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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
the young man. "We may expect him to do wonders now that he has so vast a field at
his disposal."
Simon smiled quietly, amused at the characteristic change of manner. The Squire's
spirits were now rapidly rising, and his good humour had already returned. It pleased
him to assume this jocular tone and to divert
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himself with the fiction that Fleetwood had done rather a neat stroke of business for
himself, and that any sense of obligation or expression of gratitude on his own part
would be, therefore, quite out of place.
“I do not understand," said Madam Charnock dubiously. "What is this management of
which you are speaking?"
"Tush, my dear, of course you do not understand. Ladies never understand business
matters, and should not meddle with 'em. Fleetwood is going to be my manager for a
time, or shall I say my tenant? He expects to improve my property vastly, and to make
quite a little fortune for himself Well, good-night, good-night; call with Renshaw tomorrow,
and we shall make final arrangements."
Simon took the proffered hand, and then turned to the lady. She was still looking at him
anxiously and doubtfully, but she, too, stretched out her hand.
"Simon, Simon, this is a mad venture. You have staked high; what will happen if you
lose?"
“Madam," said Simon, bowing reverently over her hand, "I mean to win."
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CHAPTER XVII.
Ye little birds that sit and sing
Amidst the shady valleys,
And see how Phillis sweetly walks
Within her garden alleys,
Go, pretty birds, about her bower,