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BROTHER OWEN'S STORY
OF
THE SIEGE OF THE BLACK COTTAGE。
To begin at the beginning； I must take you back to the time after
my mother's death； when my only brother had gone to sea； when my
sister was out at service； and when I lived alone with my father
in the midst of a moor in the west of England。
The moor was covered with great limestone rocks； and intersected
here and there by streamlets。 The nearest habitation to ours was
situated about a mile and a half off； where a strip of the
fertile land stretched out into the waste like a tongue。 Here the
outbuildings of the great Moor Farm； then in the possession of my
husband's father； began。 The farm…lands stretched down gently
into a beautiful rich valley； lying nicely sheltered by the high
platform of the moor。 When the ground began to rise again； miles
and miles away； it led up to a country house called Holme Manor；
belonging to a gentleman named Knifton。 Mr。 Knifton had lately
married a young lady whom my mother had nursed； and whose
kindness and friendship for me； her foster…sister； I shall
remember gratefully to the last day of my life。 These and other
slight particulars it is necessary to my story that I should tell
you； and it is also necessary that you should be especially
careful to bear them well in mind。
My father was by trade a stone…mason。 His cottage stood a mile
and a half from the nearest habitation。 In all other directions
we were four or five times that distance from neighbors。 Being
very poor people； this lonely situation had one great attraction
for uswe lived rent free on it。 In addition to that advantage；
the stones； by shaping which my father gained his livelihood； lay
all about him at his very door； so that he thought his position；
solitary as it was； quite an enviable one。 I can hardly say that
I agreed with him； though I never complained。 I was very fond of
my father； and managed to make the best of my loneliness with the
thought of being useful to him。 Mrs。 Knifton wished to take me
into her service when she married； but I declined； unwillingly
enough； for my father's sake。 If I had gone away； he would have
had nobody to live with him； and my mother made me promise on her
death…bed that he should never be left to pine away alone in the
midst of the bleak moor。
Our cottage； small as it was； was stoutly and snugly built； with
stone from the moor as a matter of course。 The walls were lined
inside and fenced outside with wood； the gift of Mr。 Knifton's
father to my father。 This double covering of cracks and crevices；
which would have been superfluous in a sheltered position； was
absolutely necessary； in our exposed situation； to keep out the
cold winds which； excepting just the summer months； swept over us
continually all the year round。 The outside boards； covering our
roughly…built stone walls； my father protected against the wet
with pitch and tar。 This gave to our little abode a curiously
dark； dingy look； especially when it was seen from a distance；
and so it had come to be called in the neighborhood； even before
I was born； The Black Cottage。
I have now related the preliminary particulars which it is
desirable that you should know； and may proceed at once to the
pleasanter task of telling you my story。
One cloudy autumn day； when I was rather more than eighteen years
old； a herdsman walked over from Moor Farm with a letter which
had been left there for my father。 It came from a builder living
at our county town； half a day's journey off； and it invited my
father to come to him and give his judgment about an estimate for
some stonework on a very large scale。 My father's expenses for
loss of time were to be paid； and he was to have his share of
employment afterwards in preparing the stone。 He was only too
glad； therefore； to obey the directions which the letter
contained； and to prepare at once for his long walk to the county
town。
Considering the time at which he received the letter； and the
necessity of resting before he attempted to return； it was
impossible for him to avoid being away from home for one night；
at least。 He proposed to me； in case I disliked being left alone
in the Black Cottage； to lock the door and to take me to Moor
Farm to sleep with any one of the milkmaids who would give me a
share of her bed。 I by no means liked the notion of sleeping with
a girl whom I did not know； and I saw no reason to feel afraid of
being left alone for only one night； so I declined。 No thieves
had ever come near us； our poverty was sufficient protection
