She'll wish the right thing by you
and her son too.'
'There they come, then,' said Eppie. 'Let us go and meet 'em. Oh,
the pipe! won't you have it lit again, father?' said Eppie, lifting
that medicinal appliance from the ground.
'Nay, child,' said Silas, 'I've done enough for today. I think,
mayhap, a little of it does me more good than so much at once.'
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
WHILE Silas and Eppie were seated on the bank discoursing in the
fleckered shade of the ash tree, Miss Priscilla Lammeter was resisting
her sister's arguments, that it would be better to stay tea at the Red
House, and let her father have a long nap, than drive home to the
Warrens so soon after dinner. The family party (of four only) were
seated round the table in the dark wainscoted parlour, with the Sunday
dessert before them, of fresh filberts, apples, and pears, duly
ornamented with leaves by Nancy's own hand before the bells had rung
for church.
A great change has come over the dark wainscoted parlour since we
saw it in Godfrey's bachelor days, and under the wifeless reign of the
old Squire. Now all is polish, on which no yesterday's dust is ever
allowed to settle, from the yard's width of oaken boards round the
carpet, to the old Squire's gun and whips and walking-sticks, ranged
on the stag's antlers above the mantelpiece. All other signs of
sporting and outdoor occupation Nancy has removed to another room; but
she has brought into the Red House the habit of filial reverence,
and preserves sacredly in a place of honour these relics of her
husband's departed father.
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