The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900 ... - Gredos

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
There was a long silence in the room. The Squire, overcome at the revelation of his
wife's knowledge of the previous transaction, had no words at his disposal, while
Madam Charnock contemplated the tall commanding figure which confronted her so
steadily. In its simplicity, its strength, its earnestness of purpose, it did, indeed, recall
those biblical figures, which are to be revered throughout all time because so closely in
touch with God, to be loved because so human.
With characteristic courage and single-mindedness, Simon had availed himself of the
plan of action originally drawn up by his cousin; and the scheme which had seemed vile
when proposed by Edward Gifford, had quite another aspect in Simon's hands. To the
slime of the earth the Creator in wrath and scorn condemned the serpent, yet of this
same slime He made man to His own image and likeness. Even thus our human works
—imperfect at the best — are to be judged by the spirit which actuates them. They do
not stand by themselves, but bear in some measure the impress of the originator; that
which is ignoble in the hands of one man may be uplifted by another's personality into
something lofty and pure.
She stood silent and abashed, and Simon turned to the Squire.
[193]
"Will you entertain my proposal?" he said quietly, though his voice trembled. “No, do
not answer me now. Think it over, and give me my reply to-morrow — when you will. I
am content to wait as long as it seems good to you."
"Tush!" cried Mr. Charnock irritably, "the matter is one which must be decided at once.
If I cannot agree to your terms, Fleetwood, I must needs raise the money somewhere
else. But, d—me! I think there is a great to-do about nothing.” He threw himself back in
his chair with a laugh. "Simon here, it seems, is struck with our Rachel's bonny face —
well, any man might be that, be he prince or ploughman — and he begs leave to court
her in -due form. Pshaw! it is like a fairy tale. In fairy tales, it seems, even the beggar
may hope to win the princess; but it is not so easy in real life. As for that nonsense
about Jacob and Laban, which seems to have struck you dumb, madam, the Devil
himself can quote scripture, we all know that. I think the girl herself has too nice a sense
of what is fitting ever to consent to receive advances from you. Yeoman Fleetwood. But