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

The Salamanca Corpus: Yeoman Fleetwood (1900)
“Come, let's taste the orange cordial; and you, Cousin, do not look so sour. Since this
decoction is made for deserving folk, why not begin with your own kith and kin?"
Miss Fleetwood, full of delighted hospitality, produced a large bunch of keys from the
pocket of her stiff black silk gown, and rustled out of the room; her voice being
presently heard objurgating Susan and Dolly and issuing excited commands for the
japanned tray and the best decanter. During the somewhat uncomfortable pause which
ensued, Simon endeavoured with no very great success to entertain his guests, and it
was with a mixture of relief and apprehension that he heard the clinking of glasses
which announced the arrival of Dolly with her tray. A very nice little repast was set
forth on this tray —delicate slices of cold ham, ethereal bread and butter, jannock (a
species of oatcake of Miss Belinda's making), a cream cheese snugly ensconced in its
protecting rushes; but the eyes of all present fixed themselves by common accord,
though with different motives, on the heavy, cut-glass decanter in the centre, which
contained an unctuous liquid, golden and clear.
“My own recipe," announced Miss Binney triumphantly. “It has been in our family for
years an' years —that an' the recipe for a Christmas pudden'. 'Tisn't many folks as
knows of that; but we make our pudden' one year, ye know, to be eaten the next. Ye
might see
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in the larder now, as black as my shoe and wonderful rich. It was always the custom in
our family to make ‘em that way. Now, Simon, why don't you fill out for your cousins?
There ye stand an’ see them lookin’ at it, an’ don't offer to do anythin’.”
“Pray, Miss Gifford, let me persuade you to taste a little of my aunt's famous cordial,"
said Simon, with as good a grace as he could muster.
But Bertha refused with a scared look, and he then turned to her brother, who eagerly
took the glass and immediately drained it.
“Most excellent, indeed," he cried. "Why, man, it must make people glad to be ill if you
doctor them with such stuff as this. It warms one's very heart. I will trouble you for
another glass, Cousin, and many thanks for your good treatment. Here's to you. Cousin