She, indeed! Mrs. Barker
at the Factory has four times the butcher's meat that goes up to
Fairoaks, with all their fine airs.
Etc. etc. etc.: let the reader fill up these details according to his
liking and experience of village scandal. They will suffice to show how
it was that a good woman occupied solely in doing her duty to her
neighbour and her children, and an honest, brave lad, impetuous, and full
of good, and wishing well to every mortal alive found enemies and
detractors amongst people to whom they were superior, and to whom they
had never done anything like harm. The Clavering curs were yelping all
round the house of Fairoaks, and delighted to pull Pen down.
Doctor Portman and Smirke were both cautious of informing the widow of
the constant outbreak of calumny which was pursuing poor Pen, though
Glanders, who was a friend of the house, kept him au courant. It may be
imagined what his indignation was: was there any man in the village whom
be could call to account? Presently some wags began to chalk up
'Fotheringay for ever!' and other sarcastic allusions to late
transactions, at Fairoaks' gate.
Pages:
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330