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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
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suffer further for the wrong which she deems I have done her; it was for that reason I
wished to buy in the lands in question through you. I could thus have averted any
pecuniary loss which might in consequence have accrued to her, and could still have
kept silence according to her desire. But can I in honour allow this sale to take place on
false pretences? I would defraud no man —least of all my enemy.”
“Humph!" said the other, with a side-long glance at him, " I hope I am as honest as most
men, but it seems to me that if I did steal a march on any one it would be a satisfaction
to think he was an enemy. Do you propose to make an immediate avowal to the Squire,
then, of this very informal union?"
"If needs be, I must.”
“And what will the young lady say to that? Will she be the more likely to forgive you,
think you?”
"No indeed," said Simon with a sigh.
Mr. Renshaw pocketed his snuff-box, and leaning forward took the yeoman by the
hand.
"You're a good lad, Simon Fleetwood," said he, “a very good lad; aye, and an honest
one too, but you're not a clever man of business, and upon my life I begin to think
you're not a clever lover. What! you would choose the very moment when the Squire is
in the mood to do desperate things to reveal to him that which would probably cause
him to disinherit his daughter altogether, and to make an end of the property; and one,
moreover, which would ruin your chance of reconciliation with that high-spirited young
woman, all because of your quixotic notions as to the rights of that vicious jackanapes
Humphrey Charnock. Now, look here, my good lad, go home and keep quiet — that’s
all you’ve got to do at present. Hold your tongue, keep up your spirits as well as you
can, and leave the rest to me. I’ll take care that
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this sale is delayed long enough to give us all time to look about us. Meanwhile the
Squire may content himself with blustering."