a plasterer soon. Is he a local man?’
`From Bath.’
‘Oh … then hardly so!’
`Remind me, I’ll give you his name when we return to the house.
He might come into this area again and combine a number of engagements.’
`Thank you.’ They moved on…
Basset said : `You have a son, Poldark?’ `One son, one daughter, so far.’
`You’re fortunate. We have only Frances. A gifted girl; musically gifted; but not a son. It seems likely now that she will inherit all that I have. We are not a prolific family.’
`Yet enduring.’
`Oh, yes, since the time of the Conqueror. Whoever marries Frances I hope will take the name.’
They were near the steps up to the terrace.
He said : `Think of what I’ve said, Poldark. Return me your answer in a week Or if you have other things to ask about it, come over and see me before.
Ross and Demelza and Dwight and Caroline rode part of the way home together. Since the track was narrow Ross and Dwight rode ahead, Demelza and Caroline following, with Caroline’s groom bringing up the rear. There was the soft clop of hooves on muddy, ground, the creak of saddles, the click of reins, an occasional snort from a horse punctuating the murmur of voices rising into the empty dusk. Bats fluttered against the star-lit sky.
Caroline said:, ‘D’you know, all this talk about the war, and the Frenchies, I believe my husband has some sneaking sympathy for ‘em, in spite of his treatment at their hands. He has sympathy for all sorts of strange things. D’you know he does not believe in the death penalty for any crime; he believes the criminal should be made to work off his misdeeds! Well, I believe I shall never make him into an English squire
`Don’t try,’ said Demelza.
`No, it would be a pity, wouldn’t’ it? He has no real concern for his estate; he has no interest in guns and will not even shoot a rabbit; horses he mounts occasionally for the convenience of getting more rapidly from place to place; he will not go near the hunt; he never drinks himself under the table; he never bawls at the servants; I think our marriage has been a great mistake.’
Demelza looked at her.
Caroline said : `Almost the only consoling feature of my married life is that Horace, who viewed Dwight at first with sick resentment, has now taken to him in a most amazing fashion. Dwight can make the fat little beast do tricks - believe it or not, at his age! He will sit up and beg for a sweet and, when given it by Dwight - but only by Dwight - will hold it in his mouth while he rolls over on his back, until he’s given permission to eat it
Demelza said `Dwight has a habit of being able to induce people to do what he wants.’
`I know. I have to be constantly on my guard. What do you make of his looks?’
‘A little more better. But he is still pale.’
`And as thin as a shotten herring. He ministers to his own needs, of course. But even if he consented to be doctored by another, I know no surgeon or apothecary within the Duchy that I’d trust him to.’
‘When the warm weather comes it will make a difference. This summer–-‘
“He’s so vilely conscientious, Demelza. It was after Christmas before I could get him to apply for his discharge from the navy. Though he sympathizes with the Frenchies, he is still prepared to fight them! And now, in spite of anything I say, he’s’ preparing to resume his doctoring at full stretch. I hate to see him going among the sick and think of what putrid infection he may chance to pick up from among them !’
`Surely it is only a little time he needs, Caroline. He has only been out of the prison a few months and will recover his strength in a while. I know how you must feel but there is no way out for you, is there? Men are headstrong.’
`Like horses that have never been broken,’ said Caroline.
They clopped along while a chill night breeze soughed around them.
Demelza said: ‘It must take time.’
`What?’
`For someone like Dwight to
`From Bath.’
‘Oh … then hardly so!’
`Remind me, I’ll give you his name when we return to the house.
He might come into this area again and combine a number of engagements.’
`Thank you.’ They moved on…
Basset said : `You have a son, Poldark?’ `One son, one daughter, so far.’
`You’re fortunate. We have only Frances. A gifted girl; musically gifted; but not a son. It seems likely now that she will inherit all that I have. We are not a prolific family.’
`Yet enduring.’
`Oh, yes, since the time of the Conqueror. Whoever marries Frances I hope will take the name.’
They were near the steps up to the terrace.
He said : `Think of what I’ve said, Poldark. Return me your answer in a week Or if you have other things to ask about it, come over and see me before.
Ross and Demelza and Dwight and Caroline rode part of the way home together. Since the track was narrow Ross and Dwight rode ahead, Demelza and Caroline following, with Caroline’s groom bringing up the rear. There was the soft clop of hooves on muddy, ground, the creak of saddles, the click of reins, an occasional snort from a horse punctuating the murmur of voices rising into the empty dusk. Bats fluttered against the star-lit sky.
Caroline said:, ‘D’you know, all this talk about the war, and the Frenchies, I believe my husband has some sneaking sympathy for ‘em, in spite of his treatment at their hands. He has sympathy for all sorts of strange things. D’you know he does not believe in the death penalty for any crime; he believes the criminal should be made to work off his misdeeds! Well, I believe I shall never make him into an English squire
`Don’t try,’ said Demelza.
`No, it would be a pity, wouldn’t’ it? He has no real concern for his estate; he has no interest in guns and will not even shoot a rabbit; horses he mounts occasionally for the convenience of getting more rapidly from place to place; he will not go near the hunt; he never drinks himself under the table; he never bawls at the servants; I think our marriage has been a great mistake.’
Demelza looked at her.
Caroline said : `Almost the only consoling feature of my married life is that Horace, who viewed Dwight at first with sick resentment, has now taken to him in a most amazing fashion. Dwight can make the fat little beast do tricks - believe it or not, at his age! He will sit up and beg for a sweet and, when given it by Dwight - but only by Dwight - will hold it in his mouth while he rolls over on his back, until he’s given permission to eat it
Demelza said `Dwight has a habit of being able to induce people to do what he wants.’
`I know. I have to be constantly on my guard. What do you make of his looks?’
‘A little more better. But he is still pale.’
`And as thin as a shotten herring. He ministers to his own needs, of course. But even if he consented to be doctored by another, I know no surgeon or apothecary within the Duchy that I’d trust him to.’
‘When the warm weather comes it will make a difference. This summer–-‘
“He’s so vilely conscientious, Demelza. It was after Christmas before I could get him to apply for his discharge from the navy. Though he sympathizes with the Frenchies, he is still prepared to fight them! And now, in spite of anything I say, he’s’ preparing to resume his doctoring at full stretch. I hate to see him going among the sick and think of what putrid infection he may chance to pick up from among them !’
`Surely it is only a little time he needs, Caroline. He has only been out of the prison a few months and will recover his strength in a while. I know how you must feel but there is no way out for you, is there? Men are headstrong.’
`Like horses that have never been broken,’ said Caroline.
They clopped along while a chill night breeze soughed around them.
Demelza said: ‘It must take time.’
`What?’
`For someone like Dwight to
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