Read Online The Weeping Ash by Joan Aiken - Free Book Online

Fanny cried out piteously at the same moment, forgetting that she had been told to go indoors. “Oh, pray, sir, do not have it cut! It is so beautiful!”
    â€œFrances! When I wish for your opinion I will invite it; otherwise, I must request you to be silent! Besides, did I not just order you to go inside? Yes—cut it down,” Thomas commanded the gardener. “The tree is by far too close to the house; whoever planted it there must have been clean out of his senses. It blocks out the light from the parlor and my bedroom; it is bound to bring damp—insects—probably disease. And its wood will furnish us with a plentiful supply of firewood—though why I should trouble myself to give an explanation of my orders, I do not know! You may commence at once; by the time breakfast is over, I wish the tree to be gone.”
    Talgarth, however, stood his ground.
    â€œBegging your pardon, I’m sure, sir, but I can’t do that,” he said, wooden-faced.
    Thus calmly contradicted, Thomas flew into a cold fury, which Fanny observed with terror. The visible marks of rage were two white spots at either side of his nostrils, a congestion of the eyes, and a quickening of his breath. He said in a gritty voice:
    â€œAnd what, may I ask, is your justification for this insolence? Do you wish to be dismissed out of hand?”
    â€œNo, sir,” replied Talgarth calmly. “But Miss Juliana—Lady van Welcker, as she be now—she did say to me that, while she were away, she didn’t wish for no big changes to be made in her garden, no trees nor hedges cut down, nor new paths laid, naught o’ that nature, for she be main fond of it the way it be now, an’ wishes it kept so, in memory o’ the lady as she left it to her, Madame Reynard. Miss Juliana were particular fond o’ this ash tree, sir, for Lord Egremont himself gave it to the other lady; I wouldn’t hurt it for the world, or go agin her wishes in such a matter. Anyhows,” he added practically, as Thomas, clenching his hands, drew a breath of fury, “I believe it hain’t in your power, sir, to go again Miss Juliana’s wish, for she did tell me, afore she left, as how she’d had a lawyer’s piece writ out for ye to sign, as named all those things ye could do about the place, an’ those ye couldn’t.”
    The silence maintained by Thomas for some moments after Talgarth’s words appeared to indicate that this shaft had gone home; evidently such an agreement had been signed, which, in the exasperation of the moment, he had overlooked; but Fanny felt fairly certain that, now it was recalled to his mind, the severe rectitude and rigidity of his nature would prevent him from taking any further action to contravene it. This was not likely to sweeten his temper, however, and Fanny now had sufficient discretion to step softly in through the open door without attempting to catch the eye of Talgarth, who still stood, in a perfectly respectful attitude, awaiting his master’s further orders.
    Without waiting to hear what these might be, Fanny hastened to the dining room where she found the remainder of the household assembled, the servants with expressions of hungry resignation, while Paget’s children appeared startled at this variation from routine, and decidedly impatient. Fanny slipped in to align herself with her stepdaughters, and a moment or two later Thomas strode into the room with a brow as black as thunder.
    Without pausing an instant, he snatched up the prayer book from the sideboard and began reading rapidly:
    â€œâ€˜Almighty and most merciful Father, who has safely brought us to the beginning of this day…’”
    Outside the window, Fanny could hear the gardener’s footsteps crunching away along a gravel path.
    * * *
    After breakfast, when Fanny had a moment alone with Thomas, who had eaten the meal in ominous silence, she thought it best to apologize