A Mysterious Stranger.
“This way, this way,” said Mr Tankardew, utterly unmoved by the expression of angry astonishment on the face of Mark Rothwell at the sudden conversion of his cup of liquid fire into harmless flame—“Come this way, come this way, Mrs and Miss Franklin: Tom, give me the lantern, I’ll take the ladies to Sam Hodges’ farm, and do you be so good as to see this young gentleman across to the ‘Wheatsheaf’; Jones will look well after them all, I know.”
So saying, he offered his arm to Mrs Franklin, and bade Mary follow close behind.
“It will be all right, madam,” he added, seeing a little hesitation on the part of his companion; “you may trust an old man to keep you out of harm’s way: there, let me go first with the lantern; now, two steps and you are over the stile: the path is rather narrow, you must keep close to the hedge: just over three fields and we shall be there.”
Not a word was uttered as they followed their guide. Mrs Franklin lifted up her heart in silent praise for their preservation, and in prayer for present direction. Backward and forward swayed the lantern, just revealing snatches of hedge and miry path. At last the deep barking of a dog told that they were not far off from a dwelling: the next minute Mr Tankardew exclaimed, “Here we are;” and the light showed them that they were come to a little gate in a paling fence.
“Hollo, Sam,” shouted out their guide: the dog’s barking was instantly changed into a joyful whine. A door opened a few yards in front of them, and a dark figure appeared in the midst of a square opening all ablaze with cheerful light.
“Hollo, Sam,” said Mr Tankardew again, in a more subdued voice.
“Is that you, mayster? All right,” cried the other.
“I’ve brought you some company, Sam, rather late though.”
“You’re welcome, mayster, company and all,” was the reply. In a few moments all three had entered, and found themselves in an enormous kitchen, nearly large enough to accommodate a village. Huge beams crossed the low white ceiling; great massive doors opened in different directions rather on the slant through age, and giving a liberal allowance of space at top and bottom for ventilation. A small colony of hams and flitches hung in view; and a monstrous chimney, with a fire in the centre, invited a nearer approach, and seemed fashioned for a cozy retiring place from the world of kitchen. Everything looked warm and comfortable, from the farmer, his wife and daughter, to the two cats dozing on the hearth. Vessels of copper, brass, and tin shone so brightly that it seemed a shame to use them for anything but looking-glasses; while tables and chairs glowed with the results of perpetual friction.