Again Rachel came back to the room, and made everything tidy in each chamber, and then finally left her guest alone.
Sybil walked about and took up and put down every small object that lay about her humble apartments, and then looked out of each window upon the narrow crowded and noisy street below; and finally, she took the volume of “Celebrated Criminal Trials” that had a terrible attraction for her, in her present circumstances, and she sat down and read until her husband’s return.
Lyon Berners drove his empty wagon into the stable yard, at noon. He had sold out all his produce, and pretended to be in great glee at his success. The landlord congratulated him, and some chance loungers in the bar-room suggested that, under such circumstances, it would be the right thing for him to treat the company. Lyon thought so too; and in his character of farmer, he ordered pipes and glasses all around. And then he made his escape, and went up stairs to see Sybil.
“Still moping over that depressing book. Put it away, Sybil, and get on your bonnet, and throw a thick veil over it, and come out with me for a walk; we have to buy something for our voyage, you know,” said Lyon, cheerfully.
Sybil with a sigh given to her fears, did as he requested her to do; and the two went down stairs together.
“Going out for a walk, I reckon, farmer?” inquired the landlord, who stood at the bar-room door with a pipe in his mouth.
“Aye, aye. You know these girls—when they find out that their pappies have made a little bit of money, there is no peace till it’s spent. My girl is taking me out shopping, to buy gimcracks and things! I’ll be glad when I get her home again,” grumbled Lyon.
“Well, well, she’s your onliest one, and you mustn’t be hard on her. My Rachel gets all she wants, and deserves it too. Dinner at two o’clock, sharp, farmer.”
“Aye, aye! I know. Men o’ my age never forget their dinners,” said Lyon, as he drew Sybil’s arm within his own and led her out into the streets.
They went only into the back streets, and the poor shops, and they bought only what was strictly necessary for their voyage; and having concluded their purchases, they returned to the inn in time for dinner.