Black Rainbow by KATHY

Freeman several times since her tour of the mill, but she had never exchanged more than a few words with him. Now he came straight to the pony cart, his hat in his hand and his dark plume of hair blowing in the warm breeze. Lina began to explore the pockets of his jacket, and Megan said with a smile, "Good morning. Are you playing truant this fine day?"
    "Nay, Miss O'Neill, not I," Sam answered, with the blend of formal grammar and rustic accent that gave his speech an archaic, almost courtly, sound. " 'Twas said the notice would go up today. I wished to see it for myself and read it to the folk who lack that learning."
    "And how are they taking it?"
    "They'll wait and see. That's always their way."
    "I suppose you do not approve," Megan said carelessly. She had not given much thought to what Sam's opinion might be; except when he was actually in her presence, she did not think of him at all. But knowing him to be a protege of Jane's, she took it for granted he would share her views.
    Sam glanced at Lina, who let out a squeal of joy when she found a bright-green boiled sweet in his pocket. It was quite dusty, and Megan wondered whether she ought not take it away from the child. She didn't want to insult the giver. . . . Before she could decide, Lina popped the sweet into her mouth.
    The distraction had made her forget her question, but Sam had every intention of answering it; he was simply giving his reply careful consideration.
    "Nay, why should you think that?" he asked. "There could be good or bad in it, depending on how it's done."
    "So, like the others, you will wait and see."
    Sam grinned. "I will. It's not so bad a rule."
    He seemed in no hurry to end the conversation, but Lina's repeated demands that they proceed finally gave Megan an excuse to get away. As they turned she saw that Sam had gone back to the church and was standing, hands in his pockets, staring at the notice.
    Really, she thought with an inner smile, for all his superior education he was as bovine and slow-thinking as the other villagers. With his heavy shoulders hunched and his head lowered he reminded her of the big bull on the manor farm. Except when he smiled, his face had the same heavy sullenness. He was a kindhearted animal, though; Lina had counted on finding a sweet in his pocket, so he must carry a supply for any child he chanced to meet.
    With this she promptly dismissed Sam from her mind. He would have been chagrined to know how briefly he had occupied it.

Chapter Seven
    Once the notice of enclosure had been posted, Edmund could do nothing more until the government commissioners arrived. He was therefore free to turn his attention toward a subject he found much more interesting—his plans to refurbish the house. He was no more relieved to be done with boring business details than was Megan; she had been boiling with frustration for days because he was absent so much. You cannot show a man how attractive, amiable, and desirable you are if he is not there. Edmund had already consulted her about some of his plans and had indicated he meant to go on doing so, but she was taking no chances. It wasn't difficult to find an opportunity to mention her interest in architecture and drop a learned quotation or two from the authorities she had been feverishly reading. When the grand tour of the manor began, she was one of the party.
    Initially Jane and Edmund were a trifle stiff with one another. They had had a violent argument the night before, after Edmund had mentioned he had hired a new manager for the mill. The man replaced had been a friend and crony of Jane's father; she had taken on as if Edmund had sent the old fellow to the workhouse instead of allowing him to retire to a well-earned rest.
    Megan had not been forced to resort to eavesdropping to find this out. Some of the servants had overheard the argument, and Megan had received the information and the description of Jane's "carrying on" from Lizzie. She had been cultivating Lizzie's