The Witch from the Sea Read Online Free PDF Page B

came into my head that the landlord’s daughter would doubtless sleep in the bed which had been taken from us.
    “Yes, he … noticed her. He is good to people who please him.”
    I felt disgusted. “Let us be shown the humbler room,” I said, and to my mother: “It is unimportant. Tomorrow we shall be on our way.”
    “I am grateful, ladies, for your good consideration. Believe me, I am deeply grieved that this should have happened.”
    “Think no more of it,” my mother told him. “Let our bags be taken to another room.”
    “It shall be done while you eat,” said the landlord, fast regaining his equilibrium. “I trust the flavour of the sucking-pig—which I know will be the tenderest you have ever partaken of—will make up for this unfortunate upset.”
    Fresh rushes had been laid in the dining-room and the smell of the herbs was clean and fresh. I was hungry and the sucking-pig which was already on the table looked as succulent and appetising as could be wished. There was a great pie and several tarts besides roast beef and mutton, wild fowl and spiced tarts, marchpane and gingerbread. No wonder the host was proud of his table.
    We were sampling the sucking-pig when Colum Casvellyn entered the dining-room. I kept my eyes averted and my mother and I talked of the journey we had had as though he were not there.
    He was not the sort to allow himself to be ignored.
    He demanded the host’s attention; he would have the prime cut of the beef and the largest of the pies. Nessie waited on him, ignoring everyone else to obey his command immediately.
    “It has been a fine day,” he said, addressing me.
    “It has,” I agreed.
    “You have come far?”
    “A day’s ride.”
    “How long is that?”
    “It would depend on the riders, I doubt not.”
    “I was referring to these riders.” He nodded towards my mother and me.
    “We left Plymouth two days since.”
    “Plymouth. But of course. Captain Jake Pennlyon! One of the nation’s heroes.”
    “I doubt not you were at sea with the fleet, sir.”
    “Aye,” he said. “And gave a good account of myself.”
    “I doubt not that either,” I said. “Mother, have you finished?”
    She said she had.
    “Then,” I said, “let us go to see how this room in which we are to spend the night compares with the one this gentleman has taken from us.”
    He laughed loudly.
    We rose but unfortunately we had to pass close to him on our way out and as we did so, he caught at my gown so that I was pulled up short.
    I looked down with disgust at his fingers which held my skirt but had no alternative but to meet his gaze. He was looking straight up at me; with mischief in his bright dark eyes—and more. He disturbed me; I tried to tweak my dress out of his fingers but he held on firmly.
    “Sir?” I said with fury and indignation.
    My mother was pulling at my arm, not aware that he was holding me.
    I said: “You will take your hands from my gown.”
    “I but wish to be civil,” he said.
    “Civil! I do not understand your manner,” I retorted.
    My mother was getting very angry. “How dare you lay hands on my daughter,” she said. “If you do not …”
    He waited for her to go on, his brow slightly cocked, the insolent smile on his lips. He wanted to hear what she would do, knowing full well it could amount to nothing. He was the master here. The landlord lived in terror of him. What could two helpless females do against such a man?
    He said: “I was about to say, Madam, that I have no wish that you should think hardly of me. Therefore I shall tell the landlord that I shall occupy the inferior room for I shall give up the Oak Room to you ladies.”
    We were silent, completely taken off our guard.
    My mother recovered herself first. She said coldly: “There is no need. We are quite prepared to take the other room.”
    He was vehement. He had released my skirt and rapped his fist on the table. “You shall have the Oak Room. I will sleep happily in the inferior one.