"
"That only shows that you don't know Mickewa," said the Senator.
"Its people are the most law-abiding population on the face of the
earth."
They passed through the wood, and a couple of fields brought them
to Goarly's house. As they approached it by the back the only live
thing they saw was the old goose which had been so cruelly deprived
of her companions and progeny. The goose was waddling round the
dirty pool, and there were to be seen sundry ugly signs of a poor
man's habitation, but it was not till they had knocked at the
window as well as the door that Mrs. Goarly showed herself. She
remembered the Senator at once and curtseyed to him; and when
Morton introduced himself she curtseyed again to the Squire of
Bragton. When Goarly was asked for she shook her head and declared
that she knew nothing about him. He had been gone, she said, for
the last week, and had left no word as to whither he was going;--
nor had he told her why. "Has he given up his action against Lord
Rufford?" asked the Senator.
"Indeed then, sir, I can't tell you a word about it."
"I've been told that he has taken Lord Rufford's money."
"He ain't 'a taken no money as I've seed, sir. I wish he had, for
money's sore wanted here, and if the gen'leman has a mind to be
kind-hearted--" Then she intimated her own readiness to take any
contribution to the good cause which the Senator might be willing
to make at that moment.
Pages:
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419