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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
above all, a force which awed her in spite of herself. She determined to be on her guard
with him, and not to commit herself by any foolish speech. But at first sight of these
intrusive railings all her resolutions took flight, and she turned to Simon indignantly.
“If this is what you have brought me to see," she cried, "I do not like it at all."
“Do not be in too great a hurry," he said, with his quiet smile. “See, there is a stile here;
shall we cross it and examine a little further?”
Without waiting for a reply he swung himself over it, and then extended a hand to
Rachel.
"Thank you, I do not need your help," she returned petulantly. “I have no mind to climb
the stile. I can see anything that is to be seen from here.”
“I think not," he said, still smiling; "not just now at least. Pray, Miss Charnock, oblige
me in this small matter." His hand was extended still, and, after a moment's hesitation,
she condescended to touch it with the tips of her fingers. In another moment she stood
on the ground by his side.
"Come a little this way, if you please," he said. “On the other side of yonder copse we
shall find what we seek."
She walked along in silence, and presently beheld on the farther side of the plantation in
question a herd of diminutive cattle — curious, shaggy creatures, for the most part of a
slate-grey in colour — and without a horn among them.
Simon walked up to the nearest of them and began to stroke and rub its woolly head;
then he turned towards Rachel.
[209]
"Well, Miss Charnock, here are my Scotch cattle —Galloways — a hornless breed, you
see. I think you can have no fear of them, for they could not gore or toss you if they
tried. But, in case you might even yet feel alarmed at their proximity, I have railed off
this portion of the park, so that you may walk undisturbed about the remainder."
She did not answer, and, leaving the cow, he returned to her; being surprised to see, as
he drew near her, that her face was grave and downcast.