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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
honourable man he is," with scornful emphasis on the word, "to take such advantage of
your youth and inexperience. You were bound for Gretna Green, I suppose?"
"We were even bound for Gretna Green," responded Rachel still smiling.
“Truly the wedding would have been worthy of the husband! But no doubt Mr.
Fleetwood wished to bind you to him before his true character should become known to
you."
[283]
"It is quite likely," she returned lightly, "that he should have been desirous to bind me to
him, and it is quite unlikely, my good Humphrey, that I should ever learn anything
about his character which should make me love him the less. As to the elopement, I may
as well tell you the truth about it. I myself-”
"Hush, Rachel," interrupted Simon suddenly; "this is a matter which we will keep to
ourselves. It is not necessary to take your cousin into our confidence."
She started, laughed a little shamefacedly, and looked down, blushing and silent.
The ready submission, the evidence of the yeoman s power over one whom he himself
had found it impossible to dominate, destroyed the last remnant of Humphrey's selfcontrol.
“You poor blind foolish puppet!" he cried bitterly; "it is time you knew how grossly you
have been played with and deceived. Come, I will relate to you one or two little items
which I’ll wager that you have been ignorant of till now, well as you imagine you know
this disinterested lover of yours. You trust him so completely, do you not? You are
convinced that it would be impossible for him to betray your confidence? Pray ask your
Pearl of Honour, then, how it was that he never mentioned to you a certain vile and
discreditable contract to which he was a party. You remember Edward Gifford?"
"Really, Humphrey," said Rachel pettishly, “I wish you would not shout so loud, nor
jump so rapidly from one subject to another. Of course, I remember Edward Gifford,
but what has he to do with Simon except that he happens to be his cousin? Pray tell me
first about this wonderful discovery of yours, this vile and discreditable contract as you
call it. I have no doubt it can be easily disposed of." She threw back her little