourt had been built within the memory of

*

sty's service; subsequently his own reckless personal gallantry won wider recognition in many an affray with the parliamentary troops; and on the death of his royal master, Peter Crewys was forced to f

others were not only reconciled in their old age, but the elder made haste to transfer the ownership of Barrac

cy, a portrait by Vandyck of the late king, his father, and the promise of a handsome sum of money, for the payment of which the new baronet foreb

nt understanding between them. In any case

allery, which he stocked handsomely with family portraits; designed terrace gardens on the

ty, and adhering in all ways to the customs of his father. Presently, soldier and farmer also passed away

more attention to convenience than to architecture. The older portion was overshadowed by an imposing south front of white stone, shaded in summer by a prolific vine, which gave it a foreign appearance, further enhanced by ro

ordered by hardy fuchsias and delicate ferns. A rushing stream dropped from height to height on its rocky course, and ended pict

ted inn on the high-road below-his tenants in the valley and on the hillside were privileged in turn to observe the goings-in and comings-o

for gossip or speculation; but when the

on a group of labourers assembled before t

old road-mender, jerking his empty pewter upwards in the direction of the terrace, where

nd on't. 'Twas vur a ligacy las

ously. "I zays 'tis Master Peter. Him du be just the age when byes du

d on here wi' him to-day, I tell 'ee. His cousin, are zu

He's brart down the nextest heir, var tu keep a

t were up. 'Ee zad such arders var tu-morrer morning,

toothless mouth extended into the perpetual smile which had earned him the nickname of

says they du take it by turns zo long as daylight du last, tu spy out wi' their microscopes, are zum zuch, as none of Sir Timothy's volk git tarking down this

k. "There baint no warter put tu't, Joe Gudewyn

'yeds, 'tis arl the better f

ge 'em accardin', zays I. Warter doan't cost '

e yu du be tarking zo," said the ploughman.

ealously. "'Ee be a young man, not turned vifty. I mind his vather and mother down

hold wi' the war,"

y, us made up our minds tu differ long ago. I'm arl vor vigh

ned nointy yit, be 'ee?" said a labourer, winking heavily, to

shute Boers wi' the

e zince tu ax me," said

nigh zo knowing as I d

'un wude. I be zo wi

re the inn as he turned his horse t

the cottage chimneys was lying low in the va

ing. The doctor followed the red road which wound between Sir Timothy's carefully enclosed plantatio