The Parson O' Dumford Part 9

MOTHER AND SON.

Matters looked very bad for the new vicar, and for him he had tried to save, for though the foreman was now ready and free to lend his aid, and Richard Glaire, stung by his position into action, had recovered himself sufficiently to turn with all the feebleness of the trampled worm against his a.s.sailants, the fierce wave was ready to dash down upon them and sweep them away.

Harry, the big hammerman, had somewhat recovered himself, and was shaking his head as if to get rid of a buzzing sensation, and murmurs loud and deep were arising, when the shrill voice of the man in the red waistcoat arose.

"Now, lads, now's your time. Trample down them as is always trampling on you and your rights. Smite 'em hip and thigh."

"Come on, and show 'em how to do it," roared a st.u.r.dy voice, and Tom Podmore thrust himself before the vicar, and faced the mob. "Come on and show 'em how, Sim Slee; and let's see as you ain't all wind."

There was a derisive shout at this, and the man in the red waistcoat began again.

"Down with them, boys. Down with Tom Podmore, too; he's a sneak--a rat.

Yah!"

"I'll rat you, you ranting bagpipe," cried Tom, loudly. "Stand back, lads; this is new parson, and him as touches him has to come by me first. Harry, lad, come o' my side; you don't bear no malice again a man as can hit like that."

"Not I," said Harry, thrusting his great head forward, to stare full in the vicar's face. "Dal me, but you are a stout un, parson; gie's your fist. It's a hard un."

It was given on the instant, and the hearty pressure told the vicar that he had won a new ally.

"As for the governor," cried Tom, "you may do what you like wi' him, lads, for I shan't tak' his part."

"Podmore," whispered the vicar, "for Heaven's sake be a man, and help me."

"I am a man, parson, and I'll help you like one; but as for him"--he cried, darting a malignant look at Richard Glaire.

He did not finish his sentence, for at that moment the man in the red waistcoat mounted a post, and cried again:

"Down with 'em, lads; down with--"

He, too, did not finish his sentence, for at that moment, either by accident or malicious design, the orator was upset; and, so easily changed is the temper of a crowd, a loud laugh arose.

But the danger was not yet pa.s.sed, for those nearest seemed ready to drag their employer from his little body-guard.

"You'll help me then, Podmore?" cried the vicar, hastily. "Come, quick, to the gate."

The veins were swelling in Tom Podmore's forehead, and he glanced as fiercely as any at his master, but the vicar's advice seemed like a new law to him, and joining himself to his defenders, with the great hammerman, they backed slowly to the gate, through the wicket, by which Richard Glaire darted, and the others followed, the vicar coming last and facing the crowd.

The little door in the great gates was clapped to directly, and then there came heavy blows with stones, and a few kicks, followed by a burst of hooting and yelling, after which the noise subsided, and the little party inside began to breathe more freely.

"Thanky, Tom Podmore, my lad," said Banks, shaking him by the hand.

"I'm glad you turned up as you did."

Tom nodded in a sulky way, and glowered at his master, but he pressed the foreman's hand warmly.

"I'd fight for you, Joe Banks, till I dropped, if it was only for her sake; but not for him."

Meanwhile Harry, the big hammerman, was walking round the vicar and inspecting him, just as a great dog would look at a stranger.

"Say, parson, can you wrastle?" he said at last.

"Yes, a little," was the reply, with a smile.

"I'd maybe like to try a fall wi' ye."

"I think we've had enough athletics for one day," was the reply. "Look at my hand."

He held out his bleeding knuckles, and the hammerman grinned.

"That's my head," he said. "'Tis a hard un, ain't it?"

"The hardest I ever hit," said the vicar, smiling.

"Is it, parson--is it now?" said Harry, with his ma.s.sive face lighting up with pride. "Hear that, Tom? Hear that, Joe Banks?"

He stood nodding his head and chuckling, as if he had received the greatest satisfaction from this announcement; and then, paying no heed to the great bruise on his forehead, which was plainly puffing up, he sat down on a pile of old metal, lit his pipe, and looked on.

"I hope you are not hurt, Mr Glaire?" said the vicar. "This is a strange second meeting to-day."

"No," exclaimed Richard, grinding his teeth, "I'm not hurt--not much.

Banks, go into the counting-house, and get me some brandy. Curse them, they've dragged me to pieces."

"Well, you would be so arbitrary with them, and I told you not," said Banks. "I know'd there'd be a row if you did."

"What!" cried Richard, "are you going to side with them?"

"No," said Banks, quietly. "I never sides with the men again the master, and never did; but you would have your own way about taking off that ten per cent."

"I'll take off twenty now," shrieked Richard, stamping about like an angry child. "I'll have them punished for this outrage. I'm a magistrate, and I'll punish them. I'll have the dragoons over from Churley. It's disgraceful, it's a regular riot, and not one of those three wretched policemen to be seen."

"I see one on 'em comin'," growled Harry, grinning; "and he went back again."

"Had you not better try a little persuasion with your workpeople?" said the vicar. "I am quite new here, but it seems to me better than force."

"That's what I tells him, sir," exclaimed Banks, "only he will be so arbitrary."

"Persuasion!" shrieked Richard, who, now that he was safe, was infuriated. "I'll persuade them. I'll starve some of them into submission. What's that? What's that? Is the gate barred?"

He ran towards the building, for at that moment there was a roar outside as if of menace, but immediately after some one shouted--

"Three cheers for Missus Glaire!"

They were given heartily, and then the gate bell was rung l.u.s.tily.

"It's the Missus," said Banks, going towards the gates.

"Don't open those gates. Stop!" shrieked Richard.