Come, live with me, and be my love

Chapter I. In The Hayfield

There grew two roses in the light— Hey the wind and the weather 1 And one was red, and one was white, And they shone in the sun together ! — Old Song. "Tchik! That went down rarely ! Thy turn next, Amandy ! " "Cannikin's empty ! " " Then take a buss instead ! " She held up her mouth to his, and aloud "smack" followed. Then, cushioned softly on the sweet smelling hay, Jabez Doyle lay back and closed his eyes. "Now, I'll ha' a snooze," he said. "Wake up, ye dumbledore ! " she cried, shaking him. " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 6 " I'm dreaming o' thee, Amandy I " "Dreaming o' rubbish ! " ' ' Oh, how I love 'ee ! Say, you — when is it to be?" "What?" "As if ye doan't know ! Me and you and passon," (nudging her with his elbow, but still lying with his eyes shut). "Eh?" "I'm goan back to my work," said Amandy, rising.

"No you bean't !" answered Jabez, springing up and throwing the loose hay over her while she puffed and gasped for breath. " Haw ! haw ! haw ! " "Ye great vule! I'm choking!" she cried, ad ministering a box on the ear strong enough to fell an ox. It was the noontide siesta. Jabez Doyle, labourer, and Amanda Jane Thistlewaite, farm-servant, had stolen away to the corner of the five-acre field to eat their bread and cheese and empty their cannikins of thin ale. Both were tanned red with the sun — Jabez the lean, with his powerful bony frame and perpetual grin ; Amanda the stout, built in the ample mould of the Amazon, but sleepy-eyed and good-tempered as one of her own cows. Jabez was in his shirt-sleeves, without coat or waistcoat, and with an old billycock " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 7 perched on his shaggy brown hair ; Amanda wore a white cotton gown with blue flowers worked upon it, and swung her great sun-bonnet in her hand.

An ash-tree spread its shade above and around them, and the brook or rivulet which fringed the field ran clear and shallow at their feet. All round, the perfumed fields and meadows swimming in the mists of summer heat. Warm stillness everywhere, as if the heart of Nature had almost ceased to beat. Far off, at the farther side of the five-acre, a half-laden wain, with men and women sheltering in its shade. " Gie me thy hand, Amandy. I want to measure thy finger." "Shannot"; then, after hesitating, "what for?" "Why, for ring, surely ! If you'll ha' me, and I'll ha' you, no knife can cut our love in two. " " Let be. I'll tell Sam Wood ! " " And I'll punch Sam's head ! " "You ? He could lick 'ee with one hand." But she grinned, and let her fat finger rest in her lover's horny palm. Suddenly she started, and drew it away.

A white gate opened twenty yards off, and a man on horseback entered the field. A firm-set, grave-faced man, dressed in a dark " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." tweed suit, with leathern gaiters and a low-crowned felt hat. "Measter Geoffrey!" whispered Amandy, while Jabez wiped his brow with the back of his hand and looked sulky. Up came the rider, sitting loosely in the saddle, and scarcely guiding the round, well-fed, thick-set horse that bore him. His firm-set head, seen more closely, showed just a touch of grey behind the ears ; his brown eyes, though thoughtful, were deep-set and keen. He was only thirty years of age, but he would have passed for thirty-five, or even more, so grave and even stern was his expression. "Wasting time as usual, Jabez Doyle ! " he said as he passed, "and still philandering with Amanda.

Get back to work ! — the day's half done." Jabez looked black as thunder, and made a mock ing grimace behind the rider's back. "Who's he, to go on as if he were measter?" he muttered. " Nice cock o' the walk, him I" "Hold thy tongue, vule ! " said Amanda, putting on her bonnet and striding out into the sun. Right across the field rode Geoffrey Doone the overseer, and the groups in the distance rose and became active as they saw him coming. Part of the " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 9 field was yet to be mowed, though the grass of the greater part was already cut and drying in the midsummer heat. Presently the whole field was busy again, the mowers at work in the long grass, the others busy tossing the hay or piling it into cocks. Geoffrey reined in his horse in the centre of the field, and looked round.

