Rewards and Fairies - Penn State University

Rewards and Fairies
and about my being so thin, and she told me Jerry had prom- can cure them after Doctor Break has given them up, and
ised her, if she would bring him three silver spoons, that he’d that’s why Doctor Break hates him so. He used to make me
charm my cough away and make me plump—“flesh up,” she toy carts, and charm off my warts when I was a child.’ Phila-
said. I couldn’t help laughing; but it was a terrible night! I had delphia spread out her hands with the delicate shiny little nails.
to put Cissie into my own bed, and stroke her hand till she ‘It isn’t counted lucky to cross him. He has his ways of get-
cried herself to sleep. What else could I have done? When she ting even with you, they say. But I wasn’t afraid of Jerry! I saw
woke, and I coughed—I suppose I can cough in my own him working in his garden, and I leaned out of my saddle and
room if I please—she said that she’d killed me, and asked me double-thonged him between the shoulders, over the hedge.
to have her hanged at Lewes sooner than send her to the ut- Well, my dear, for the first time since Dad gave him to me,
termost ends of the earth away from me.’
my Troubadour (I wish you could see the sweet creature!)
‘How awful! What did you do, Phil?’
shied across the road, and I spilled out into the hedge-top.
‘Do? I rode off at five in the morning to talk to Master Most undignified! Jerry pulled me through to his side and
Jerry, with a new lash on my whip. Oh, I was furious! brushed the leaves off me. I was horribly pricked, but I didn’t
Witchmaster or no Witchmaster, I meant to—’
care. “Now, Jerry,” I said, “I’m going to take the hide off you
Ah! what’s a Witchmaster?’
first, and send you to Lewes afterwards. You well know why.”
‘A master of witches, of course. I don’t believe there are ‘“Oh!” he said, and he sat down among his bee-hives. “Then
witches; but people say every village has a few, and Jerry was I reckon you’ve come about old Cissie’s business, my dear.” “I
the master of all ours at Marklake. He has been a smuggler, reckon I justabout have,” I said. “Stand away from these hives.
and a man-of-war’s man, and now he pretends to be a carpen- I can’t get at you there.” “That’s why I be where I be,” he said.
ter and joiner—he can make almost anything—but he really “If you’ll excuse me, Miss Phil, I don’t hold with bein’ flogged
is a white wizard. He cures people by herbs and charms. He before breakfast, at my time o’ life.” He’s a huge big man, but
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