Part 15 (1/2)
When she had finished rubbing the place, Mrs. Vincey called to her that _Pansy_ had been fractious, or she would have come long before to help her strain and pour off.
'It didn't matter,' said Una; 'I just waited. Is that old _Pansy_ barging about the lower pasture now?'
'No,' said Mrs. Vincey, listening. 'It sounds more like a horse being galloped middlin' quick through the woods; but there's no road there. I reckon it's one of Gleason's colts loose. Shall I see you up to the house, Miss Una?'
'Gracious no! thank you. What's going to hurt me?' said Una, and she put her stool away behind the oak, and strolled home through the gaps that old Hobden kept open for her.
BROOKLAND ROAD
I was very well pleased with what I knowed, I reckoned myself no fool-- Till I met with a maid on the Brookland Road, That turned me back to school.
_Low down--low down!
Where the liddle green lanterns s.h.i.+ne-- Oh! maids, I've done with 'ee all but one, And she can never be mine!_
'Twas right in the middest of a hot June night, With thunder duntin' round, And I see'd her face by the fairy light That beats from off the ground.
She only smiled and she never spoke, She smiled and went away; But when she'd gone my heart was broke, And my wits was clean astray.
Oh! Stop your ringing and let me be-- Let be, Oh Brookland bells!
You'll ring Old Goodman[4] out of the sea, Before I wed one else!
Old Goodman's farm is rank sea sand, And was this thousand year; But it shall turn to rich plough land Before I change my dear!
Oh! Fairfield Church is water-bound From Autumn to the Spring; But it shall turn to high hill ground Before my bells do ring!
Oh! leave me walk on the Brookland Road, In the thunder and warm rain-- Oh! leave me look where my love goed And p'raps I'll see her again!
_Low down--low down!
Where the liddle green lanterns s.h.i.+ne-- Oh! maids, I've done with 'ee all but one, And she can never be mine._
[4] Earl G.o.dwin of the Goodwin Sands (?).
The Knife and the Naked Chalk
THE RUN OF THE DOWNS
_The Weald is good, the Downs are best-- I'll give you the run of 'em, East to West._ Beachy Head and Winddoor Hill, They were once and they are still.
Firle, Mount Caburn and Mount Harry Go back as far as sums'll carry.
Ditchling Beacon and Chanctonbury Ring, They have looked on many a thing; And what those two have missed between 'em I reckon Truleigh Hill has seen 'em.
Highden, Bignor and Duncton Down Knew Old England before the Crown.
Linch Down, Treyford and Sunwood Knew Old England before the Flood.