It was high ground, and he could see the fields and meadows for miles and miles, the green hedges, the dark clumps of woodland, and, beyond, the sunny slopes of the high downs. Right above the field, a mile away, was the farm-house — an old straggling house, with many outbuildings, a garden, and an apple orchard. How still and peaceful all looked ! How warm and glowing ! He knew every landmark, every tree and stone, in the old farm : for had he not lived there, man and boy, for twenty years ? had he not witnessed twenty haymakings and twenty harvests in that very place ? His thoughts travelled back to the time when he came to the farm, a friendless boy, and was welcomed and sheltered by the old farmer, now long since dead. And now, when Miss Catherine ruled in her father's stead, he was her right-hand man and overseer.

Scarcely ever had he taken holiday, or wandered away for " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MY LOVE." 10 more than a day at a time, and then only to the county town on market or other business. He had grown, like a firm-rooted oak, in that soil, and had few wishes or dreams beyond it. His heart welled up in gratitude for favours past, for kind nesses received; for had he not had "schooling," and been treated by his first benefactor almost like a son? As he passed close to the wain, making for another gate at that side of the field, he caught sight of two figures standing in the shadow — a woman and a man, neither of the species " clodhopper," like Jabez and Amanda. The man was young, handsome, and somewhat delicate of feature, and his dress betokened some superior station in country life. The woman was about eight-and-twenty, tall, and fjrmly built, brown with the sun, dark-haired and dark-eyed, and though her gown was only of common cotton, and she wore the great white sun-hat of the place and period, her manner bespoke a certain authority.

"Geoffrey ! " she cried, and he rode up to her, and saluted her companion with a nod. "Yes, Miss Catherine." " Please hurry up to the farm at once. The old " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 11 mare's foaling, and I've had to call in Dutton to look after her, for she's having a bad time. " Geoffrey nodded, and was turning away, when she called out to hin* — " I'm coming after you directly. George has brought me bad news about the Gaffer, and I want your advice at once." He nodded again, and rode quickly away. Neither of the two had noticed his dark flush of surprise at finding them there together, or the look of wistful discomfort with which he had looked into the bright eyes of his young mistress. "What a good fellow he is !" said George, with an air of friendly patronage. " I wonder how you'd get on without him ?

" "Why, I shouldn't get on at all," replied Catherine, smiling. "Always busy, ever stirring, never think ing of himself, but always of us. When father died, a year after mother was taken away, and I was left with little Bridget all alone, what should 1 have done without Geoffrey ! The farm on my hands, debts and trouble all round ; Bridget a helpless little mite of ten, and me eighteen, and as brown and ill-favoured as the Lord makes 'em " "Nay, nay, Catherine, not ill-favoured 1 " " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 12 "Well, then, stupid and common, with no book learning, and no knowledge of how to manage beasts or men. What should I have done with the farm without a strong man to help me? But, there, I must go up now, and you'll come too, won't you, George ? " "Well, I was thinking of going home."

"You mustn't do that — come to the house, and till I'm done with Geoffrey you can talk to Bridget." The young man, his face suddenly brightening, at once acquiesced. They walked side by side through the field, and onward through the meadows leading to the farm. Though she had spoken of bad news, Catherine looked radiant. A tyro in love might have seen how the wind blew ! Every look, every movement of the woman was full of the joy of life, and that joy was radiated to her from the handsome youth at her side. In his company she was filled with the large content of happy animals. Her step was firm upon the ground, and she walked with the easy grace of perfect health and strength. From time to time she glanced round at her companion, and on each occasion her face brightened. He, quite un- " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 13 conscious of his influence upon her, lounged on thoughtfully, his hands in the pockets of his dark tweed coat.

