Mrs Hargrave, a comely, pleasant-looking dame, was seated busily stitching by the side of the table. “What has kept you so late, Dick?” she asked in an anxious tone. “Your father has gone to bed, as he must be up betimes. We thought that you had got into some mischief; but I am thankful to see you back, my son.”
Dick explained what he had been about, and exhibited the fish he had brought. “And how is Janet this evening?” he asked. “I thought that I should have been back in time for her to have one for supper, but they’ll do for her breakfast or her dinner to-morrow.”
“She’s asleep, sweet dear! though I’m afraid she’s no better. The Lord’s will be done, if He thinks fit to take her; and then, Dick, I want you to remember that you will be your father’s chief hope and stay in his trouble. Whether or not we shall have to turn out of our home, and seek for another farm, is more than I can say. Your father doesn’t wish to displease the marquis, but he thinks that it is his right to remain where he is, and that he would not be acting like an Englishman to give up that right.”
“Of course he would not,” exclaimed Dick. “Ben Rudall says he would not knock under to the marquis or any other lord, and he would hold on fast with tooth and nail.”
“I don’t want to say anything against Ben Rudall, my son; but I wish that you were not such friends with him. He is a smuggler, and may draw you into mischief, though maybe you’ll think it ungrateful in me to say so, when he has helped you to catch those fish. Remember that you cannot associate with bad characters without getting some harm and being looked upon as one of them.”
“Ben is a right honest fellow, and true as steel,” answered Dick. “I don’t like to hear anything said against him, mother; if he were ever so bad, he would not lead me astray.”
“He is a smuggler, Dick, and though he may be true to his companions, he is false to his country, or he would not be trying to cheat the revenue, as the smugglers do.”
“I had not thought of that; but don’t you trouble yourself about Ben,” answered Dick. “Now, mother, I am pretty hungry, and should like some bread and cheese;” and Dick turned round to go to the larder.
“Sit down, my son, and I’ll get them for you,” said Mrs Hargrave, taking the fish at the same time. “While you are eating, I’ll clean these, and they’ll be ready in the morning if Janet has a fancy for one of them.”
She soon returned, not only with some bread and cheese but some cold meat, and a mug of home-brewed beer, showing that the good housewife did not stint her family.