Sabine Baring-Gould

“ His voice was quivering, his eyes filling.
‘Yes, let him go,’ said the Squire. ‘He is right. He must go to his wife. He will break down if we detain him, and that may hurt his pride.’
‘Then, Dicky,’ called Mr Parkinson, ‘not by the Knife Back.’
‘Lord, sir! It saves over a mile, and I could cross it the darkest night at a run.’
He went forth—went with the clock hugged to his breast, and holding the receipt in his right hand. He had but one idea then—his mind could hold but one. He must tell his triumph to her who had despised him. His heart made a great leap—towards her. ”

“ She would have liked to kill those insolent, mocking men! How dare they make game of her as she had made game of Dick? She lay for a while staring up at the ceiling out of hot eyes, biting her fingers, and then again threw her self over on her face in a fresh paroxysm of tears. ”

“ Never—no, never, was a man more taken aback, more utterly amazed, than was Dicky Duck when he found himself an honoured guest at the ‘Blue Boar,’ where a supper was spread, and the Squire himself was present to hand over to him, in behalf of some of those who valued his excellent character and esteemed his courage, a Testimonial of Respect and Regard. ”