Catherine Thorpe libelled herself indeed, though laughingly, when she called herself "ill-favoured." She had all the freshness and comeliness of full-blown womanhood. Brown she was as a ripe brown pear, and without any of the graces of a fine lady ; but her eyes were bright, her teeth white, her features finely formed, and her shape as straight and well poised as any form wrought in marble. By her side, indeed, the young man, though hale and strong, looked almost a weakling. "I can't tell you," he said, "how sorry I am about this business with my father." "Never mind," she replied, smiling. "But I do, Catherine. I'm downright sick and ashamed when I think what a churl he is to such old friends. But, there, you know what he is. Money, money, money, is all his dream ! He grudges him self even the food he eats and the clothes he wears."

" That's the way to hoard up riches, I suppose ? " " Well, at any rate, I'm sick of it all, and that's why I came over to tell you"— — "To tell me I Yes?" " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 14 "That he'll have to get some one else to do his dirty work. I'm going away." "Going away 1" The smile faded from her face, and her heart began beating wildly. " To London. They've offered me a place in a big grain warehouse yonder, and I thought — well, I though iyou 'd like to know." She was silent for some moments, and when she spoke her voice trembled. "It's a shame, a crying shame," she said, " that the old man should drive you away like that ! And he so rich, with thousands in the bank." " Let him keep it ! I can work. There's another thing, I'm sick of his eternal cry that I should marry some woman with money.

Morning, noon, and night it's the same story — about this or that rich wench to be had for the asking. As if I'd sell myself like that ! " " I'm sure you wouldn't ! " said Catherine, looking down. Her sun-hat hid her face, so that he did not see the crimson blush that covered her cheeks. " I knewyou 'd think me in the right," he said softly. She nodded emphatic assent, still with her face turned away. Her look was radiant again. She felt " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 15 the warmth of earth and sky, and was once more full of the j oy of life. He had come to her, he had confided in her first of all ! As they passed up the meadows, a wood-dove crooned in a neighbouring tree, and the deep, long drawn note seemed to come out of her own full heart. The growing grass, the kindling air, was happy and alive ; the earth seemed drawing great deep breaths of peace and joy.

What did all else matter now ? What mattered her own troubles, the old man's anger, the son's wrath, since everything in the world was so glad and bright ? She had no thought of the future. She only knew that she was happy, and that it was full summer. Hers was a nature with few caprices and no self deceptions — incapable of analysis or introspection. Had the young man said to her at that moment, "I love you, Catherine," she would have felt no surprise and have expressed none, but would have replied simply, " And I love^o«, George," giving herself to him frankly and with a full heart. Her modesty was that of a beautiful animal, and in her love there was neither fear nor shame. "God made the woman for the man, and the man for the woman, " was her good old country creed. And, being simple and sane of " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MY LOVE." 16 disposition, she needed no present protestation of love to make her happy.

Love to her, at that moment, seemed as simple and certain as the green earth, as the warm air, as the restful clouds, as her own gladly beating heart She breathed it, she felt it in her veins, and it was enough. George had come to her, he was at her side, and all the rest seemed easy. Wholly unsuspicious of the feelings he had awakened, and which had been growing in Catherine's heart for many a day, George walked on, with his eyes on the farm above him. All his thoughts were there ! — Catherine was his friend, his comrade, his sister even, but that was all. In his eyes she was a good kind creature, comely enough, but, so far as he was concerned, almost sexless. A cock crowed, up among the farm buildings, and another answered the challenge. "Sign of rain," said Catherine, smiling. What cared she for rain or storm then, though it should play havoc with the haymaking 1 "Oh, it won't come yet," replied George, carelessly.

They stepped out upon the deep-furrowed road which led up to the farm-house, followed it for a hun dred yards, and opened a small wicket-gate leading " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 17 into a wild piece of garden which faced the porch ; and on the rough lawn just outside the porch a pretty girl of twenty sat in a wicker chair, humming to herself and sewing. " Here's Bridget ! " cried Catherine, beaming with affection. Bridget looked up, then, seeing George, blushed and nodded a greeting. The young man blushed too, and held out his hand, vvhjch the girl took quietly. Catherine, sure of her pwn happiness, looked on with a smile of large approval.

