Read Online The Adventures of Tom Leigh by Phyllis Bentley - Free Book Online

delicate disposition, and so they cherished Gracie, when she came, particularly.
    Meanwhile Mrs. Firth was busy spinning at her wheel; she was indeed a notable spinner, the yarn she spun was very fine and even. Mr. Firth preferred his wife’s yarn to any other, so he had Josiah’s daughter come to the house to help his wife with domestic tasks, so as to give her more time to spin.
    Every Saturday Mr. Firth went to Halifax to market. It was a great business getting him off very early, grooming and saddling the horse, laying the piece of cloth across his saddle-bow. Mrs. Firth laid out his market clothes the night before, with his good wig and his newly-starched neckcloth, and I had to polish his riding-boots and Bess’s harness—Bess was the name of our sturdy little mare. I could not see why he had to set off so exceedingly early, but it seemed the Cloth Hall, where the cloth was sold, opened punctually at six with the ringing of a bell, and in a few minutes all the cloth for sale was brought in, the merchants entered and the doors closed again, and in an hour or so all the cloth was sold. I wished very much to see this market and the town of Halifax, and one Friday plucked up courage to ask Mr. Firth to let me go next day. I could set off very early on foot, and meet him at the inn where he put up his horse.
    â€œIt’s a goodish walk, Tom,” said he, “and you don’t know the way.”
    â€œI could easily find it if you gave me directions, master,” I said eagerly.
    â€œAye. And there are signposts,” put in Jeremy.
    I was surprised by this support from Jeremy, as he usually crossed my wishes if he could, and next time we were alone together I thanked him. He gave me one of his sneering smiles.
    â€œYou’ve a mind to run away and think to slip off in the Halifax crowds, eh, Tom?” he said.
    â€œNo!” I replied indignantly. “I am bound apprentice, and shall keep my time. Where could I run to, in any case?”
    â€œAye, that’s true. Where could you run to?” said Jeremy thoughtfully.
    My hopes for the morrow were dashed at supper time, however, by Mrs. Firth, who, when the project was mooted by her husband, asked crossly why I should miss a day’s work to no purpose.
    â€œAnd there’s his dinner at the inn, and wear and tear of shoe leather. What are you thinking of, husband?”
    â€œI could take some bread and meat with me,” I suggested.
    â€œDisposing of your master’s goods now, are you?” began Mrs. Firth, tossing her head. “At my father’s nothing of that sort would have been allowed.”
    â€œEnough, Meg!” said Mr. Firth. “Don’t put yourself about. I shall not take the lad tomorrow.”
    I was keenly disappointed, as I had longed for this treat, and I think Mr. Firth was sorry, for next day he very kindly brought back from Halifax market a blanket to go on the bed which he and Jeremy had made for me. With summer coming I did not need this extra covering so much, but I should be glad enough of it in the winter. For in these Pennine hills the wind blows often and it is cold.
    As to this bed I must say a word because it played its part in the theft story.
    As a baby Gracie had slept in a little cot in her parents’ bedchamber, but only the year before, Mrs. Firth had put her into a little room of her own, and Gracie was proud of this and did not wish to leave it. Jeremy slept in a largish room at the back of the house, where there was space for another bed, and Mr. Firth took it for granted that I should sleep there. But this prospect was hateful to me, and luckily Jeremy disliked it also. He expressed his opposition to sharing a bedchamber with me in terms so opprobrious and insulting that I could have struck him, but since his wish coincided with mine, I held my peace and stood motionless, though I know my face was scarlet with fury. The only sleeping-place left open to me was the