Hurlock Chase; Or, Among the Sussex Ironworks (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1876. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... "He didn't," said Mr. Crickett. "More than that, he never said a word, not so much as good-night; and he was never heard of nor seen again, only his footmarks in the garden next day." "And Miss Prissy?" "She walked to the door, and locked it; and then she went to bed--there And now, Tom, if you are ready, I'll let you out at the gate." Tom was ready, and, following Mr. Crickett across the courtyard, was dismissed with a short "Good-night;" and then the butler returned to his room. The first thing he did, when there, was to strip off his coat, unfasten his cravat, and dip his head into a large bowl of water. "I shall do now," he said to himself, as he violently used a rough towel; "and as for you, Tom Carey, if I forget this night," he soliloquized, applying his hand more softly to his injured shoulder, "my name isn't William Crickett; that's all." But Tom Carey did not hear the implied threat. He was on his way homewards; and his thoughts, oblivious of Mr. Crickett, were with Mary Austin. Half-an-hour later, Mr. Crickett, in white cravat, brown coat, and brown wig, was solemnly escorting Harry Rivers across the court-yard, and lighting him to his bedroom door. CHAPTER VIII. Robin's Hukst. Tom Carey's home was about half a mile from the forge, and was one of a cluster of similar cottages, inhabited mostly by his fellow-workmen. They were substantially enough built of sandstone, and thatched with reeds, which were gathered in S plentiful crops from the margins of the neighbouring ponds and streams; but perhaps the less boast there is made of their internal comfort the better. The floors were of brick, worn unevenly into holes, in which sometimes, when the weather was damp, the water which rose from the oozy foundation lay in thick puddles; the rough, unplastered ...