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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
and besides the football, the weather was gloriously seasonable, and he could slide and
skate to his heart's content.
One bright, intensely cold afternoon, Simon came upon a merry party skating on a pond
which lay in the outskirts of the Charnleigh woods, and partly in one of his father's
fields.
He had gone down there thinking to find the place deserted, and was pleased and
astonished on discovering that the fine piece of ice had already been taken possession
of.
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"Hallo, Charnock! I'm coming in a minute," he called out, proceeding with cheerful
alacrity to put on his skates.
Humphrey Charnock was not in his house at Eton, and he had hitherto concerned
himself little about him, beyond a certain vague recognition of him as the Squire's
nephew. But youth instinctively seeks young companionship, and though he had never
cared to associate with Charnock at school, it would be both natural and pleasant to
fraternise now. Humphrey, however, had risen vastly in his own estimation since his
arrival at Charnleigh. As the Squire's nephew he had more or less played the part of host
towards the three young visitors, and, moreover, was quite sharp enough to appreciate
the importance of being heir "in tail" to that fine property. He considered the present a
favourable opportunity for putting "that fellow Fleetwood" in his place.
"I say," he drawled, skating slowly towards Simon, who was rapidly and impatiently
fastening the last strap of the last skate. "I say, Fleetwood, we don’t want you here, you
know."
Simon drew the little leather tongue firmly through before he looked up: there was a
flash in his eyes, and his face was red, but he was quite calm.
"Oh, don't you," he returned, "that’s a pity, because I'm coming."
Humphrey propelled himself a yard or two nearer.
"It's uncommon impertinent of you, Fleetwood. I and these other gentlemen wish to
have the pond to ourselves."