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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
agin it, and it wunnot waste no time; for we mun get awhoam for we're mate, as how
‘tis."
With many objurgations the great sleek horses were unfastened from the ploughs and
led away, the brass mounting of the harness gleaming in the sun, and the chains
clanking, across the park towards the village.
The ploughs, however, remained, each midway in its own furrow; testifying, as Rachel
thought in bitterness of spirit, to the ignominy which had come upon her ancestral lands.
Her heart seemed to burn within her as she hastened homewards, and her eyes filled
with angry tears. There must be a mistake, surely; and yet the old labourers both seemed
convinced of their right to carry out the task. What was it the man had said? "I reckon
our mester's gaffer here now.” Yeoman Fleetwood master at Charnleigh! Impossible!
Nevertheless, the announcement had been made with assurance, and a dim foreboding
began to take possession of the girl. She knew her father was in difficulties — were
things so bad as this? For the moment her feeling towards Simon was something closely
akin to hatred.
She found Mr. Charnock in his study, perusing the Morning Post with evident good
humour and satisfaction.
"Father,” she cried, going up to him eagerly, and speaking in trembling tones, Father, do
you know they are ploughing up the park?”
Mr. Charnock removed his eye-glasses and looked up in evident displeasure.
"My dear Rachel,” he cried testily, “I wish you would not burst in on one like that — it
is most unbecoming in a young woman of your years. They are ploughing up the park,
do you say? Let ‘em plough it up, if they like — I daresay the park wants ploughing?"
[202]
"But, sir," pleaded the girl, tears of mortification now standing on her cheeks, "surely it
is not by your wish that the place is thus disfigured? I believe it was not done by your
orders."
"Never mind whose orders they were. If it has got to be done it must be done — that is
all."