Welden and old Doby.
"It's Tom as brought it in," she said. "He's my brother, miss, an' he's
one of the ringers. He heard it from Jem Wesgate, an' he heard it at
Toomy's farm. They've been keepin' it hid at the Mount because the
people that's ill hangs on his lordship so that the doctors daren't let
them know the truth. They've been told he had to go to London an' may
come back any day. What Tom was sayin', miss, was that we'd all know
when it was over, for we'd hear the church bell toll here same as it'd
toll at Dunstan, because they ringers have talked it over an' they're
goin' to talk it over to-day with the other parishes--Yangford an'
Meltham an' Dunholm an' them. Tom says Stornham ringers met just now at
The Clock an' said that for a man that's stood by labouring folk like he
has, toll they will, an' so ought the other parishes, same as if he was
royalty, for he's made himself nearer. They'll toll the minute they hear
it, miss. Lord help us!" with a fresh outburst of crying. "It don't seem
like it's fair as it should be. When we hear the bell toll, miss----"
"Don't!" said her ladyship's handsome sister suddenly. "Please don't say
it again."
She sat down by the table, and resting her elbows on the blue and white
checked cloth, covered her face with her hands.
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