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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
and pretty did she look when Mr. Charnock —all smiles and graciousness to-day —
presented her to his bride in just the same terms as those he had employed in
introducing neighbours of his own standing.
"Upon my soul, Fleetwood," he cried a little later, clapping the honest yeoman on the
shoulder, "I was glad to see that boy of yours to-day. By George, sir, I took it to be a
good omen that such a promising lad should be waiting for us on our threshold. I tell
you, Fleetwood, I would give twenty years of my life to call such a lad my son." "Well,
sir," returned the other simply, "I hope and pray the Lord may send you just such
another."
But the wish was not destined to be realised. The only fruit of the Squire's union with
the foreign lady was one fragile little girl. People said that the marriage had not been
blessed, and reminded each other of their prophesies before the event had taken place.
The Squire, at all times accustomed to live beyond his means, seemed in his bitter
disappointment to become reckless. The Hall was perpetually full of company, and wild
tales flew about the country of the extravagant doings of him and his friends, and people
blamed the stupidity of the French Madam, who had not given
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her master something better to think on. Simon heard little of this talk, for he had been
sent to school soon after the Squire's marriage, and though he had shared the general
disappointment at the non-arrival of a son at the Hall, chiefly because his father thought
it a pity, he soon ceased to trouble his head about the matter. His own life had now
become more varied. After a year or two at a private academy he was sent to Eton, his
mother's influence proving sufficiently strong to obtain admittance for him; and
existence was changed indeed for the country-bred boy. He was intelligent and
industrious, and liked his work well enough, but was conscious from the first of a subtle
difference between himself and his companions. He had always held his own, however,
his strength of character as well as his magnificent physique ensuring him respect; and
after a time his proficiency at all manly games caused him to become something of a
favourite.