“My child,” said he, “it seems but yesterday that I held you in my arms, and here you are a woman grown ere I thought it.”
Fondly stroking her soft hair, he looked into the fire and spoke half to himself,—
“’Tis like her mother; but a child to look on, yet with a heart of steel.”
“Why, father, you think too much of it; ’twas not so much after all. At least it seems so now that once more I am safe at home with you, though truly in the doing I was much afeared.” Looking round as she spoke, she caught sight of the noon-mark on the window, and, jumping up, exclaimed,—
“Why, father, here have we sat gossiping till it is nearly midday and not a thing made ready for dinner! Shame on me for a bad housekeeper!” and with that she bustled away to prepare the simple meal which was the daily fare of many a family living far from the towns. A pudding made of the white corn meal did not take long to stir together, and in a pot was soon stewing some bits of venison from the last deer which Henry had shot, part of which had been salted down for their winter supply. A portion of the pudding with a pinch of salt added, and baked on a hot iron shovel with a long handle, served instead of bread, and what was left would answer for their supper, with some of the cheese in the making of which Dicey was well skilled. There was always plenty of milk from their small herd of cattle.
After all had been settled for the afternoon, the trenchers washed and the pewter cups polished and set on their shelves, Dicey drew out her wheel and set herself at her spinning. The low whir and the comfortable ditty which Dicey hummed hardly above her breath set her father to dozing in his chair, and neither of the occupants of the kitchen was prepared for the crashing knock which came on the heavy door.
Before Dicey could reach it to set it open, a harsh voice cried out,—
“If you open not that door and quickly, we’ll smoke out all of you!”
Dicey drew back, looking at her father for counsel.
“Draw the bolt, child,” he said; “we have no strength to withstand them. Our very weakness must be our protection.”