Chapter II. Up At The Farm

Thro' the haze of the heat, cattle low, lambkins bleat, While tweet a tweet, tweet ! the birds whistle sweet, And Love's in the air, like a lark on the wing O I— Old Sang. Catherine and Bridget Thorpe were two sisters by the same mother, though in age there was nearly eight years' difference between them : Bridget being, as the old farmer used to express it, "an after thought," born when the parents had given up all thoughts of having another child. Seen apart, they bore a certain resemblance to each other, though the younger sister was much fairer in complexion ; but standing side by side, they seemed of different parent age altogether. Bridget was small, and slight for her age, with wistful blue eyes, a pouting rosebud of a mouth, a nose slightly retrousse, and delicate feet and hands ; refined and lady-like in every look and ges ture.

Catherine, on the other hand, seemed of larger " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE," 19 mould than she really was, a woman of the people, neither delicate nor refined. The very dress of the sisters was a contrast. While Catherine wore much the same raiment as her own dairy woman, Bridget was attired like a lady in a dress of better cut and finer material, with dainty boots on her feet, and gloves on her hands, to keep them from the sun. Softly and gently, with the look of a mother in her eyes, Catherine bent over her sister and kissed her, saying — " I've brought George to amuse you. I've got to talk to Geoffrey." Then, with a smile and a nod, she entered the porch and passed into the house. The pertinacious wood-dove, who had been cooing in the trees below, had now ensconced himself in a large elm overhanging the garden, and was filling the air with his dreamy call.

Bridget sewed on, listening, while George stood by, awkwardly look ing at her. For a long time neither said a word. The young man was the first to break the silence, and with a somewhat irrelevant remark— "I've often wondered, Bridget, that your sister doesn't marry ; but there, she doesn't seem one of the marrying sort" jo " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MY LOVE." Stitch ! stitch ! went the little fingers. "Indeed no," the girl replied, smiling. " She has too much sense." Here George at once saw an opening, which he endeavoured to enlarge. "You think marrying's stupid then ? " he observed somewhat sheepishly. " Folks say so." Humming to herself. "Well it all depends!" "On what?" "On the folk concerned. Where there's love, you know " "What's thatV "Why, you see love's — well, love's love ! " Bridget laughed outright.

"How do folk feel when they're in love?" she asked slyly. "Well, a bit awkward — full of things that can't be said, and, well, frightened 1 " "Indeed, are you ever frightened ! " "Sometimes." "Who frightens you ? " "You do I" "Am I so dreadful?" " Not at all ; but, you see, when I talk to Cathe- « ' COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MY LOVE." 21 rine I feel quite at home. She's so frank and true and good, like one's own sister." "And I'm not. Thank you I " • " Wiihyou it's different!" Bridget pouted her lips, and knitted her brow thoughtfully. "That's because I'm not pretty. I was always an ugly little thing. When I was a baby I'd a mouth like a frog ! " Here George, seeing a chance for a compliment, observed eagerly — "Your mouth's like a rosebud ! " "All prickles! Then it's my nose that's ugly?" [Here she rubbed it dubiously.]

" I know it turns up!" "Of course. You wouldn't have it turn down? Besides, it makes folk want to kiss you ! " "Then it's like their impudence ! I detest kissing — it always looks so silly." "Yet you kissed Catherine." ' ' Oh, that's different, as you would say — and, besides, Catherine is more to me than all the world ! " As she spoke, a look of infinite tenderness, wistful in its yearning as the look of a loving child, passed over the girl's face. " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MY LOVE." 22 While George and Bridget were talking together in full sunshine, Geoffrey and Catherine were busily en gaged in the great oak-raftered kitchen at the rear of the house : a capacious chamber, of barn-like pro portions, with a deep old-fashioned ingle, at either side of which were seats of black oak, and a warm fire burning on the hearth, as if it were mid-winter instead of midsummer.

