And Jenny felt that some mysterious change in Tom had put a distance between him and her.
Chapter Five.
Will Jackson reappears.
Fortune May, the dairy-maid at Bentley Hall, came into the farmhouse at supper-time that Sunday evening.
“Well, they’re all gone,” said she, “and the house shut up. They say the Parliament ’ll send folks down to take it some day this week, and ’ll give it to some of their own people.”
“Ay, I hear Mr Chadderton, whose land joins the Colonel’s, has applied for it,” answered Farmer Lavender. “Though he’s a Roundhead, he’s a friend of the Colonel’s, and I shouldn’t wonder if he give it him back when King Charles comes in.”
“That’ll not be so soon, I take it,” observed his mother.
“The time’s out of joint,” said the farmer. “I’d as lief not say what’ll be or won’t be.”