Read Demelza for Free Online

drop her, are you? I've held and dandled many that's dead and gone afore ever you was thought of. Chibby, chibby, chibby! There now, she's smiling at me. Unless it's wind. Reg'lar little Poldark she is. The very daps of her father.'
    'Mind,' said Demelza, 'she may dribble on your fine gown.'
    'It will be a good omen if she do. Here, I have something for you, bud. Hold the brat a moment. Ah! I've got the screws today, and the damned jolting that old nag gave me didn't help…There. That's for the child.'
    'What is it?' Demelza asked after a moment.
    'Dried rowanberries. Hang 'em on the cradle. Keep the fairies away…'
    'He hasn't had the smallpox yet,' said Elizabeth to Dwight Enys, rubbing her hand gently over the curls of her small son, who was sitting so quietly on his chair beside her. 'I have often wondered whether there is anything in this inoculation, whether it is injurious to a young child.'
    'No; not if it is carefully done,' said Enys, who had been put beside Elizabeth and was taking in little except her beauty. 'But don't employ a farmer to give the cowpox. Some reliable apothecary.'
    'Oh, we are fortunate to have a good one in the district. He's not here today,' Elizabeth said.
    The meal came to an end at last, and since the day was so fine people strolled into the garden. As the company spread out Demelza edged her way towards Joan Pascoe.
    'Did you say you came from Falmouth, did I hear you say that, Miss Pascoe?'
    'Well, I was brought up there, Mrs Poldark. But I live in Truro now.'
    Demelza moved her eyes to see if anyone was within hearing. 'Do you chance to know a Captain Andrew Blamey, Miss Pascoe?' Joan Pascoe cooed to the baby.
    'I know of him, Mrs Poldark. I have seen him once or twice.'
    'Is he still in Falmouth, I wonder?'
    'I believe he puts in there from time to time. He's a seafaring man, you know.'
    'I've often thought I'd dearly like to go to Falmouth on a visit,' Demelza said dreamily. 'It's a handsome place they say. I wonder when is a good time to see all the ships in the harbour.
    'Oh, after a gale, that is the best, when the vessels have run in for shelter. There is room enough for all to ride out the greatest storm.'
    'Yes, but I s'pose the packet service runs regular, in and out, just like clockwork. The Lisbon packet they say goes every Tuesday.'
    'Oh, no, I think you're misinformed, ma'am. The Lisbon packet leaves from St Just's Pool every Friday evening in the winter and every Saturday morning in the summer months. The week's end is the best time to see the regular services.'
    'Chibby, chibby, chibby,' said Demelza to Julia, copying Aunt Agatha and watching the effect. 'Thank you, Miss Pascoe, for the information.'
    'My dear,' said Ruth Treneglos to her sister Patience, 'who is this coming down the valley? Can it be a funeral procession? Old Agatha will certainly smell a bad omen here.'
    One or two of the others now noticed that fresh visitors were on the way. Headed by a middle-aged man in a shiny black coat, the newcomers threaded their way through the trees on the other side of the stream.
    'My blessed parliament!' said Prudie, from the second parlour window. 'It's the maid's father. 'E's come on the wrong day. Didn ee tell him Wednesday, you black worm?'
    Jud looked startled and swallowed a big piece of currant tart. He coughed in annoyance. 'Wednesday? O' course I says Wednesday. What for should I tell Tuesday when I was told to tell Wednesday? Tedn my doing. Tedn me you can blame. Shake yer broom 'andle in yer own face!'
    With a sick sensation in the pit of her stomach Demelza too had recognized the new arrivals. Her brain and her tongue froze. She could see disaster and could do nothing to meet it. Even Ross was not beside her at this moment but was tending to Great-aunt Agatha's comfort, opening the french windows for her to sit and view the scene.
    But Ross had not missed the procession.
    They had come in force: Tom Carne himself, big and profoundly solid in his new-found