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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
"Simon," she murmured, "though I was so wicked I loved you all the time —I loved
you. Oh! when I saw you standing yonder amid that crew — I knew then, Simon, I
knew then — and I thought my heart would break!"
Not a word said he; but even as he clasped her the last cloud lifted, the last shadow of
misunderstanding dropped from them, and each knew and understood.
How long they stood thus in the sweet spring sunshine, with the cool air lifting their
mingled locks, it would be difficult to say; but all at once Simon gave a low laugh of
supreme content.
“I must go in — I must have both my arms about you, sweet."
And in another moment he stood beside her, as he had so often dreamed, upon the
hearth; and both his arms were clasping her, and she was telling him brokenly how she
had longed to fling herself into them all through that sorrowful journey, but that her
heart had failed her. She had meant from the first to seek his home, she said, to throw
herself upon his mercy, to beg for his forgiveness and some measure of his love; but she
would scarce have ventured that morning had she not had a dream that gave her
courage…
All at once the door was cautiously opened, and old
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Susan's head was thrust into the room. At sight of the couple by the hearth she uttered a
scream of rapture, and rushed towards them, clapping her hands.
“It's him!" she cried, “it's the Master! Heaven be praised for this blessed day!"
“Did I not tell you," said Rachel, with something of her old gaiety, "that the Master
would come soon!"
“That you did, miss, dear. I couldn't think who 'twas knockin' so early you know. Eh,
Simon, ye met ha' knocked me down wi' a feather when I opened door yon, and saw
Miss Charnock standin' wi' her bare head, an' th' coat draggin' on th' ground, and her
bonny dress all draggled, and her white face lookin' — Dear o' me, it give me a turn. I
shriked out, and miss, she stepped past me, and says she, ‘Dunnot be afeared, Susan; it's
nobbut me. Master'll be here presently,' says she. ‘Well,' says I to Dolly, ‘if it hadn't ha'
been as this here's our gaffer's coat, an' ghostes, so far as I've heerd on, never wears