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Page 9
The long friendship had never known but one temporary shadow, and this
had been during the time that the present squire's mother ruled in
Sandal; the Mistress Charlotte whose influence was still felt in the old
seat. She had entirely disapproved the familiar affection with which
Latrigg met her husband, and it was said the disputes which drove one of
her sons from his home were caused by her determination to break up the
companionship existing between the young people of the two houses at
that time.
The squire remembered it. He had also, in some degree, regarded his
mother's prejudices while she lived; but, after her death, Sophia and
Charlotte, as well as their brother, began to go very often to Up-Hill
Farm. Naturally Stephen, who was Ducie's son, became the companion of
Harry Sandal; and the girls grew up in his sight like two beautiful
sisters. It was only within the past year that he had begun to
understand that one was dearer to him than the other; but though none of
the three was now ignorant of the fact, it was as yet tacitly ignored.
The knowledge had not been pleasant to Sophia; and to Charlotte and
Stephen it was such a delicious uncertainty, that they hardly desired to
make it sure; and they imagined their secret was all their own, and were
so happy in it, that they feared to look too curiously into their
happiness.
There was to be a great feast and dance that night: and, as they sat at
the tea-table, they heard the mirth and stir of its preparation; but it
came into the room only like a pleasant echo, mingling with the barking
of the sheep-dogs, and the bleating of the shorn sheep upon the fells,
and the murmur of their quiet conversation about "the walks" Latrigg
owned, and the scrambling, black-faced breed whose endurance made them
so profitable. Something was also said of other shearings to which
Stephen must go, if he would assure his claim to be "top-shearer," and
of the wool-factories which the most astute statesmen were beginning to
build.
"If I were a younger man, I'd be in with them," said Latrigg. "I'd spin
and weave my own fleeces, and send them to Leeds market, with no
go-between to share my profits." And Steve put in a sensible word now
and then, and passed the berry-cake and honey and cream; and withal met
Charlotte's eyes, and caught her smiles, and was as happy as love and
hope could make him.
After tea the squire wished to go; but Latrigg said, "Smoke one pipe
with me Sandal," and they went into the porch together. Then Steve and
Charlotte sauntered about the garden, or, leaning on the stone wall,
looked down into the valley, or away off to the hills. Many things they
said to each other which seemed to mean so little, but which meant so
much when love was the interpreter. For Charlotte was eighteen and
Stephen twenty-two; and when mortals still so young are in love, they
are quite able to create worlds out of nothing.
After a while the squire lifted his eyes, and took in the bit of
landscape which included them. The droop of the young heads towards each
other, and their air of happy confidence, awakened a vague suspicion in
his heart. Perhaps Latrigg was conscious of it; for he said, as if in
answer to the squire's thought, "Steve will have all that is mine. It's
a deal easier to die, Sandal, when you have a fine lad like Steve to
leave the old place to."
"Steve is in the female line. That's a deal different to having sons.
Lasses are cold comfort for sons. Eh? What?"
"To be sure; but I've given Steve my name. Any one not called Latrigg at
Up-Hill would seem like a stranger."
"I know how you feel about that. A squire in Seat-Sandal out of the old
name would have a very middling kind of time, I think. He'd have a sight
of ill-will at his back."
"Thou means with _them_!"
The squire nodded gravely; and after a minute's silence said, "It stands
to reason _they_ take an interest. I do in them. When I think of this or
that Sandal, or when I look up at their faces as I sit smoking beside
them, I'm sure I feel like their son; and I wouldn't grieve them any
more than if they were to be seen and talked to. It's none likely, then,
that _they_ forget. I know they don't."
"I'm quite of thy way of thinking, Sandal; but Steve will be called
Latrigg. He has never known any other name, thou sees."
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