Page 8 of Master of Netherfield
“Is he to get a lashin’?” asked Davie from beside Elizabeth.
Charlotte held out her hand to the boy. “Do not worry about Charlie. My father will correct his behaviour with the strap.”
Elizabeth grimaced and told the older girl, “There are days I wish I had a brother but then I have to deal with someone else’s brother, and I think I like my sisters better.”
Charlotte smiled and led the two youngsters into the Lucas Emporium through the back door while in the stable they heard the sounds of Mr Lucas correcting Charlie’s attempt to steal from the poor child.
“I hopes he can’t sit for a week!” Davie whispered to Elizabeth. “Me pa wallops me good when I don’t listen to me ma and him. I know what a good lashing is, and I don’t want no more of ‘em.”
“Master Hall, how can I help you today?” asked Charlotte from beside the counter.
“Th’ new master of Ned’rfields gives me a shilling and I want to buy me ma a new ribbon for her hair. Pa tells her she’s th’ prettiest girl in th’ county and I wants her to know I do too.”
“And you have a whole shilling?” asked Charlotte while her mother came over.
“Yes miss, him whats give me th’ shilling just fer talkin’ with him like. Pa tells me th’ man is th’ new master of the place and he’s a great, tall man, rides a giant horse, followed by wagons and carriages and horses and footmen. He looked ever so rich and dressed like th’ swells at Chris’mas.”
“That is the longest speech I have ever heard you make Davie,” Elizabeth told him.
“What colour does your mother prefer, Davie?” asked Charlotte as Mrs Lucas walked away to speak with Mrs Bennet who had just walked into the shop. The animated discussion between the two women kept their attention from Charlotte as she dealt with the young man.
“Ma likes blue Miss,” Davie replied.
“And you have two sisters at home do you not Davie?” asked Elizabeth.
“Yes, but I only gots th’ one shilling,” Davie said. “And I want to give me Ma th’ ribbon.”
“A shilling will buy many ribbons and candy,” Elizabeth said. “Miss Lucas, would you recommend some ribbons for Master Hall?”
“Of course, Miss Eliza,” Charlotte replied. “Master Hall, if you will pick out two other colours, you will have ribbons for your mother and your sisters.”
“Thank you miss! It’ll be Chris’mas at our house tonight.”
While Davie picked out two pink ribbons for his sisters, Elizabeth selected five large candy sticks for the Hall children. Then Charlotte carefully wrapped the three ribbons in one sheet of paper and the candies in a second paper before she made a formal presentation of the parcels to Davie.
“And Mr Hall, you still have three pennies that you use to buy more candy in one month’s time,” Charlotte said handing over the three coins.
“How can this be Miss Lucas?” asked the confused boy. “You give me back three coins.”
Elizabeth leaned over and explained, “The shilling is worth many pennies Davie. You were able to buy ribbons and candy and still have three pennies left.”
He stuffed the pennies into his pocket, took the two paper parcels and called, “Thank ye Miss Lucas! Thank ye Miss Bennet!”
Elizabeth and Charlotte watched the boy as he ran out of the shop and started the three mile walk to his family’s farm. Another farmer, a man known to Elizabeth as one of her father’s tenants, stopped and offered the boy a ride home. The boy and the farmer waved to Elizabeth as they rode out of Meryton.
Coming in from the back of the shop with his son in tow, Mr Lucas joined them about that time. “Charlie, come apologize to Miss Elizabeth for your behaviour.”
The boy’s tear-stained face would have stirred pity, but Charlie Lucas had been a bully for so long, Elizabeth feared for his future.
“I am sorry Miss Elizabeth,” Charlie whispered, keeping his head bowed.
“Thank you, Charlie,” Elizabeth replied. “I hope you will not hurt children smaller than yourself again like that.”
“No miss.”
Mr Lucas said, “Now go clean the stable as I told you to do an hour ago. If I come and the stable is not clean, you will not be able to sit for a week.”
“Yes Father,” the boy said as he turned and slowly walked out of the store.