The kitchen was full of queer divisions and corners, in one of which, close to the window, there was a piece of carpet, a work table, and a writing-desk — the whole forming a sort of a little parlor, open to the rest of the room. Here Catherine, with the aid of Bridget, audited her accounts, paid her labourers, and attended gener ally to the farm business ; and here she was busy with the overseer, showing him one paper after another to explain the financial situation. "The worst of debts, "she observed philosophi cally, as he scrutinized the documents, "is that they come, like the swallows, all at once. There's the rates nearly a month overdue, and the money owing to the Gaffer, and all the other odds and ends — so that I scarce know which way to turn." ' ' Marsh will wait, " returned Geoffrey, thoughtfully ; "so must the Gaffer."

"COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 23 "I'm in doubts, Geoffrey. One's a hard man, t'other's a fool ! " Geoffrey was silent for a moment, then he said, without raising his eyes — "If the worst comes to the worst, you must get some friend to help you." "I've no friends, Geoffrey, now father's gone." "You've one, Catherine," was the quiet reply. " The man your father took in and sheltered many a long year ago — the man who owes everything to you and yours. You know I've something put by, and it's more than enough to free you of all your trou bles." " Take your money ! " cried Catherine. " Who has a better right to it ? You shall take it." " I can't I'd rather sell the lease and go away." "You shall never do that — never ! " said the over seer. "If you won't take the money, if you don't trust me enough to take it as a gift, at least have it as a loan — you'll soon repay me !

" "How good you are I " she said, looking into his eyes. "No, no ! " he exclaimed, colouring under the look. "But yes ! — I always think of you, ay, and pray for you, just as if you were my own dear brother." " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 24 Through the blue, diamond-shaped panes of the low window the sunlight streamed, a moted ray trembling and full of life, and with it came the low of kine, the crowing of cocks, all the sleepy murmur of the farmyard. The light fell full on Catherine's bust and throat, leaving her face in shadow. Geoffrey's face was in shadow too, but he turned it away as she spoke the last words, which (little as the speaker guessed it) cut into his heart like a knife. She noticed the look of pain, but didn't guess its cause. "Well, well," she said, smiling, "we'll see what the Gaffer has to say !

" and passed over the tile-paved floor, where the dim firelight gleamed, and seemed struggling feebly to join issue with the sunlight at the window. She was not the least bit troubled. Duns might come and duns might go, but her heart that day was full of sweet content. " Well, Jasper, how are the lambs ? " "Sound and safe," answered a voice from the ingle. "Of course you've heard. The mare's in labor, and I've had to call in Dutton to pull her through." "He P He be no use. Them new-fangled vets don't know the ways o' beasts." The speaker was a man of nearly seventy years of " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 25 age, though he looked even older ; tall of figure, but round-shouldered, as if through ever bending forward and leaning on a staff; wrinkled and gray-haired, yet fresh-coloured, with keen gray eyes, puckered up in constant scrutiny of wind and weather.

He wore an old smock-frock, gaiters, and heavy shoes. By his side lay a shepherd's crook, and at his feet slept a shaggy-coated sheepdog. He was eating bread and cheese, cutting off the mouthfuls slowly and deliberately with a clasp-knife. "Well," said Catherine, laughing, "you were up on the weald, or I'd have asked you to try some of your herbs, and maybe a charm too, into the bargain." Here Geoffrey, who had quietly followed his mis tress, broke in with "I'd back Jasper against the doctor, whether the patient's man or beast." The shepherd looked up with a grim smile. "Thankee, Measter Geoffrey. I be no scholar, thank God ! but I know the yerbs and the flowers, and the signs o' the stars and planets, and the ways of living things. Lonesomeness breeds thoughts, Miss Catherine. There's more curious things in nature than foolish folk believe."

