The Virgin in Judgment

I. Crepuscule II. Warren House III. Harmony in Russet IV. Coombeshead V. The Virgin and the Dogs VI. The Host of ’The Corner House’ VII. Dennycoombe Wood VIII. In Pixies’ House...

Bartley filled a pail with water from the brook, and then carried it home. His mother was in church; his Aunt, Susan Saunders, prepared dinner. The man now completed his costume...

Both men rose as Madge and David appeared; both wrinkled their narrow foreheads and both smiled with precisely the same expression. The Stanburys had set their hopes on a possib...

"I’ve knowed all three--Tom Cribb, Tom Spring and that wonder of the world, Tom Sayers," Mr. Shillabeer would say; "all Champions of England and all very friendly to me. And Mr....

A fearful clatter ascended from long-legged fowls roosting on the cart, for their repose was roughly broken. They clucked and cried until Mrs. Stanbury, supposing a fox had desc...

A warlike atmosphere seemed to waken in the peaceful bar of ’The Corner House.’ The youths imagined themselves engaged in terrific trials of strength; their elders pictured the...

"I’m glad you take such a high, womanly view," said the shoemaker; "because you’m another on our side, and will be a tower of strength. They are to fight in about three weeks’ t...

And now Mr. Fogo, supported by Mr. Shillabeer, sat at worship, answered the responses and even essayed to join in the hymns. The behaviour of both old men was marked by highest...

As the church clock struck nine the men came to the scratch, listened to a brief word from the referee and again shook hands. Each in his different way looked strong and well. D...

David Bowden had chosen this spot for his home, and his reason was the shattered miner’s cottage of Tudor date that rose there. Four-square, crowned with heather and fretted wit...

"Ah! she told the truth then!" thought the man; "told the naked truth and caught herself up too late! ’I’m sure I hope she will go,’ was what her heart prompted her to say. Mayb...

"And you’ve got to drink too, mind," she said. "You’ve done everything as only you could do it. I never did dream of such a wonderful dinner in all my days; and to see all these...

"Why, those two handkerchiefs in the glass frames hanging each side of your lovely looking-glass. There’s poor Bartley’s purple and yellow and David’s blue and white spots. Now...

One house chained her attention and awoke in Madge personal thoughts again. She looked at a small cottage near Lowery, far distant on the opposite side of the river. It stood un...

"It’s throwed her into a great trouble, and ’tis no good to deny it," said Margaret. "Of course the man will marry you, as you’ve told me in secret, and no doubt David will come...

Upon the side of the pool there sat a woman--as still as a picture in a gold frame. She was clad with such sobriety that one might have thought her a stone; but she moved and he...

He put the food in his pocket and rode on; she stood and watched him; then her lips parted a little and as she pressed them together tears started from her eyes. There was none...

"So do I--nothing better. I go along ten miles of the leat six days a week, winter and summer. You might be surprised to know that I go more than three thousand miles in the yea...

"Not at all," explained Mr. Moses. "The man no doubt knows the way of Ernest’s beat as well as Ernest himself do, and avoids him. They were saying yesterday that it might even b...

"I may yet," declared Bart gloomily. "Anyway I can’t wait like this much longer. No more can he. She won’t say which ’tis to be, and the strain of mind is getting a bit too shar...

"I’ll be off then. And mark this: you’ll have to listen to me once more yet before I go. No man worth the name would take ’no’ for an answer under thrice."

"Now you ask a poser," declared Simon, "for my own opinion on such a high subject be very unsettled. In fact, I’d a long ways sooner go by yours, and if you, of all females, fee...

"’Tis like life to me to hear you say such things," she answered. "Though too well I know how little I deserve ’em. I wish I was a better, cleverer sort to lend a hand with high...

There is a lonely wood where Meavy hides upon her way and whence her waters cry like siren voices from copse and thicket and the darkness under great trees. Hither she passes, a...

"True," declared Mr. Shillabeer, passing his cup to be refilled; "the very same thought often came in my mind when my wife was alive. She was the wonder, and I was sure to be lu...

Mrs. Stanbury’s habit of mind died hard, even after the truth concerning the Voice at Crazywell had been impressed upon her. Slowly she appreciated the great fact that neither h...

Then the wife descended and sat with companionship of her thoughts. She lived through many hours of poignant grief. Again and again she fell away stricken by her own heart; but...

"I shall be there afore you are. ’Tis beautiful to be there first of all, to welcome all the rest as they come in one after t’other, like homing pigeons. If they only knowed ......

Aimless, almost mindless, Rhoda Bowden dragged herself away from the valley under Black Tor. She knew not where to turn. But there awakened no desire to escape from the tyranny...