Publications of the Catholic Truth Society (16)

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. 1898 edition. Excerpt: ...from her. She'd ha' chucked 'em inter the fire otherways." "And I shall value them very much, and take great care of them," I said; " but, Nell, I don't like violets so well that I like you to get beaten for them." " O, I didn't care, sir, bless yer! " said the girl, brightly, her thin little face colouring up at my thanks. "An' I liked gettin' of'em, for yer've been very good to me, sir. Hark! isn't that master callin'?" The frightened look had come back into her eyes, and I tried to detain her, saying that I was sure Mrs. Jennings would let her sleep in one of the out places for the night, if I asked her. " You'd much better not go back to them till morning, child. They seem to be all mad together by the row they make: and it's no fit place for you." She shook her head, quite trembling at the mere idea. " O, no. I must go, I must indeed, sir. Missus'd 'alf kill me to-morrow if I didn't. 'Tis the threshin' machine men from the Black Country as is there; an they're al'ays a bad lot: an' she'll want me to 'elp serve 'em. 'Tain't them I'm afeared of neither." "Who then, Nell?" " Mr. Barker," and she almost whispered it. " Sometimes he goes on the soak for three or four days, till he gets downright mad, an' don't know nothin' no more nor if he were a wild beast, an' then I be daunted of 'im. He's been awful bad to-day, an' cotched me up once an' tried to smash me ag'in the door, a-swearin' he'd be the death o' me. One o' the other men pulled 'im off, an' I was so feared I came out 'ere; but maybe he's sleepin' now, he most al'ays goes off like a log arter one o' these takes on; an if missus is wantin' me.... Yes, there she's callin' again! O, please, sir, let me go. I aren't frighted now, an' she'll give it me so if I don't." And indeed the greater...