icon 0
icon TOP UP
rightIcon
icon Reading History
rightIcon
icon Log out
rightIcon
icon Get the APP
rightIcon

Mrs. Geoffrey

Chapter 4 HOW GEOFFREY AND MONA ENTER A CABIN AND SEE ONE OF THE RESULTS OF PARNELL'S ELOQUENCE.

Word Count: 4389    |    Released on: 01/12/2017

e one he saw yesterday. A pale girl, with great large sombrous eyes and

he, quick to notice

country is ringing with it. Don't you know t

r of the lovely wood behind Mangle Farm

eard, too, how he escape

her face and voice, "what can be said of those men who come down to quiet places such as this was, to inflame the minds of poor ignorant wretches, until they are driven to bring do

ffrey, beneath his breath. This remark is u

sion now he has shed his ignoble blood for his superior! Do you know it is partly such thoughts as these that have driven

hing her breath

st remember I am a stranger here. The peasants are unknown to me. I cannot be expected to feel a keen interest in each one individually. In fact, had Mr. Moore been k

forgives him; perhaps because-sweet

art is sore for my country, and I fear for what we may yet liv

him to t

as though impelled to it, he says in a low tone, though very distinctly,

a deaf ear to it. She is standing on her door-step at this mom

ded her. She has her hat on,-a big Gainsborough hat, round which soft Ind

ar she was my servant. This year she married;

es, and I dare say Maloney's cabin will be full of roughs. You

is a short look, yet a very long one, and tells more than she knows. Even whil

m not afraid. Why should I be? Do you forget that I am o

f a class that looks but coldly upon hers. A mighty river, called Caste, rolls between them, dividing him from her. But shall it? Some hazy thought like this floats through his brain. They walk on silently, scarcely exchanging a syllable one

ther some yards from the cabin, whispering and g

breaks from the woma

n' he's bad to look at. I've seed him, an' it's given me a turn I won't forget in

a, pointing with trembl

hem. "They brought him back to the home he will never rouse ag

ckwards. Instinctively she lays her hand on Rodney's arm, as though desirous of s

irra!" cries the woman, suddenly, throwing her hands high above her head, and giving way to a peculiar long, low, moaning

luck in yonder house. His soul won't rest in peace, sent out of him like that. If ye go in now, ye'll be sorry

offrey, by a slight movement, puts himself between Mona and this man

outward show of anger, but a warning frown meant for the man alone. "Let

walking in a shambling, uncertain fashion, and with a curious trick of looking eve

," says Mona, faithfully, but with a long, shivering

rd and enters the cabin, Geo

e fireplace, where, upon the hearthstone, turf lies burning dimly, emitting the strong aromatic perfume that belongs to it. Near it crouches an old woman with her blue-checked apron thrown above her head, who rocks he

feeling. He is plainly full of anxiety, yet without power to express it, except in so far as his tail may aid him, which is l

r two women, are all huddled together, whispering eagerly, with their faces almost

see nothing but

decently in a white cloth, lies something that chills with mortal fear the heart, as it reminds it of that to which we all s

garb of the Irish peasant, with a short gown well tucked up, naked feet, and the sleeves of her dress pushed upwards until they almost reach the shoulder, showing the

utter recklessness and abandonment of her grief, across the feet of h

tretcher, puts forth his hand, as though he would lift the sheet and look upon what it so carefully conceals. B

well know, the whole of ye. There's no more ye can do to him. Then la

and the woman once more sinks

d taking the hand that lies in her lap between both her own, with a pressure full of ge

e woman, wearily. "But the big world is too small to

meaning. Even Geoffrey feels th

and the woman, turning again to the lifeless body, as though in the po

in the corner, both men and women, with a fa

slight frame to feel both good and evil! What sad days may rest in store for this girl, whose face can whiten at a passing grievance, and whose hands can tremble

dness! Is this what has come of your Land League, and your Home Rulers, and your riotous meetings? Where is the soul of this poor man, who was hurried

ng voice rings through the house, and then stops abruptly, as though its owner is overcome with emot

And what is it you hope to gain by all this madness? Do you believe peace, or a blessing from the holy heavens, could fall and rest on a soil soak

ling his feet nervously, and with his eyes

. Our hands are clean as yer own. We nivir laid eyes on him since

od-fellowship and shield him to the last,-a man who, fearing to meet another face to face, must needs lie in ambush for him behind a wall, and shoot his victim without giving him one chance of escape! Mr. Moore walks through his lands day by day, unprotected and without arm

can't live; yet he won't lower the rints,

mine raged round here? Was not his house open to you all? Were not many of your children fed by him? But that is all forgotten now; the words of a few incendiaries have blotted out t

s, causes a sensation. A young man, stepping

. 'Tisn't fair like, when ye know in yer own heart that we l

ht any woman. Her color fades again, and heavy tears, rising rapidly, quenc

all are to me; and it is just that that makes my heart so sore. But it

poor widow's lap; whereon Geoffrey, who has been standing

prostrate form of Kitty, who makes no sign of life. "She wants it." Laying her hand on Kitty's shoulder, she shakes her gen

enly, "I can't betther it. An' that is, that it

gain, shakes her head despondingly, and l

f all that has just passed. Presently, looking at her, he discovers she is crying,-bitterly

oo much for you," exclai

nothing to fall back upon. She loved him; and to have him so cruelly murdered for no crime, and to know that he will never again come in the

ith an attempt at soothing. "And she is youn

peasants very seldom do that. She will, I am sure, be

-if you loved a man, would yo

try is in! turmoil and strife from morning till night. And yet to talk to those ve

n of a smile; "and-I suppose my sight is failing-but I confess I didn't see much courtesy in his eye or his upper lip. I don't think I ever saw so much

for all this evil work? We are at heart loyal: you must agree with me in this, when you remember how enthusiastically they received the queen when, years ago, she condescended to pay us a flying visit, never to be repeated. And how gladly we welcomed the Prince of

Geoffrey, with empressement. "Nothing shall pre

s Mona, too absorbed in her own grievance to notice Mr. Rodney's suppressed but evid

ey. "To tell me to my face that you hate me. O

ully. "You needn't pretend you don't. And it

t that you possess a charm to which we can lay no claim. The wit, the verve, the pure gayety that springs direct from the heart th

ittle obstinate shake of her head.

od things in their own way and when well at a distance. But, under the roof with one and in an apartment a

children? I dare say we are dirty, but so are other nations, and no one sneers at them as they sneer at

and a malicious sparkle, an

o what dangerous company have I fallen! And with what an accent you say 'your queen'!

f us. She treats us as though we were a detested branch grafted on, an

so you throw her over? Unhappy queen! I do not envy her, although she sits upon s

o the charge, "Perhaps after all it is not so much her fault a

oung. In my opinion, you ought to go into Parliament yourself, and advoca

hich, knowing n

d, and lives on

with conscious pride, in that it fits in s

e of such as d

not if t

f it takes care to

didn't!" says M

how he shall help to dispel the cloud of sorrow that sits upon her brow, her whole expression changes. A merry gleam comes into her

my eyes off him. He struck me as so comical. There he sat blinking his small eyes and try

as come back to her, filling her with amusement. Geoffrey regards her with puzz

says, at length. "You are never t

fun still full upon her, making him a small grimace, and bestowing upon him a bewi

Claim Your Bonus at the APP

Open