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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
Rachel had listened with an extraordinary mixture of feelings to the old woman's story,
as it was laboriously and brokenly poured forth. Full of young warm life herself, she
shrank from the grisly details which Miss Fleetwood enumerated with such keen
satisfaction. It was pathetic to hear the poor old body so calmly discussing the
ceremonial in which she was indeed to bear a prominent part, but which she would not
then be in a condition to enjoy; but there was also an element of the grotesque, not to
say the comic, in such zest.
She found herself absolutely unable to frame any reply which should seem adequate to
the occasion, and contented herself with patting Aunt Binney's wrinkled hand, as it lay
outside the coverlet.
“There'll be the hearse," went on the sick woman, following out the train of thought,
"and two coaches—mourning coaches; and very like Lawyer Renshaw 'ull come in's
gig. That 'ull be four carriages altogether —eh! all the neighbours 'ull think it gradely!
Four Carriages! "
“Perhaps my father would allow his coach to attend," put in Rachel, anxious to atone for
her former shrinking
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reluctance to pursue the topic by making a suggestion which could not fail to be
pleasing. "I think it exceedingly likely that he would allow his coach to follow, as a
mark of respect. I know he has done so once or twice when he has been unable to attend
funerals himself"
"Eh, dear!" ejaculated Miss Binney, and clapped her withered hands. “Eh! miss, I'd
never make so bold as to ask for such a thing, but if he did, I’d have nothing left to wish
for. Squire's coach to follow my remains! That 'ud make five altogether. Why, there has
not been such a sight in Charnleigh village, not since th' old Squire died, and was sent
home from London to be buried. Miss, dear, I would take it as an honour. Well, what
with Squire's coach coming to my funeral, and you being so good, Miss Charnock, as to
allow me to mention you in my will, I may, indeed, look to die respected. Yon's the
book there, see, in the window-seat, Miss Charnock. Cast your eye over it now, if
you've a fancy to, and Lawyer Renshaw 'ull make it over to you when I am gone."