" And you know them, Jasper," said Catherine. " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 26 " Didn't you cure Dame Seafield of her rheumatism when all the doctors failed ? And when poor Bess Thistlewaite was pining away for the miller, didn't you teach her a charm to cure the heartache? " Jasper's face expanded into a broad smile of self satisfaction. He swallowed the last mouthful of bread and cheese, wiped his knife on his sleeve, and then said, nodding good humouredly — " Well, maybe I know the ways o' wimmen and the humours of flesh and blood." "And you an old bachelor ! " said Catherine, nudg ing Geoffrey with her elbow. " Well, Miss, a bachelor sees nature from an on prejudiced pint of view. He bean't tied down to apron-strings and childer, like some poor vules o' men." So saying, he arose and stepped from his seat, while the dog rose too, and stretched itself.

His great height became now apparent. Even with his stoop, he stood about six feet. Holding his old felt hat in his hand, leaning on his crook, and blinking his eyes cunningly, he looked at his mistress as she said gaily — " Well, when I'm sick or in love, I'll come to you/" "COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 27 " Do, Miss ; and I'll put my finger on the trouble, if I can't find a cure," he said, passing slowly to wards the open door ; then pausing and looking back he added, " Maybe I could tell Measter Geoffrey summat, too, about his self ! " "Oh, I'm tough and sound 1 " said the overseer, with a nervous laugh. " There's a weak spot somewheres in every man," answered Jasper, nodding his head philosophically, " be he ever so strong. . . I brought 'ee them yerbs, Miss Catherine. Gathered them at full moon, last night."

" Thank you, Jasper." As the shepherd approached the door, he was con fronted by a stout, red-faced man entering in his shirt-sleeves, followed by another man, very small and spare, who was carrying the stout man's coat. " It's all right now, Miss Catherine," said the stout man, with a contemptuous look at the shepherd. " Mother and child, as the saying is, are doing well, and the foal's a picture to look at" " Thank you, Mr. Dutton," cried Catherine. The shepherd's face was puckered up into a smile of amused contempt, not unmingled with sly malig nity. " COME , LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." " Science be a wonderful thing, Measter Dutton," he observed quietly. " 'Tis amazing how Nature ever got along without you doctor chaps all the years afore ye was born." And with a chuckle he passed out into the farm yard, while Dutton looked after him with a snort of scorn.

"That old charlatan ought to be locked up," he said, putting on his coat with the little man's assist ance. ' ' They punish old women for fortune-telling ; they ought to quod him for illegal practices." " Oh, Jasper's all right," returned Catherine, smiling. " You'll have a glass of ale ? " Dutton nodded, and Catherine tripped off to fill some glasses at a great barrel among the shadows. "Morning, Mr. Geoffrey! — morning!" said the little man, speaking for the first time. He was very fresh-coloured and dapper, and, though he was only about fifty years old, he spoke in a high fal setto. "Morning, Mr. Marsh." At this moment George and Geoffrey entered the kitchen. Both looked flushed and a little self-con scious, as if their conversation had not been altogether casual. It was curious to note how at the young " COME, LIVE WITH ME, AND BE MYLOVE." 29 man's appearance Geoffrey's face darkened, not angrily but sadly.

Catherine brought the ale, and both Dutton and Marsh partook of it. The talk turned on farm matters, on weather and crops, and particularly on the new born colt, but it had a troubled undercurrent, for Catherine was in Dutton's debt, and Marsh was her Majesty's collector of taxes. As the men drank their ale and talked together, the two sisters walked over to the table by the window, and there conversed in whispers — Bridget sitting down before a pile of accounts, and Catherine bending over her, with one arm placed softly round her shoulders. Presently, however, Dutton the surgeon called to Catherine, and craved a little private talk with her. They walked to the open door, and stood there talk ing. It was clear that Dutton was pressing his claim for money, for Catherine looked somewhat vexed and troubled.