Chapters (53)
- Cover
- Title page
- Dedication page
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Forty-three
- Forty-four
- Sow the Seed
- Reap the Harvest
- About the Author
- ALSO BY MARGARET DICKINSON
- Acknowledgements
- Copyright page
‘Well, sir, I can manage the farm all right.’
His clear gaze was upon her. ‘Can you? Can you really?’
‘Oh, yes, sir. Matthew – Matthew Hilton – you know he helps out here quite a lot?’
‘Yes, yes, I did know.’
‘We’ve managed everything between us. Nothing’s been let slip.’
She went on to tell him about what she intended to plant and in which fields, and which she intended to leave fallow. ‘I’ve tried to talk it over with Mester Brumby, but he dun’t seem to have the strength to be interested even.’
The squire nodded. ‘Well, you seem to know what you’re about – your plans seem eminently sensible.’ Mr Marshall glanced about him. ‘And, I must say, the place looks every bit as good as when Sam is around, I’ll grant you that.’
Esther smiled at him. ‘I’ll cope, sir. I’ll keep things right.’
‘Well, my dear, I admire your spirit. I can see for myself you’re a worker.’ He nodded at her as if in approval. ‘But don’t be afraid to come to see me if you have any problems. I’ll be only too glad to help.’
‘Thank you, Squire. I’ll remember that,’ she answered him politely, but inwardly she resolved to prove that she could manage things alone – and manage them well.
Even with the spring, Sam made no improvement, in fact, he seemed weaker.
‘You ought to call the doctor in, lass,’ Will Benson told Esther. ‘Ne’er mind what ’ee says, you get the doc in. It’d look bad on you if owt happens to Sam, an’ you hadn’t done anything.’
‘Would you call on your way back through the town at Doctor Blair’s house, Mr Benson, and ask him to call as soon as he can?’
‘Aye, righto, lass. I don’t mind doing that. I don’t like to see old Sam so bad. He’s shrivelled away to nothing. All skin and bone he is, now.’ Will shook his head. ‘No, I don’t like the look of him at all.’
As the carrier’s cart trundled out of the yard, Esther went to find Matthew. ‘Will Benson’s going to call and ask the doctor to come out to see Sam.’
‘Not afore time neither,’ Matthew said brusquely. ‘He’s poorly, you know. But he’s such a stubborn old goat!’
They looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. Just what was going to become of the farm – and of them – if anything dreadful were to happen to Sam Brumby?
Nine
THE doctor came to find Esther feeding the pigs. Above the noise of the scuffling and grunting, Esther heard a loud rapping on the sty door and looked up to see a stranger in a tweed suit.
‘I’m sorry, sir. They make such a row at feeding time,’ Esther said, hurrying outside and closing the door after her.