Ralf Skirlaugh the Lincolnshire Squire (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1870 Excerpt: ..."But, then, there are the horses," continued the Squire; "and suppose these officers of justice, as they call them, should smell me out, is Beckwith safe?" "I follow old customs. Mathew holds his land subject to finding provender for me and mine; and there's room to stable twenty horses in the gateway, which my pony has all to herself. You need not fear Mathew, I can trust him and Ailie. I will send, however, for the girl, and give her instructions," continued Henrietta. They walked to the gate where Steven still stood holding his master's horse. Mr. Skirlaugh gave him the necessary directions, adding what he no doubt thought especially needful. "You'll not forget to be civil, Steven, and to make yourself useful, and to be in the way when wanted, and above all things to keep a sharp look out. Remember, too, that whatever provocation you may have, there must be no fighting, and very little drinking." "All right," said the attendant, with a bow to the lady; "I never drink and feight except when I'm at th' lowse end; I'm up o' th' square now," and with a somewhat less, but still very deferential obeisance to Mr. Skirlaugh, he trotted off. We have few buildings left like the chantry house of Lady Maud Saint Quintin. Massively built of stone, and with a strong oak roof clad with a kind of thin flags which the natives call stone-thack, there were few signs except the unequivocal one of style to indicate that it had not been built in modern days. The hand of the spoiler has pressed much less heavily on the old buildings of this part of the North of Yorkshire than on those of the more progressive districts. It is no uncommon thing to see here buildings three or four centuries old, that preserve most of the...