The Mating of Lydia

The Project Gutenberg eBook, The Mating of Lydia, by Mrs. Humphry WardThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Mating of LydiaAuthor: Mrs. Humphry WardRelease Date: November 27, 2004 [eBook #14174]Language: English***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MATING OF LYDIA***E-text prepared by Andrew Templeton, Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg Online DistributedProofreading TeamTHE MATING OF LYDIAbyMRS. HUMPHRY WARD1913TO R. J. S.BOOK II"Aye, it's a bit dampish," said Dixon, as he brought a couple more logs to replenish a fire that seemed to have no heartfor burning.The absurd moderation of the statement irritated the person to whom it was addressed."What I'm thinkin'"—said Mrs. Dixon, impatiently, as she moved to the window—"is that they'll mappen not get here at all!The watter'll be over t' road by Grier's mill. And yo' know varra well, it may be runnin' too fasst to get t' horses through—an'they'd be three pussons inside, an' luggage at top.""Aye, they may have to goa back to Pengarth—that's varra possible.""An' all t' dinner spoilin', an' t' fires wastin'—for nowt." The speaker stood peering discontentedly into the gloom without:"But you'll not trouble yoursen, Tammas, I daursay.""Well, I'm not ...