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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
window for a long time, with burning cheeks, and a heart that throbbed almost to
suffocation. She had passed an hour or two in vengeful
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meditation when she suddenly caught sight of Simon's figure advancing towards the
house, and was preparing to descend to the drawing-room, when, to her surprise, she
saw him going away again. Instantly the conviction flashed upon her that her father had
ordered admittance to be refused to him; and without pausing to assume her hat, or even
to ascertain if her surmise were correct, she flew downstairs and out of the house in
pursuit of him. But his long strides had carried him half way through one of the
plantations before she came up with him. At the sound of her hasty footfalls he turned,
and rapidly retraced his steps.
“I was told you could not see me,” he said.
“Oh, Simon," cried Rachel vehemently, "they want to part us! I always felt that our
happiness could not last Humphrey will never rest until he has come between us."
"Humphrey!” ejaculated Simon.
“Oh, it is all spite and jealousy on his part," cried Rachel, “and pride and
meddlesomeness on the part of my uncle. My uncle has written to Papa, Simon; he is
furious at the notion of our marriage. Humphrey is coming here at once to remonstrate
with my father. Between them I know they will get round him. If dear Mamma were
here she would take our part, but Heaven knows when she will return. My father often
vacillates, but he is obstinate, too; and once he gets a notion thoroughly into his head
there is no moving him. He has some weaknesses, besides — weaknesses which I
cannot bear to touch on even to you. Oh, I feel that this is the beginning of the end —
they will not rest until they tear us apart."
"But that cannot be, love," said Simon quietly; "they cannot part us, let them do what
they will. Your father and mother have both given their consent — it cannot be now
revoked for a mere whim.”
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“But if my father will not let us marry?"