against them； and of other dangers there were none that even the
most timid person could apprehend。 Accordingly； I got my father's
dinner； laughing at the notion of my taking refuge under the
protection of a milkmaid at Moor Farm。 He started for his walk as
soon as he had done； saying he should try and be back by
dinner…time the next day； and leaving me and my cat Polly to take
care of the house。
I had cleared the table and brightened up the fire； and had sat
down to my work with the cat dozing at my feet； when I heard the
trampling of horses； and； running to the door； saw Mr。 and Mrs。
Knifton； with their groom behind them； riding up to the Black
Cottage。 It was part of the young lady's kindness never to
neglect an opportunity of coming to pay me a friendly visit； and
her husband was generally willing to accompany her for his wife's
sake。 I made my best courtesy； therefore； with a great deal of
pleasure； but with no particular surprise at seeing them。 They
dismounted and entered the cottage； laughing and talking in great
spirits。 I soon heard that they were riding to the same county
town for which my father was bound and that they intended to stay
with some friends there for a few days； and to return home on
horseback； as they went out。
I heard this； and I also discovered that they had been having an
argument； in jest； about money…matters； as they rode along to our
cottage。 Mrs。 Knifton had accused her husband of inveterate
extravagance； and of never being able to go out with money in his
pocket without spending it all； if he possibly could； before he
got home again。 Mr。 Knifton had laughingly defended himself by
declaring that all his pocket…money went in presents for his
wife； and that； if he spent it lavishly； it was under her sole
influence and superintendence。
〃We are going to Cliverton now；〃 he said to Mrs。 Knifton； naming
the county town； and warming himself at our poor fire just as
pleasantly as if he had been standing on his own grand hearth。
〃You will stop to admire every pretty thing in every one of the
Cliverton shop…windows； I shall hand you the purse； and you will
go in and buy。 When we have reached home again； and you have h ad
time to get tired of your purchases； you will clasp your hands in
amazement； and declare that you are quite shocked at my habits of
inveterate extravagance。 I am only the banker who keeps the
money； you； my love； are the spendthrift who throws it all away！〃
〃Am I； sir？〃 said Mrs。 Knifton； with a look of mock indignation。
〃We will see if I am to be misrepresented in this way with
impunity。 Bessie； my dear〃 （turning to me）； 〃you shall judge how
far I deserve the character which that unscrupulous man has just
given to me。 _I_ am the spendthrift； am I？ And you are only the
banker？ Very well。 Banker； give me my money at once； if you
please！〃
Mr。 Knifton laughed； and took some gold and silver from his
waistcoat pocket。
〃No； no；〃 said Mrs。 Knifton； 〃you may want what you have got
there for necessary expenses。 Is that all the money you have
about you？ What do I feel here？〃 and she tapped her husband on
the chest； just over the breast…pocket of his coat。
Mr。 Knifton laughed again； and produced his pocketbook。 His wife
snatched it out of his hand； opened it； and drew out some
bank…notes； put them back again immediately； and； closing the
pocketbook； stepped across the room to my poor mother's little
walnut…wood book…case； the only bit of valuable furniture we had
in the house。
〃What are you going to do there？〃 asked Mr。 Knifton； following
his wife。
Mrs。 Knifton opened the glass door of the book…case； put the
pocketbook in a vacant place on one of the lower shelves； closed
and locked the door again； and gave me the key。
〃You called me a spendthrift just now；〃 she said。 〃There is my
answer。 Not one farthing of that money shall you spend at
Cliverton on _me_。 Keep the key in your pocket； Bessie； and；
whatever Mr。 Knifton may say； on no account let him have it until
we call again on our way back。 No； sir； I won't trust you with
that money in your pocket in the town of Cliverton。 I will make
sure of your taking it all home again； by leaving it here in more
trustworthy hands than yours until we ride back。 Bessie； my dear；
what do you say to that as a lesson in economy inflicted on a
prudent husband by a spendthrift wife？〃
She took Mr。 Knifton's arm while she spoke； and drew him away to
the door。 He protested and made some resistance； but she easily
carried her point； for he was far too fond of her to have a will
of his own in any trifling matter between them。 Whatever the men
might say； Mr。 Knifton was a