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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
besides there would have been no end of a row with his father and most probably his
uncle. His incoherent statement was received with frigid disgust, and the eldest of the
party, remarking that he had had enough of the business for one, led the way
homewards whistling. The others followed in his wake, each assuming a jaunty air, and
putting their hands in their pockets; but all felt that the dignity of their order had that
day received a blow which it would take long in recovering. Humphrey brought up the
rear; he, too, put his hands in his pockets and whistled shrilly, and a good deal out of
tune.
Simon, left in possession of the pond, flew round and round, and cut wonderful figures
of his own composition, and enjoyed himself amazingly. Once or twice when he paused
he thought he heard a faint cry, and wondered what manner of bird or beast it might
emanate from, but he was too much intoxicated by the exercise to cogitate long. When,
however, in the gathering dusk, he sat down to remove his skates, he heard it again,
distinct and near at hand. It came from the direction of the Charnleigh woods, and,
springing to his feet, Simon ran across the pond and began to search for the cause. All at
once he almost stumbled across a little white heap on the ground, and as he stooped
over it, it moved and moaned.
"Why, what have we here?” he cried in astonishment.
It was a little girl of about five or six years old, with clustering dark curls, and immense
dark eyes which she fixed vaguely on Simon. He raised her in his arms:
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her teeth were chattering with cold, and her little limbs almost petrified.
"Where's Humphrey?" she whimpered, "where's Cousin Humphrey?"
“It must be the Squire's little girl," said Simon to himself, adding aloud: "why, how did
you come here?"
"I wanted to see Cousin Humphrey skate. O —o— oh — I am so cold! I am so cold!"
"Aye, indeed, poor little maid, you're well-nigh frozen, I’ll run with you to our place —
it's much nearer than the Hall. You'll let me take you to the nice warm fire, won't you?
See, it's quite close — we'll be there in two minutes."